F1HH 4400 - Engaging Armed Groups on International Humanitarian Norms

Armed groups (AGs) are key players in contemporary armed conflicts. They directly impact affected populations and pose an increasing global challenge for States and non-State actors, such as humanitarian NGOs. Yet the international community often struggles to understand and engage with AGs on humanitarian norms and considerations. The course will explore how and why such engagement with AGs should take place. It will provide participants with tools that enable a better understanding of the different types of AGs concerned by humanitarian engagement, it will review to what extent to which they are bound by humanitarian norms, and it will also question if the international criminal justice system is a good means to implement these norms. The course will also address the contemporary challenges the international community is facing when dealing with AGs, such as the detention and trial of foreign fighters, humanitarian access in AGs' controlled area and the impact of counter-terrorism laws on AGs engagement. The lectures will be based on legal and policy considerations.

Learning outcomes:

• In-depth understanding on the legal and policy challenges surrounding armed groups
• Increased knowledge of international law applicable in armed conflicts
• Insights on current challenges and research projects on armed groups

Professional Skills:

• Developing insights on political negotiation in international fora
• Insights of how to engage with armed non-State actors from an operational and policy perspective
• Insights on the work of humanitarian organisations with regard to armed groups

None

Feedback will be provided as regularly as possible, notably after the oral exercises. At the beginning of each lecture, some time will be devoted to summarizing the preceding lecture, and for questions. In addition, a Q & A session will be held during the last hour of the final lecture.

The course will be assessed through:

• a final take-home paper (70% of the grade),
• One oral group exercise (20%),
• Participation in the course 10%

• Reading and Preparation for Class: 3 hours a week
• Research and Preparation for Group Work: 5 hours a semester