General Course Information
1.1 Course details
| Course code: | LLAW3135 |
| Course name: | International Protection of Refugees and Displaced Persons |
| Programme offered under: | LLB Programme |
| Semester: | First |
| Designated research course: | Not applicable |
| Specialization: | Not applicable |
| Prerequisites / Co-requisites: | No |
| Course offered to non-law students: | No |
| Credit point value: | 6 credits |
1.2 Course description
In 2023, the global refugee population increased by seven percent – as calculated and reported by UNHCR – this amounts to a staggering total of 43.4 million people who have fled their homes to escape persecution, human rights violations, war, or other violence.[1] This course will situate that statistic in its full context: viewing it from historical, legal, and practical perspectives.
The course begins with an introduction to forced displacement in the 20th century, and presents refugee law as it relates more broadly to international human rights law and humanitarian law. This course examines in detail the 1951 Convention and 1967 Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees, the role of UNHCR, and who is included in and excluded from the international definition of “refugee”. It also scrutinizes key legal distinctions, compares and contrasts regional protection instruments, and explores the principle of non-refoulement. It reviews case studies to see how protection principles are applied in a variety of jurisdictions, and it looks at where, how, and why the system breaks down. This course will also delve into the current protection challenges faced by refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced persons, refugee advocates, NGOs, host countries, and policy-makers. This course goes beyond the numbers and headlines to look at the ongoing global refugee crisis from the perspective of those who experience displacement and those who are striving to find solutions.
[1] See UNHCR’s Report, Global Trends: Forced Displacement in 2023, available at:
https://www.unhcr.org/global-trends
1.3 Course teachers
| Name | E-mail address | Office | Consultation | |
| Course convenor | Stephanie Biedermann | sbied@hku.hk | CCT 802 | By email |
Learning Outcomes
2.1 Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs) for this course
CLO 1 Demonstrate understanding of the international legal frameworks that protect forcibly displaced persons, and explain how refugee law relates to broader concepts such global migration, human rights, and the notion of state sovereignty.
CLO 2 Evaluate and apply the elements of the definition of “refugee” in the 1951 Convention and 1967 Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees and discuss how States, the UNHCR, and courts have interpreted the elements of this definition.
CLO 3 Compare and contrast the 1951 Convention / 1967 Protocol protections with complementary international instruments as well as with regional protection mechanisms, regional processes, and relevant regional instruments.
CLO 4 Critically analyse the role of UNHCR in the protection of forcibly displaced persons, and assess potential ways to enhance protection in States that are Parties to the 1951 Convention as well as in Non-Party States.
CLO 5 Evaluate the operation of protection mechanisms for asylum-seekers and refugees in Hong Kong with reference to relevant international standards and explain the impact of local legal developments and key court cases.
CLO 6 Create arguments in support of a refugee status determination testimony for a hypothetical client, and analyse the practical challenges of representing asylum seekers.
CLO 7 Identify current social, political, and economic challenges to international and national protection systems, and explain the reasons for limitations in these systems.
CLO 8 Develop research, writing, critical thinking, and oral presentation skills and participate actively in class discussion and debate.
2.2 LLB Programme Learning Outcomes (PLOs)
Please refer to the following link: https://course.law.hku.hk/llb-plo/
2.3 Programme Learning Outcomes to be achieved in this course
| PLO A | PLO B | PLO C | PLO D | PLO E | PLO F | |
| CLO 1 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| CLO 2 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| CLO 3 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| CLO 4 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| CLO 5 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| CLO 6 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| CLO 7 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| CLO 8 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Assessment(s)
3.1 Assessment Summary
| Assessment task | Due date | Weighting | Feedback method* | Course learning outcomes |
| Class contribution, participation in tutorials | Ongoing | 15% | 1-5 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 |
| Writing exercise / presentation | Writing exericse due: 10 Oct 2024 | 35% | 1-5 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 |
| Final project | 9 Dec 2024 | 50% | 1-3 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 |
| *Feedback method (to be determined by course teacher) | |
| 1 | A general course report to be disseminated through Moodle |
| 2 | Individual feedback to be disseminated by email / through Moodle |
| 3 | Individual review meeting upon appointment |
| 4 | Group review meeting |
| 5 | In-class verbal feedback |
3.2 Assessment Detail
The primary assessed component (50% weighting) is a final project, due at the end of the semester, limited to 3000 words total. Project topics may encompass materials and concepts from class lectures, videos, group discussions, readings, and/or outside research. During the semester, there will be a shorter midterm exercise with accompanying short oral presentation (together, 35% weighting). The remainder of the final grade (15%) will reflect class participation and discussion contribution, including posting comments/reflections to Moodle when applicable.
We will discuss each assessment area in more detail during class. Rubrics and additional guidelines will be available as assignments are distributed.
Final projects will be due in December 2024. Details will be announced via Moodle nearer the time.
3.3 Grading Criteria
Please refer to the following link: https://www.law.hku.hk/_files/law_programme_grade_descriptors.pdf
Learning Activities
4.1 Learning Activity Plan
| Seminar: | 3 hours / week for 12 teaching weeks |
| Private study time: | 9.5 hours / week for 12 teaching weeks |
Remarks: the normative student study load per credit unit is 25 ± 5 hours (ie. 150 ± 30 hours for a 6-credit course), which includes all learning activities and experiences within and outside of classroom, and any assessment task and examinations and associated preparations.
4.2 Details of Learning Activities
To be advised by course convenor(s).
Learning RESOURCES
5.1 Resources
5.2 Links
Please refer to the following link: http://www.law.hku.hk/course/learning-resources/