The Research Department seeks to lead and promote high level research in the different areas of expertise of the UCIHL. These research areas are mainly international humanitarian law (IHL), the law of collective security and peacekeeping, human rights, international criminal law and the law of refugees and internally displaced persons.

The Research Department intends to contribute to a better understanding of the challenges facing IHL and the other branches of law relating to armed conflicts and states of emergency. The ultimate objective is to engage in far-reaching and in-depth analyses, which are often missing in domains that are constantly evolving and are subject to the pressures of current events.

Research projects undertaken may be of a short, medium or long-term nature; be in partnership with other international/national organisations; as well as multidisciplinary in their approach. Projects are aimed at academics as well as other international actors concerned, either directly or indirectly, by armed conflict and states of emergency.