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Regular version of the site

International Humanitarian Law

2020/2021
Academic Year
ENG
Instruction in English
3
ECTS credits
Course type:
Elective course
When:
2 year, 4 module

Instructor


Bogush, Gleb

Course Syllabus

Abstract

In this course professors will give you a deep insight into the rules that govern armed conflict, and aim to mitigate human suffering on the battlefield. You will explore the why and how of International Humanitarian Law (IHL), followed by the different types of conflict. During this course, you will learn how hostilities should be waged: Which weapons can be used by combatants and other fighters? And, who should never be a target during military operations? We will also look into the concept of protected persons, and you will find out how IHL affords protection to the sick and wounded, medical personal, detainees, children, journalists. At the end of this course, you are introduced to the different implementation and enforcement mechanisms that aim to increase respect for IHL. https://www.coursera.org/learn/international-humanitarian-law
Learning Objectives

Learning Objectives

  • The aim of this course is to introduce students to the main approaches in the field of theory and practice of International Humanitarian Law.
Expected Learning Outcomes

Expected Learning Outcomes

  • explain basic concepts of IHL (International Humanitarian Law), describe its history and in the international legal order
  • distinguish two different areas of IHL, “Hague law” and “Geneva law”, and its main legal instruments
  • distinguish different types of armed conflict in IHL
  • describe the system of protection of persons in IHL
  • name leading institutes of implementation and enforcement in IHL
Course Contents

Course Contents

  • Introduction to International Humanitarian Law
    In the first week, we will introduce you to the basic concepts of IHL, its history and place in the international legal order. We will discuss two different areas of IHL, “Hague law” and “Geneva law” respectively, and its main legal instruments. At the end, we will look at armed conflict and the protection of war victims from a human rights law perspective, in an engaging discussion with Prof. Helen Duffy.
  • Conflict classification
    In this second week, we will study the scope of application of IHL. IHL regulates armed conflict, and therefore we will start by exploring the two different types of armed conflicts: international and non-international armed conflicts (IACs and NIACs). We will also look at the different rules that apply to each type of conflict. In this module, we will furthermore discover special situations of conflict, like belligerent occupation, foreign intervention and NIAC-spill over, which can impact the character of a conflict. At the end of this week we will touch upon situations below the armed conflict threshold, and Prof. Robin Geiss will tell us all about the so-called “global war on terror”.
  • Conduct of hostilities
    In this week, we will look through the eyes of combatants and other fighters, and learn how military operations should be conducted. We will familiarize ourselves with the most important principles that need to be applied on the battlefield including those of distinction, proportionality, precautions and the prohibition of unnecessary suffering. We will discover that civilians who refrain from hostilities should never be targeted. At the end of this module we will see that IHL also sets limits to the weapons that can be used by combatants, and Prof. Michael Schmitt will share his viewpoint on whether armed drones and other modern technologies like cyber warfare are lawful under IHL.
  • Protection of persons
    In this module we will look through the eyes of sick and wounded soldiers, detainees, enemy civilians and vulnerable persons in conflict, including children and women. We will discover how IHL safeguards persons who are not - or not anymore - fighting. Together, we will find out that each person should be treated humanely; that detainees should receive water and food; and that young children should never be recruited by the military. At the end of this module, Vincent Bernard from the ICRC will discuss with us the biggest challenges to protect persons who refrain from fighting, and will give us an insight into various IHL success stories across the globe.
  • Implementation and enforcement
    In this final module, we will look into the implementation and enforcement of IHL, which is crucial to increase respect for IHL. After discussing different enforcement methods, we will highlight two methods: Demands for compensation and criminal prosecutions. Here, we will learn how war victims can claim compensation and how States and International Courts and Tribunals can initiate criminal prosecutions for war crimes when serious violations of IHL have been committed. At the end of this module, Jeroen van den Boogaard from the Netherlands Defense Academy will explain what the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, as well as the military can do in order to make wars more humane. He will also inform us what everyone can do to increase respect for IHL.
Assessment Elements

Assessment Elements

  • non-blocking 5 Arfula case study and 4 test
  • non-blocking interview with the instructor
    Экзамен проводится в устной форме. Экзамен проводится на платформе Zoom https://zoom.us/j/97436236251?pwd=WjRnUUw5VXhBZ0VOL3dXb0ZBZXZXZz09 К экзамену необходимо подключиться за 5 минут до начала. Компьютер студента должен удовлетворять требованиям: иметь камеру и микрофон, подключение к сети Интернет. Для участия в экзамене студент обязан: включить камеру и микрофон, принять приглашение в виртуальную комнату (breakout room) Во время экзамена студентам запрещено: использовать какие-либо источники, включая материалы онлайн-курса, использовать устройства мобильной связи. Во время экзамена студентам разрешено: Кратковременным нарушением связи во время экзамена считается однократное нарушение связи (1-5 минут,по техническим причинам, в такой ситуации ответ может быть повторён) . Долговременным нарушением связи во время экзамена считается долговременное и (или) многократное нарушение связи. При долговременном нарушении связи студент не может продолжить участие в экзамене. Процедура пересдачи аналогична процедуре сдачи.
Interim Assessment

Interim Assessment

  • Interim assessment (4 module)
    0.5 * 5 Arfula case study and 4 test + 0.5 * interview with the instructor
Bibliography

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

  • Батюшкин С.А. - Международное гуманитарное право (серия "Военная подготовка"). Учебное пособие - КноРус - 2019 - 147с. - ISBN: 978-5-406-06599-0 - Текст электронный // ЭБС BOOKRU - URL: https://book.ru/book/929986
  • Международное гуманитарное право: Учебник / Тиунов О.И., - 3-е изд., перераб. и доп - М.:Юр.Норма, НИЦ ИНФРА-М, 2019. - 320 с. - Режим доступа: http://znanium.com/catalog/product/987331

Recommended Additional Bibliography

  • Гетьман-Павлова И. В., Постникова Е. В. - МЕЖДУНАРОДНОЕ ПРАВО 3-е изд., пер. и доп. Учебник для академического бакалавриата - М.:Издательство Юрайт - 2019 - 560с. - ISBN: 978-5-534-06679-1 - Текст электронный // ЭБС ЮРАЙТ - URL: https://urait.ru/book/mezhdunarodnoe-pravo-431845
  • Котляров, И.И. Международное гуманитарное право: учеб. пособие для студентов вузов, обучающихся по специальности 030501 «Юриспруденция» / И.И. Котляров, К.Л. Ходжабегова. — 2-е изд., перераб. и доп. — М. : ЮНИТИ-ДАНА: Закон и право, 2017. — 143 с. - ISBN 978-5-238-01215-5. - Текст : электронный. - URL: https://new.znanium.com/catalog/product/1028915