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Human rights are universal, yet are not recognized everywhere, nor interpreted the same in all countries. In some cases, this can leave victims and their lawyers in a situation where they must choose which forum to go to or which human rights legislative system to navigate in order to find their justice.

In this one year International Human Rights Law LLM programme, you will be trained in human rights at the international level, but also in international humanitarian law and other related fields.

You will learn about different human rights systems and how they are interpreted within these systems and within different countries. Our mission in teaching not only focuses on conveying specialized knowledge but also on enhancing students’ academic research skills as well as oral and written presentation skills. This should prepare students for any type of future career in an international legal environment related to international human rights, such as in the United Nations and other international and non-governmental organizations. Further, students will study in a truly international environment, in a very lively town which is extremely popular among students.... [-]

When human rights are violated by a particular state, is it more effective to use the national, regional or international human rights protection mechanisms to address the issue? And what mechanism will probably be most effective in addressing specific types of human rights violations?

What does this master's programme entail?

Human rights are at risk in all societies. Though various national, regional and international laws and treaties have been developed to protect the human rights of all people, some laws are more effective than others in particular situations. In this programme, you will compare the functionality of different protection mechanisms that are currently in place. You will also learn how to apply them successfully in different political, social and cultural settings.... [-]

The Master of Laws: Advanced Studies in International Children’s Rights is a one of a kind program, offering an advanced master (LL.M) dedicated to the rights and interests of children from a legal perspective. Today – more than 25 years after the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child – the role of international, regional and domestic systems in issues of child protection, participation and empowerment is ever-growing and requires in-depth specialization.

Multi-layered and interdisciplinary

International children’s rights is a unique area of law because it is multi-layered (covering international, regional and national legal systems) and interdisciplinary in its scope. The program provides an in-depth study of the field of children’s rights and pays particular attention to its intersection with diverse fields of law, including human rights, civil, criminal, humanitarian, family and migration law. The multi-layered and legal interdisciplinary nature of the program is an essential element in acquiring specialist knowledge on the meaning and implications of international children’s rights for the position of children at the international and domestic level, in both the developed and developing world.Our programme is characterized by small-scale teaching, which encourages intensive interaction between students and lecturers. Students in our Advanced Masters programmes come from various countries, and from diverse cultures, which contributes to a truly international study environment.... [-]

War crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide disrupt societies and pose a threat to international peace and security. Developing theories to understand this human behavior and designing effective strategies to react to these atrocities is extremely challenging. International Crimes and Criminology is an interdisciplinary Master’s programme in which you will learn how to measure and investigate these crimes. You are challenged to critically reflect on international criminal law and alternative modes of transitional justice, such as truth commissions and amnesties. The Master’s programme is unique: it is not offered by any other university worldwide. Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is close to The Hague, the legal capital of the world.... [-]