International Humanitarian Law

URL study guide

https://studiegids.vu.nl/en/courses/2024-2025/R_Int.hum.l

Course Objective

The course conveys
- knowledge and understanding of international conflict and security law, including jus ad bellum, jus in bello and jus post bellum;
- the capability to identify and apply theoretical approaches from international law and political science;
- a critical, creative and innovative attitude with regard to the way in which problems in the area of international conflict and security are framed in academic, legal and policy debates;
- a critical, creative and innovative attitude with regard to the existing legal framework in the field of international conflict and security;
- a critical, creative and innovative attitude with regard to academic research as well as research results.

Course Content

The course provides a systematic treatment of the basic rules and principles of international humanitarian law. It examines the practice and law related to international humanitarian law and in particular the qualification of conflicts, the distinction between combatants and non combatants, the methods and means of warfare, the protection of civilians and prisoners of war, the law of neutrality and war crimes. It also considers current problems in international humanitarian law, including the challenges pose by new form of conflicts and violence, the interplay between international humnaitarian law and human rights law, the regulation of private military companies.

Teaching Methods

The module will be delivered through lectures and seminars. Students are expected to read beforehand the required materials beforehand and to actively participate in the discussion. Lectures include the following topics: 1. Nature and scope of IHL; 2. Sources of IHL; 3. Qualification of armed conflicts; 4. Combatants and non-combatants; 5. Persons hors de combat and prisoners of war; 6. Conduct of hostilities I; 7. Conduct of hostilities II; 8. Law of occupation; 9. Implementation of IHL;

Method of Assessment

The course will be assessed by:
- A paper.

Literature

Required materials:
- R. Kolb, R. Hyde, An Introduction to the International Law of Armed Conflicts, Hart Publishing, Oxford, 2008.
- , documents and cases indicated in the reading list for each lecture, which will be available on Canvas. Recommended materials:
- L. Green, Contemporary Law of Armed Conflict, Manchester University Press, 2000.
- F. Kalshoven, L. Zegveld, Constraints on the waging of war, CICR, Geneva, 2001 (available at www.icrc.org).
- Y. Dinstein, The Conduct of Hostilities under the Law of International Armed Conflict, 2nd ed. Cambridge University Press, 2010.
- M. Sassoli, A. Bouvier, How Does Law Protect in War, Geneva, ICRC, Second edition, 2006.

Target Audience

This course is not open for exchange students.