The promotion and protection of human rights faces significant impediments in the Asia Pacific. In contradistinction to other regions, notably Europe, Africa and the Americas, Asia lacks strong regional institutions and legal frameworks, both in general, and with particular reference to human rights. The failure to respect, promote and protect human rights and the process of democratisation, particularly dire in parts of the region, is only compounded by the relative paucity of accessible, appropriate and targeted educational programs for human rights and democratisation professionals. Added to this is the fact that the majority of educational material has been developed in the USA or Europe and most published research on human rights and democracy in the region comes from outside the Asia Pacific. Case material is often remote from the immediate concerns of local populations, and thematic content that is most relevant, for example, the relationship between human rights and democracy or development and poverty is omitted or thinly treated. Curriculum material also pays insufficient attention to the work of non-government organisations in the region, which form the bedrock of human rights activity, and which will constitute the largest sector for graduates’ future employment.

In response to this state of affairs, the University of Sydney, in conjunction with Gadjah Mada University (Indonesia), Kathmandu School of Law (Nepal), Mahidol University (Thailand) and the University of Colombo (Sri Lanka), is now offering Asia Pacific’s premier regional degree in human rights and democratisation. Uniquely, this degree offers students the opportunity to study both at the internationally renowned University of Sydney and one of four selected universities in the Asia Pacific with particular expertise in human rights and democratisation. By drawing upon, linking and developing existing programs in the region, this new Asia-Pacific Master of Human Rights and Democratisation seeks to relocate regional human rights and democracy studies to local institutions and offer a degree program from the particular perspectives and approaches that are emerging in the region.

Degree Structure
The degree consists of a foundational semester and a one-week inter-sessional intensive (from July to November) at the University of Sydney and a second semester (from January to May) at one of four regional partner institutions: Mahidol University (Thailand), Gadjah Mada University (Indonesia), Kathmandu School of Law (Nepal) and the University of Colombo (Sri Lanka).

Semester 1
The first semester curriculum consists of a foundational program at the University of Sydney, made up of four core units of study. These units are compulsory for all students and include the following: 

• HRTD6901 - Human Rights Norms and Mechanisms I
• HRTD6902 - Human Rights and Democratisation Research
• HRTD6903 - Dynamics of Human Rights Violations
• HRTD6904 - Democratisation: Theory and Practice

Having completed these four units, students will undertake a one-week intensive, HRTD6905 - Human Rights and Democratisation Intensive, also at the University of Sydney. The inter-sessional intensive will provide a specific opportunity for students to engage with leading human rights experts and practitioners and take their conceptual studies in the first semester into a more practice-focussed dialogue.

Semester 2
The second semester is conducted at the four regional partner universities and students will be asked to nominate preferences for their course of study. Once allocated, all students follow two core compulsory units: 

• HRTD6906 - Human Rights Norms and Mechanisms II
• HRTD6907 - Critical and Emerging Regional Issues

In addition to the two core compulsory units, students will choose one of the two following options: 

• HRTD6908 - Human Rights and Democratisation Dissertation OR
• HRTD6909 - Human Rights and Democratisation Internship

Human Rights and Democratisation Dissertation
The dissertation unit offers students the opportunity to undertake supervised research in an area of specialisation pertaining to human rights and democratisation. Each student writes a 15,000 to 18,000 word thesis consisting of an original academic piece of work. The research may incorporate field research undertaken in-country. 



Students can also apply for a 6-week internship placement in an inter-governmental, governmental or non-governmental organisation specialising in human rights and democratisation. Unit HRDT6909 will give selected students an opportunity to immediately put into practice the knowledge acquired throughout the academic year with an aim to acquiring and improving practical work experience, establishing a dialogue between the students and the host organisation, and fostering access to the job market.



Human Rights and Democratisation Internship
Students can also apply for a 6-week internship placement in an inter-governmental, governmental or non-governmental organisation specialising in human rights and democratisation. Unit HRDT6909 will give selected students an opportunity to immediately put into practice the knowledge acquired throughout the academic year with an aim to acquiring and improving practical work experience, establishing a dialogue between the students and the host organisation, and fostering access to the job market.

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