F1HH 5180 - International Law and the Protection of Civilians, Displaced Persons, Women and Children

To examine the interplay between international law and humanitarian programs dedicated to support protected persons during armed conflicts, through two practical examples:

• Afghanistan and the “war on terror”.
• The invasion of Iraq and the rise of the Islamic State.

Learning Outcomes:

• Students can identify protection issues in an armed conflict and design an adequate protection response following a thorough do not harm assessment.
• Students can link legal provisions (IHL and IHRL) to protection outcomes in support of victims of armed conflicts.
• Students have a good understanding of best practices and challenges of the humanitarian programs dedicated to support victims of armed conflicts.
• Policy and advocacy strategies.

International humanitarian law (basic), international human rights law (basic), international relations and geopolitics (advanced)

Interactive lectures + feedback will be provided via email.

To validate the course, the student is expected to pass the following assignments:

• Presence and participation during the semester 10%
• Group work, interview with a victim of conflict 40%
• Essay on a chosen topic relating to the subject matter due at the end of the semester (50%)

• In class presence: 24 hours a semester
• Reading and Preparation for Class: 60 hours a semester
• Research and Preparation for Group Work: 30 hours a semester
• Research and Writing for Individual Assessments: 30 hours a semester