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78285-01 - Seminar: Global Health Law (3 CP)
| Semester | spring semester 2026 |
| Course frequency | Once only |
| Lecturers | Carlotta Manz (carlotta.manz@unibas.ch, Assessor) |
| Content | This class focuses on the norms, principles, and governance structures that shape global health law, with a particular focus on their intersection with international human rights law. In the first part of the course, we will explore the legal frameworks that govern global health, including the binding and non-binding instruments adopted within the World Health Organization (WHO) and their interaction with other branches of international law. We will examine the key actors influencing global health governance, the institutional landscape, and the development of global health norms. In the second part of the seminar, we will apply these concepts to major contemporary global health challenges. These topics will notably include responses to communicable diseases, the commercial determinants of non-communicable diseases (with tobacco control as a central case study), legal issues related to water and sanitation, mental health, sexual and reproductive health, biomedical research, as well as the role of international humanitarian law in protecting health during armed conflict. |
| Learning objectives | At the end of this seminar, students should be able to: (1) Have a critical understanding of the sources of global health law, including WHO instruments and their interaction with other areas of international law, focusing on international human rights law. (2) Identify and understand the role of key institutions and actors involved in global health governance. (3) Have an in-depth understanding of selected norms, develop the ability to interpret the legal instruments studied and to engage critically with doctrine. (4) Apply the norms to major contemporary health challenges studied during the class. |
| Bibliography | (1) Lawrence O. Boston and Benjamin Mason Meier (eds.), Foundations of Global Health and Human Rights, Oxford University Press, 2020. (2) Gian Luca Burci and Brigit Toebes (eds.), Research Handbook on Global Health Law, Edward Elgar, 2018. (3) Brigit Toebes, Mette Hartlev, Aart Hendriks, Katharina Ó Cathaoir, Janne Rothmar Herrmann, and Henriette Sinding Aasen, Health and Human Rights : Global and European Perspectives, Intersentia, 2022. (4) Lawrence O. Boston and Benjamin Mason Meier (eds.), Global Health Law & Policy : Ensuring Justice for a Healthier World, Oxford University Press, 2023. |
| Comments | The maximum number of participants is limited to 25. Places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. In case of overbooking, priority will be given to students of the Master's Program in European Global Studies. |
| Weblink | Europainstitut |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Use of digital media | No specific media used |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|---|
| wöchentlich | Thursday | 12.15-14.00 | Riehenstrasse 154, Hörsaal 00.015 |
Dates
| Date | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday 19.02.2026 | 12.15-14.00 | Riehenstrasse 154, Hörsaal 00.015 |
| Thursday 26.02.2026 | 12.15-14.00 | Fasnachtsferien |
| Thursday 05.03.2026 | 12.15-14.00 | Riehenstrasse 154, Hörsaal 00.015 |
| Thursday 12.03.2026 | 12.15-14.00 | Riehenstrasse 154, Hörsaal 00.015 |
| Thursday 19.03.2026 | 12.15-14.00 | Riehenstrasse 154, Hörsaal 00.015 |
| Thursday 26.03.2026 | 12.15-14.00 | Riehenstrasse 154, Hörsaal 00.015 |
| Thursday 02.04.2026 | 12.15-14.00 | Ostern |
| Thursday 09.04.2026 | 12.15-14.00 | Riehenstrasse 154, Hörsaal 00.015 |
| Thursday 16.04.2026 | 12.15-14.00 | Riehenstrasse 154, Hörsaal 00.015 |
| Thursday 23.04.2026 | 12.15-14.00 | Riehenstrasse 154, Hörsaal 00.015 |
| Thursday 30.04.2026 | 12.15-14.00 | Riehenstrasse 154, Hörsaal 00.015 |
| Thursday 07.05.2026 | 12.15-14.00 | Riehenstrasse 154, Hörsaal 00.015 |
| Thursday 14.05.2026 | 12.15-14.00 | Auffahrt |
| Thursday 21.05.2026 | 12.15-14.00 | Riehenstrasse 154, Hörsaal 00.015 |
| Thursday 28.05.2026 | 12.15-14.00 | Riehenstrasse 154, Hörsaal 00.015 |
| Modules |
Modul: Transfer: Europa interdisziplinär (Master's degree program: European History in Global Perspective) Module: Migration, Mobility and Transnationalism (Master's degree program: Changing Societies: Migration – Conflicts – Resources) Specialization Module Global Europe: Environment and Sustainability (Master's Studies: European Global Studies) Specialization Module Global Europe: Global Ageing and Health (Master's Studies: European Global Studies) Specialization Module Global Europe: International Organizations (Master's Studies: European Global Studies) Specialization module: International Law (Master's Studies: Law) Specialization module: International Law (Master's Studies: Law (bilingue)) Specialization module: Life Sciences Law (Master's Studies: Law) Wahlbereich Master Rechtswissenschaft (EUCOR): Empfehlungen (Master's Studies: Law (Eucor)) |
| Assessment format | continuous assessment |
| Assessment details | Students will have to submit a paper and give a presentation. |
| Assessment registration/deregistration | Reg.: course registration; dereg.: not required |
| Repeat examination | no repeat examination |
| Scale | 1-6 0,5 |
| Repeated registration | no repetition |
| Responsible faculty | University of Basel |
| Offered by | Europainstitut |