Course Catalogue

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Historically, the law has struggled to respond to various forms of abuse in an effective manner. Although significant developments have been made across the globe in recent years, rates of abuse remain worryingly high, as evidenced by the UN's Global Database on Violence Against Women and UNICEF Child Marriage Data Covid-19 has exacerbated existing problems, with it being suggested that a second pandemic of violence against women in their homes has occurred as a result of coronavirus and child marriage rates have increased.

This course will consider legal responses to domestic abuse and honour abuse (specifically forced marriage, child marriage and harmful traditional practices) in Scotland. It will consider the development of legal responses to these types of abuse, how effective such changes have been and the potential for further reform in these areas.

10 x 2-hour seminars (weekly)

This course is only available to LLB students.

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Summative Assessment 1 30%

Length: 2000 words

A Blog Post, Research Poster or Vlog Presentation about a legal issue of Domestic or Honour Abuse. This can be a legal case, a report which indicates a problem or an issue which they have identified through another source. They must:

1. Outline the facts

2. Identify the relevant law applicable to this area

3. Analyse the success or failure of the law in this context

4. Consider if and how the relevant law aligns with international obligations

5. Consider possible change or reform which could be useful in this area

Summative Assessment 2 Assignment 70%

Word count - 3000 words

Students will be required to answer one question from a choice of two.

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. Where, exceptionally, reassessment on Honours courses is required to satisfy professional/accreditation requirements, only the overall course grade achieved at the first attempt will contribute to the Honours classification. For non-Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

This course is designed to provide students with detailed knowledge of how the law responds to domestic and honour abuse, at both domestic and international level, including theoretical models which underpin current understandings of domestic and honour abuse. The course will consider both criminal law and private law responses to domestic and honour abuse and consider the bridging which has become increasingly apparent between these two types of legal responses. Students will be able to reflect on different approaches which have been adopted in different jurisdictions, consider the successes and limitations of these approaches, and will be asked to reflect on the influence that feminist activism has had in bringing about legal change in these areas.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

1. To analyse legal responses to abuse such as different approaches taken towards the criminalisation of domestic abuse, forced marriage and traditional harmful practices across the UK and other jurisdictions and the responses available under civil law.

2. Demonstrate knowledge of international obligations regarding prevention of violence against women and girls such as CEDAW and the Istanbul Convention. Prevention of violence against children such as UNCRC and violence against all persons such as The Palermo Protocol and the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings.

3. To be able to identify the theoretical models which influence current understandings of domestic abuse and honour abuse and the key debates in these areas.

4. To develop an understanding of historical developments relating to women's rights and evaluate the role of feminist activism in legal change in these areas.

To be aware of current issues, such as those arising from Covid-19, and proposed reform in these areas.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.