This research programme began in September 2006 with the support of the International University Network of Geneva (GIAN). It is supervised by the Academy in close cooperation with multiple institutional partners, which include: the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the Library of the United Nations Office in Geneva (UNOG), the Graduate Institute of International Studies (IUHEI), the European Institute of the University of Geneva (IEUG), the Translation School of the University of Geneva and the Graduate Institute of Development Studies (IUED).

Coordinated by Dr. Vincent Chetail, this project brings together 30 experts of worldwide reputation coming from various disciplines. Its objective is to produce a systematic and interdisciplinary study of the major issues and key concepts relating to peacebuilding.

Peacebuilding remains a major challenge for the international community and war-torn societies. This concept remains however characterised by numerous ambiguities, which impair its comprehension and the action of the various actors involved in post-conflict processes. The objective of the present research project is to better understand the recurrent gap between theory and practice through an analysis of the meaning and relevance of the various concepts of peacebuilding. The results of the research will take the form of a Peacebuilding Lexicon, which will be published in 2008 and will contribute to a better understanding of the content and issues of what has become a major concept of international relations.

 

Launched in 2006 with the support of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, this research project analyzes the practice of international organisations relating to the applicability of human rights in times of armed conflict. It is carried out by Dr. Stuart Maslen under the supervision of Dr. Vincent Chetail and Professor Louise Doswald-Beck.

This research project highlights the growing role of international human rights law as a normative framework for armed conflicts. To this end, it carries out a systematic study of the relevant resolutions adopted by international organisations in the last decades. The objective is to determine which human rights norms are considered as applicable in times of armed conflict and to define their respective contents. The outcome of this project will be published in the UCIHL collection in 2008.

 

This research programme was initiated by the Academy in 2005 following the official call for proposals organised by the Swiss National Science Foundation. The research is carried out by Dr. Sylvain Vité and Professor Robert Kolb and aims to analyze the rules relating to military occupation in the light of recent international events.

While adopting a global approach of military occupation, this project addresses more specifically the nature and evolution of the regimes implemented in Afghanistan and Iraq. It aims to identify uncertain areas of, or even loopholes in the applicable law and to propose an update of an old legal regime that dates essentially back to 1907 and 1949. The research will result in the publication of a monograph by Bruylant in the Academy collection in 2008.

 

This research programme is supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation following its official call for proposals.  The project began on 1 July 2007 for two years and its objective is to define and analyze the global legal framework within which the private companies involved in times of armed conflict operate. It is carried out by Rachid Ferhi and Mamadou Hebié under the supervision of Professor Marco Sassoli and Dr. Vincent Chetail.

Given the increasingly important role of private companies in contemporary armed conflicts, it is more important than ever to determine the basis on which international humanitarian law can be considered applicable to them. This research also aims at defining the content of the norms by which they may be bound and to apprehend the responsibilities that could be engaged in case of violations of international humanitarian law norms. The research will result in the publication of a monograph by Bruylant in the Academy collection.

 

This research programme will begin in October 2007 for two years with the support of the Swiss National Science Foundation. It is carried out by Professor Robert Kolb, Dr. Vincent Chetail and Catherine Maia on the basis of an empirical analysis of the main international armed conflicts that have occurred since the 1950s.    

The practice accumulated after the adoption of the III Geneva Convention has never been the object of a systematic, in-depth analysis. The objective of this research project is to identify the insufficiencies and loopholes of the prisoner of war status with the prospect of updating this legal regime in an original way. It will result in the publication of a monograph on the legal status of prisoners of war and its current challenges.