Event information

1 December 2021, 17:30-19:00

Book Launch: Rebel Courts

IHL Talks

Cover page of the book Cover page of the book

The new book Rebel Courts (Oxford University Press) by Professor René Provost, discusses the administration of justice by armed groups. Based on extensive fieldwork, it offers a unique insight into the judicial governance of armed groups, a phenomenon never studied comprehensively until now.

Using a series of detailed case studies of non-state armed groups in a diverse range of conflict situations, including the FARC (Colombia), Islamic State (Syria and Iraq), Taliban (Afghanistan), Tamil Tigers (Sri Lanka), PKK (Turkey), PYD (Syria), and KRG (Iraq), the book argues that it is possible for armed groups to legally establish and operate a system of courts to administer justice.

In this online book launch – part of our IHL Talk series –, Professor René Provost will discuss with leading scholars in international humanitarian law (IHL) and international human rights law the legal and practical challenges related to the administration of justice by armed groups.

Moderation

  • Annyssa Bellal, Senior Research Fellow and Strategic Adviser on IHL, Geneva Academy

Panelists

  • René Provost, Professor, McGill University
  • Marco Sassòli, Professor of International Law, University of Geneva
  • Mara Revkin, Fellow, Georgetown’s Center on National Security and the Law
  • Helen Duffy, International Lawyer, Human Rights in Practice and Professor of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights, Leiden University
  • Ezequiel Heffes, Senior Policy and Legal Advisor, Geneva Call
  • Mina Radondic, Former LLM Student, Geneva Academy

About IHL Talks

The IHL Talks are a series of events, hosted by the Geneva Academy, on international humanitarian law and current humanitarian topics. Every two months, academic experts, practitioners, policymakers and journalists discuss burning humanitarian issues and their regulation under international law.

Video

Book Launch: Rebel Courts

In this online book launch – part of our IHL Talk series – Professor René Provost discussed with leading scholars in IHL and human rights the legal and practical challenges related to the administration of justice by armed groups.

MORE ON THIS THEMATIC AREA

IHL in Focus Launch Meeting News

Opening Expert Meeting For 'IHL in Focus' Project

22 April 2024

To kick-start the activities of the 'IHL in Focus' project and refine its approach, a two-day expert meeting of representative practitioners and scholars from different disciplines was convened.

Read more

Experts in the meeting News

Experts Discuss the Relevance and Dynamics of Armed Group Coalitions in Contemporary Armed Conflicts and Counterterrorism

18 December 2023

International lawyers, social scientists, security experts, and humanitarian practitioners discussed how research in social sciences could inform IHL experts and humanitarian practitioners to assess whether a certain degree of cooperation between organized armed groups – referred to as a ‘coalition’ – had relevance for armed conflict classification.

Read more

AI Image of Military Person using a drone Event

Artificial Intelligence in Military Decision Making: Legal and Humanitarian Implications

14 May 2024, 18:30-19:45

Co-hosted by the ICRC and the Geneva Academy, at the ICRC headquarters in Geneva, this event aims to disseminate key findings on the use of artificial intelligence in military decision making.

Read more

Computer screen with warning: civilian infrastucture: do not attack Project

The Digitalization of Armed Conflict

Started in September 2020

This project will explore humanitarian consequences and protection needs caused by the digitalization of armed conflicts and the extent to which these needs are addressed by international law, especially international humanitarian law.

Read more

A destroyed camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Khor Abeche, South Darfur, Project

Understanding the Relationship between Conflict, Security and the Human Right to a Clean, Healthy and Sustainable Environment

Started in May 2023

This project will develop guidance to inform security, human rights and environmental debates on the linkages between environmental rights and conflict, and how their better management can serve as a tool in conflict prevention, resilience and early warning.

Read more

Cover Page of Research Brief Publication

Unpacking the Climate Migration Extremism Nexus Mapping the Coping Strategies of Kenyan Pastorialists

published on April 2024

Erica Harper, Yosuke Nagai

Read more

Cover Page of Research Brief Publication

Unpacking the Burgeoning Challenge of Environmental Protection and the Right to Food in the Context of Armed Conflict

published on April 2024

Erica Harper, Junli Lim

Read more