UOL IPHR question patterns
Torture, inhuman treatment, degrading treatment and
punishment
1. You have been appointed as a legal advisor to the government of a newly
formed nation State. The President wishes to adopt various policies and
take certain measures which she has been advised will contravene
International Human Rights Law, in particular the prohibition on certain
forms of ill-treatment. You have been asked to write a legal note advising
the President as to the effectiveness of the global instruments specifically
relating to torture and other forms of ill-treatment 2022 B
2. ‘The absolute prohibition of torture in all circumstances is impossible to
justify and to uphold in practice.’ 2023A
Torture and other forms of ill-treatment are indispensable tools in the
fight against all forms of criminality. Their prohibition is misguided folly.’
Discuss 2023 B.
3. ‘Torture, inhuman treatment, degrading treatment and punishment, and
other similar terms are all better seen as being different but equal, rather
than seeing them in a hierarchical relationship with one another.’ Discuss.
2024A
Women’s Convention
4. ‘The #metoo movement has highlighted that women’s rights are still
simply not adequately protected.’ Discuss. 2021A
‘The Women’s Convention has been a resounding success and has ensured
that women’s rights are now effectively and adequately protected in all
States which are party to it.’ Discuss. 2021B
‘The Women’s Convention has been universally welcome and an
unmitigated success; it has played a very significant role in the
advancement of women’s rights in all societies.’ Discuss 2022B
5. ‘A UN human rights treaty which seeks to prohibit discrimination on the
basis of one characteristic only marginalises that issue. It is far more
preferable for the general UN human rights treaties bodies which can
tackle such matters – the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural
Rights, and the Human Rights Committee – to do so.’
Discuss the above statement with reference to either the Race Convention
or the Women’s Convention. 2023A
‘Allowing specialised UN Human Rights Treaty Bodies to address only one
issue has ensured far greater attention, focus and development on those
issues than would have otherwise been possible.’
Discuss the above statement with reference to either the Race Convention
or the Women’s Convention.2023B
6. ‘The Women’s Convention has highlighted, not that women need to be
treated equally to men, but that they need to be treated differently to
men if women’s rights are to be effectively realised.’ Discuss.2024b
