OADH 3065 - Introduction to International Humanitarian Law

This course is an introduction to International Humanitarian Law (IHL), also called the law of armed conflict or the laws of war. IHL is a set of rules that seek to limit the effects of armed conflict, with the dual purpose of saving those who do not, or no longer, participate directly in hostilities and to restrict the use of violence to the strict military necessity. IHL is a branch of public international law that has close relations with other branches, such as international human rights law and international criminal law, but also with international politics and transitional justice. While analyzing its principles, sources, rules and jurisprudence, and using the most recent case studies (the Israeli-occupied territories, Afghanistan, Iraq, Democratic Republic of Congo, Libya, Syria, Mali, etc.), this course encourages a critical and interdisciplinary approach of IHL.

Laure BIHIET,Tina ROBIOLLE,Rana KHAROUF

Séminaire

English

Extensive reading, class attendance, book review and research paper.

There is no strict prerequisite for this course but students should preferably have a previous knowledge of public international law and notions of international criminal justice.

Autumn 2022-2023

A 2000-word book review, due in week 9 (40%) and a 5000-word research paper, including footnotes, due at the end of the term (60%), on a topic of the student's choosing with teacher approval.

Interactive lectures (questions and discussions by students are encouraged).