PROJECT TOPICS FOR IHRL STUDENTS OF SEMESTER 9TH SECTION

B & C OF UILS, PANJAB UNIVERSITY, CHANDIGARH

By: Harman Shergill,

Assistant Professor(Law)

a) For Drama Enthusiasts: Enact a skit or a mime depicting the violation of any one or
more of the basic Human Rights enshrined in the UDHR. The project is to be performed
by a group of atleast 5 students. The choice of group members is being left to the
students. However, each student will be assessed on the basis of his/her individual
performance. Hence, equitable division of dialogues/role is to be ensured.
b) For Social Activists: Prepare a detailed report on the working of an NGO in the field of
Human Rights in the city of Chandigarh or in your hometown. The Report should
highlight, inter-alia, the kind of work undertaken by the NGO, the number of members
contributing, the success stories, if any, the issues being faced by the NGO in preventing
the violation of Human Rights, the day-to-day working of the NGO etc. The Report
should conclude with suggestions for improvement in the working of the NGO. To make
the project more interesting, short video clips of interviews with the people incharge of
running the NGO may be included as a part of the Project. The project may be
undertaken by two students together.
c) For Music Lovers or Art Connoisseurs: Research and present the origins of a specific
music or art movement exploring how it has been used as a vehicle to create social
change. Compare and contrast different movements in history. Look at individual songs
and artists and the impact they made. As part of the project, music lovers may explore
protest songs that were written about specific human rights violations such as Bob
Dylan’s “The Death of Emmett Till”, “Hurricane” and the Lonesome Death of Hattie
Carroll”. You may also create and perform songs inspired by events that are relevant
today. Language, Artist, Genre, no bar. The project may be undertaken by two students
together.
 d) For Photographers and Film-making Enthusiasts: Produce a documentary or a Photo
Project from real life depicting injustices and violation of human rights, either past or
present(in case of documentary). Suggest in the end what preventive or remedial
measures may be taken in the specific cases highlighted. Length of documentary could be
5-8 minutes. The Photo Project should contain atleast 15-20 photos accompanied by a
presentation in which the student-photographer will highlight the exact human right(from
UDHR) which is being violated as depicted by the photo. In case of documentary, a
group of 3 students may undertake the project. However, Photo Project can be undertaken
only by an individual student.
e) For Journalism Enthusiasts: Interview males and females in your college or locality or
women from several generations to gather information about differing educational or
cultural experiences. The Project will include the framing a detailed questionnaire.
Analyze the findings.
f) For the Real-not-Reel Mentors: Mentor a young disadvantaged child or an elderly in
the community to develop specific skills. The skills could include, inter-alia, reading
skills, writing skills, language skills, computer skills etc. The project should be conducted
in atleast 15 days time and may extend to a month. It is pertinent to note that a daily
journal of the progress is to be maintained by the Student, on the basis of which he/she
will be assessed, in addition to the submission of the Mentorship Report which would
include the Profile of the Mentored.

For Researchers/ LL.M. Aspirants: Choose any one of the following topics:

1. Research a country at Civil War. Find statistics on how many people are trying to leave.
How many are leaving legally with government support? How many are leaving
illegally? What is the immigration policy of the country? How does that compare to
India? Discuss ideas such as human cargo, bonded labour, human traficcking etc.
2. NGOs: A Critical Overview of their Mandate, Rights & Responsibilities
3. The Legal Framework for Eradicating Corruption: A Comparative Analysis
4. Regional Human Rights Organizations: Break Away Factions or an Integrated Human
Rights Movement?
5. Human Duties and Human Rights: Analyzing the Inseparability
6. An Analysis of the Child Labour jurisprudence in India
7. Gross Human Rights Violations : The Enforcement Challenge
8. Corruption : Comparing the Legal and Institutional Setting to Combat it
9. The Convention on Rights of the Child 1989 : Contextualizing its Relevance in India with
regard to child labour
10. Treaty Bodies: Paper Tigers? Analyze Critically
11. An Analytical Critique of the Public versus Private Dichotomy in Human Rights
Protection
12. Disability Rights and Third World Perspective
13. Analyzing the Best Interest Principle in case law pertaining to Children in Conflict with
Law in India
14. International Institutional Mechanisms for Addressing Gross Human Rights Violations
15. Terrorism and Human Rights : The Contours of Limitation of State Tyranny
16. The Torture Bill 2010 in India : Strengths and Weaknesses
17. A Critical Evaluation of the Policies, Practices and Effectiveness of Non Governmental
Organizations
18. Implementation of Second Generation Rights: A Comparative Analysis
19. Khap Panchayats: Genesis, Trends, Repercussions
20. Comparing the National Commission of Women with National Commission for
Protection of Child Rights
21. Corruption & Human Rights: A critical Study of the Punjab Lokayukta
22. A Comparative Analysis of the UNCRPD with the Indian Disability Legal Framework
23. Globalization and Human Rights
24. The Hierarchy of Rights: Myth or Reality
25. The Child’s Right to Participate in the Juvenile Justice System: Exploring Critically the
Contours
26. UDHR 1948; Analyzing Its Status Beyond its Symbolic Value
27. Multinational Corporations and Human Rights Violations: A Case Study
28. Human Rights Violations: Assessing Critically the Varied Responses
29. Terrorism, Special Courts & Human Rights: Antithetical or Accommodating ?
30. Homosexuality: Cultural Relativism ?
31. The PWDVA 2005: A Critical Overview
32. Third World and Human Rights: Context, Issues & Challenges
33. Fair Trial Rights: Beyond the Rhetoric
34. Social Clauses and Trade: A Case Study of India
35. Status of NGOS in Human Rights Arena
36. Juvenile Justice Framework: Comparing the India law with the Singaporean Legislation
37. Trials versus Amnesties: Negotiating the Best Remedy for Human Rights Atrocities
38. Critically Address the Debate on Death Penalty
39. Comparing the Committee in CRC 1989 with any other Treaty Body
40. The Role of Media in human Rights Promotions/Protection
41. Retributive versus Restorative Approach to Gross Human Rights Crimes
42. Access to justice: Impediments and Breakthroughs
43. NGOS : An Analysis of their Role in Protection of Human Rights
44. Critically Analyze the Question of Legalization of Prostitution in India
45. Religion and Human Rights
46. The Head Scarf Debate
47. Universal Jurisdiction & Gross Human Rights Transgressions