LAW838 Gender and Human Rights: Assessment No. 2 Essays
Assessment No. 2: Instructions 1) Details: The second assessment is an essay of 2,000 words (including footnotes but excluding bibliography).
Students must select one topic from the list provided in section II of this document.
Students must be mindful of the marking grid provided in section III, which outlines in details how their essays will be assessed against the parameters below:
Content of the essay, including relevance to the question and knowledge/understanding of the topic. NB: this is worth 40% of the essay’s mark. Evidence of reading, including engagement with module learning materials. NB: this is worth 40% of the essay’s mark. Structure of the essay. NB: this is worth 10% of the essay’s mark. Essay format, style, referencing and word count. NB: this is worth 10% of the essay’s mark. 2) Deadline: Completed assignments must be submitted via Blackboard by 12:00 noon GMT on Wednesday 7 January 2026. This date and time is final, late submissions will be penalised by the deduction of marks.
3) Weight: This assessment will account for 50% of the overall module’s grade.
4) Word Count: This essay must be 2,000 words in length. This includes footnotes but excludes the bibliography.
5) Submission: Completed assignments must be submitted in Word format via Blackboard by the specified date and time outlined in the Key Assessment Information Table above.
All submitted assignments should have the file name:
“SurnameFirstNameBNumber” (e.g. BrownJohnB00001234_AssignmentOne)
6) Feedback: Feedback on this assessment will be provided via Blackboard, 15-20 working days post submission date.
Assessment No. 2: Topics Choose ONE topic from the list below:
“International human rights law sufficiently protects individuals’ sexual and reproductive health and rights.” Do you agree with this statement? Choose a country/jurisdiction and a particular aspect of sexual and reproductive health and rights to develop your argument, and to identify possible gaps in law and in practice. (NB: see week 8 seminar)
“International human rights law sufficiently protects individuals’ right to access abortion”. Do you agree with this statement? Choose a country/jurisdiction to develop your argument, and to identify possible gaps in law and in practice. (NB: see week 9 seminar)
There is an epidemic of violence against women and girls in Northern Ireland. Between 2019 and 2024, 30 women were killed by men. Examine the strategic framework to end violence against women and girls. Evaluate its alignment with CEDAW and provide a critical analysis of how likely it is that it will deliver the vision of “a changed society where women and girls are free from all forms of gender based violence abuse and harm.” (NB: see week 10 seminar)
What are the challenges in establishing accountability for perpetrators of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV), and how can international and national legal frameworks address impunity? (NB: see week 11 seminar)
Outline how international law can be ‘engendered’ in domestic law in the UK to protect women and children’s right to an adequate standard of living. (NB: see week 12 seminar)
Assessment No. 2: Marking Criteria Criteria
Fail < 39
Fail (Marginal) 40-49 (Third)
Satisfactory 50-59
(2:2)
Good 60-69
(2:1)
Very good/Excellent 70-79
(First)
Outstanding 80-100%
(First)
Content of the Essay
(including relevance to the question and knowledge/understanding of the topic)
40%
(Learning outcomes of the module: 1-2)
The content is inadequate and fails to answer the question.
The content fails to demonstrate sufficient knowledge and understanding of the topic.
The content is descriptive with no or limited evidence of critical analysis. There is an inadequate engagement with the question/topic.
The content demonstrates very limited knowledge and understanding of the topic.
The content is mostly descriptive with some evidence of critical analysis. There is an adequate engagement with the question/topic.
The content demonstrates satisfactory knowledge and understanding of the topic.
The content demonstrates clear evidence of critical analysis. There is good engagement with the question; and evidence of a clear argument and reasoned conclusion.
The content demonstrates good knowledge and understanding of the topic.
The content demonstrates very clear evidence of detailed critical analysis; and effectively outlines the writer’s academic position (including some engagement with a relevant theoretical standpoint). There is very good engagement with the question and very good evidence of a clear argument and a well-reasoned conclusion.
The content demonstrates very good/excellent knowledge and understanding of the topic.
The content demonstrates outstanding evidence of detailed critical analysis and effectively outlines the writer’s contribution to scholarship (including engagement with the most relevant theoretical standpoint). There is outstanding engagement with the question and outstanding evidence of a very clear argument and a well-reasoned conclusion.
The content demonstrates outstanding knowledge and understanding of the topic.
Evidence of reading
(including engagement with module learning materials
(40%)
(Learning outcomes of the module: 3-4)
There is no evidence of reading and engagement with the module learning materials (primary sources and academic sources).
There is limited evidence of reading and engagement with the module learning materials (primary sources and academic sources).
There is identifiable evidence of reading and engagement with the module learning materials (primary sources and academic sources).
There is clear evidence of reading and engagement with the module learning materials (primary sources and academic sources).
There is very clear evidence of reading and engagement with the module learning materials and some evidence of further reading and research (primary sources and academic sources).
There is outstanding engagement with the module learning materials and clear evidence of further reading and research (primary sources and academic sources).
Structure of the essay
(10%)
(Learning outcomes of the module: 1-4)
The essay does not have any tangible structure.
The essay has a poor structure with an underdeveloped narrative that the reader struggles to follow.
The essay has an adequate structure with a coherent narrative that the reader can follow.
The essay has a good structure with a clear and concise narrative that the reader can easily follow.
The essay has an excellent structure with a clear and concise narrative that the reader can very easily follow.
The essay has an outstanding structure, with an exceptionally clear and concise narrative that the reader can seamlessly follow.
Essay format, style, referencing and word count (10%)
(Learning outcomes of this module: 1-4)
No evidence of text organisation (no introduction, body of text, conclusion, signposting, paragraphing, headings/subheadings, page numbers, or consistent style).
Academic writing skills and legal terminology are very poor.
No evidence of OSCOLA formatting and no bibliography.
The word count is not respected.
The text organisation is poor (very limited introduction, body of text, conclusion, signposting, paragraphing, headings/subheadings, page numbers, and consistent style).
Academic writing skills and legal terminology are poor / very limited.
Use of OSCOLA formatting and bibliography is poor / very limited.
The word count is not respected.
The text organisation is satisfactory (basic introduction, body of text, conclusion, signposting, paragraphing, headings/subheadings, page numbers and consistent style).
Academic writing skills and legal terminology are satisfactory.
Use of OSCOLA formatting and bibliography is satisfactory.
The word count is respected.
The text organisation is good (clear introduction, body of text, conclusion, signposting, paragraphing, headings/subheadings, page numbers and consistent style).
Academic writing skills and legal terminology are good.
Use of OSCOLA formatting and bibliography is good.
The word count is respected.
The text organisation is very good/excellent (very clear introduction, body of text, conclusion, signposting, paragraphing, headings/subheadings, page numbers and consistent style).
Academic writing skills and legal terminology are very good/excellent.
Use of OSCOLA formatting and bibliography is very good/excellent.
The word count is respected.
The text organisation is outstanding (seamless introduction, body of text, conclusion, signposting, paragraphing, headings/subheadings, page numbers and consistent style).
Academic writing skills and legal terminology are outstanding.
Use of OSCOLA formatting and bibliography is outstanding.
The word count is respected.
NB: These are the four learning outcomes of the LAW838 module
Describe and understand how women’s rights and gender rights have been recognised and mainstreamed in human rights law. Explain how feminist legal theory responded to limitations to the advancement of women’s rights and gender rights. Analyse the protection of women’s rights and gender rights at national, regional and international level in the area of human rights law and practice. Critically appraise both the application and limitations of human rights law for the advancement of women’s rights and gender rights
