Family Law in the World Community
Professor Ann Laquer Estin
University of Iowa College of Law
Fall 2005

Course Outline

1. Introduction: International Human Rights and the Family (August 23)
Course materials, pages 1-13 (CEDAW).
Fiction: "The Ultrasound," in Divakaruni, Arranged Marriage 203-30 (1995) (on reserve).

2. International Human Rights (continued) (August 29)
Course materials, pages 14-30 (CRC).
Ann Laquer Estin, Families and Children in International Law: An Introduction,
12 Transnational L. & Contemp. Probs. 271, 287-95 (2002) (part II).

3. Marriage Traditions Around the World (August 30)
Course materials, pages 31-32 (Hirani).
Fiction: "Providence," in Orner, Esther Stories 140-149 (2001); and Abraham, The Romance Reader 210-25 (1995) (on reserve).
Film: Heart of the Dragon: Marrying.

4. Marriage Traditions (continued) (September 6)
Course materials, pages 33-45 (Mabena, Allah Ditta).
Fiction: Ba, So Long a Letter 1-11 and 35-41 (1981) (on reserve).

5. Cohabitation and Same-Sex Marriage (September 12)
Course materials, pages 46-61; 86-92 (Re Same-Sex Marriage).
Reflection paper due; Research assignment distributed

6. Foreign and Comparative Law Research (September 13)
John C. Reitz, How to Do Comparative Law, 46 Am. J. Comp. L. 617 (1998).
Susan VanSyckel, Strategies for Identifying Sources of Foreign Law: An Integrated Approach, 13 Transnat'l Law. 289 (2000).

7. Marriage and Divorce in Cultural Context: China (September 19)
Fiction: Jin, Prologue, Waiting (1999) (on reserve).
Film: Heart of the Dragon: Mediating.

8. Marriage and Divorce in China (continued)(September 20)
Course materials, pages 62-71 (Marriage Law of the PRC).

9. Marriage and Divorce in Cultural Context: Islam (September 26)
Reading: Mir-Hosseini, Marriage on Trial: A Study of Islamic Family Law (rev. ed. 2000) (on reserve).
Film: Divorce Iranian Style.

10. Marriage and Divorce in Islam (continued) (September 27)
Research assignment due; Human Rights assignment distributed

11. International Law Research (October 3)

12. (no class - research time)(October 4)

13. Pluralism in American Family Law (October10)
Course materials, pages 72-85 (Shaban, Avitzur).
Ann Laquer Estin, Toward a Multicultural Family Law, 38 Fam.L.Q. 501 (2004).

14. Transnational Family Law (October 11)
Course materials, pages 93-101 (Dart)..
Ann Laquer Estin, Families and Children in International Law: An Introduction, 12 Transnational L. & Contemp. Probs. 271-87 (2002) (part I).

15. Transnational Family Law: Comity (October 17)
Course materials, pages 102-135 (Shapiro, Chaudry, Hosain).

16. Transnational Family Law (continued) (October 18)

17. Transnational Family Law: UCCJEA (October 24)
Course materials, pages 136-144.

18. Hague Child Abduction Convention: Introduction (October 25)
Course materials, pages 145-167 (Whallon).

19. Child Abduction Convention: Rights of Custody (October 31)
Course materials, pages 167-182 (C v. S, C v. C)

20. Child Abduction Convention: Habitual Residence (November 1)
Course materials, pages 183-198. (Mozes)

21. Child Abduction Convention: Defenses (November 7)
Course materials, pages 199-213 (Walsh).

22. Child Abduction Convention: Problems (November 8)
Course materials, pages 214-215.

23. International Adoption (November 14)
Carro, Regulation of Intercountry Adoption: Can the Abuses Come to an End? 18 Hastings Int'l & Comp. L. Rev. 121 (1994-95).

24. Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption (November 15)
Course materials, pages 216-229.

25. Immigration and Asylum (November 21)
Estin, Families and Children in International Law: An Introduction, 12 Transnat'l L. & Contemp. Probs. 271, 295-306 (Part III).

26. Human Rights Issues (November 22)

27. Human Rights Issues (continued) (November 28)

28. Conclusion (November 29)
Human Rights paper due

Final exam: Monday, December 12.