New Offer: Online Short Courses in International Law in Armed Conflict

8 September 2020

For the upcoming 2020–2021 academic year, our 16 short courses in international law in armed conflict will also be offered online – in addition to taking place in Geneva.

‘Many professionals working in a situation of armed conflict face, in their daily tasks, challenges whose resolution requires some legal tools and knowledge of the legal framework and the protection afforded by international human rights law (IHRL) or international humanitarian law (IHL). Our aim, by opening these short courses to an audience outside Geneva, is precisely to bring this legal knowledge to the field’ says Professor Gloria Gaggioli, Director of the Geneva Academy.

‘These courses are also of interest for a Geneva-based audience – diplomats as well as staff member of an international organization or NGO dealing with humanitarian and human rights issues – and we therefore also continue to offer them at our Headquarters the Villa Moynier’ she adds.

A student during a Geneva Academy cours, holding the Geneva Conventions

From the Basics of IHL and IHRL to Specific Topics like Counterterrorism or the Protection of Refugees

The 16 short courses cover a wide range of issues and topics, ranging from introductory courses on general international law, IHL and Armed ConflictInternational Criminal and Transitional Justice, Human Rights Protection, and Economic Social and Cultural Rights, to more complex issues like the interplay between IHL and IHRL, the classification of armed conflict or accountability for atrocity crimes.

Participants can either choose one specific course or follow several ones, starting with the introductory courses and then move to the ones that are more specific. As we offer these courses every year, this can be spread over several years.

We also offer courses on specific issues like preventing and combating terrorism, international refugee law, sanctions or the responsibility to protect.

Two New Courses on the Implementation of IHL and IHRL

Another novelty of this academic year is the two new courses – given both in Geneva and online – on the implementation of IHL and implementation of IHRL.

‘We aim, with these two courses, at looking at the other side of the coin: how does the law apply in practice, the mechanisms for its implementation and the challenges one can face’ says Professor Gaggioli.

Two leading experts – Dr Lindsey Cameron, Head of the unit of Thematic Legal Advisers in the Legal Division of the International Committee of the Red Cross and Professor Olivier de Frouville, Member of the United Nations Human Rights Committee – will share their extensive experience and expertise with participants.

Member of an armed groupo holding an ICRC leaflet on IHL

On Thursdays Evening, Fridays Late Afternoon or Fridays Evening

Each short course consists in six classes of two hours each that take place on Thursdays evening (18:00–20:00), Fridays late afternoon (15:30–17:30) or Fridays evenings (18:00–20:00).

Part of the Executive Master in International Law in Armed Conflict

These short courses form part of our Executive Master in International Law in Armed Conflict. As such, participants in these short courses will join other professionals enrolled in this programme.

‘We have had participants who followed one or two short courses and then decide to enrol in the Executive Master. In these cases, they get a discount on the Executive Master’s tuition fee’ explains Professor Gaggioli.

MORE ON THIS THEMATIC AREA

IHL in Focus Spot Report News

Water Wars: How Sudan’s Conflict Weaponizes a Basic Human Need

4 August 2025

Our latest spot report explores how the targeting of water infrastructure is contributing to what is now considered the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, affecting 30 million people.

Read more

Daniel Fyfe News

Executive Master of Advanced Studies in International Law in Armed Conflict: What Alumni Say

22 May 2025

Daniel Fyfe, Human Rights Officer at OHCHR, tells about his experience taking our Executive Master of Advanced Studies.

Read more

A general view of participants during of the 33nd ordinary session of the Human Rights Council. Training

The Universal Periodic Review and the UN Human Rights System: Raising the Bar on Accountability

10-14 November 2025

This training course will explore the origin and evolution of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) and its functioning in Geneva and will focus on the nature of implementation of the UPR recommendations at the national level.

Read more

Iraq, Mosul. View of the west bank after the war. Project

IHL in Focus

Started in January 2024

As a yearly publication, it keeps decision-makers, practitioners and scholars up-to-date with the latest trends and challenges in IHL implementation in over 100 armed conflicts worldwide – both international and non-international.

Read more

surveillance image of people Project

Human Rights in a Digitalized World: Mapping Risk, Strengthening Regulation and Promoting the Development of International Human Rights Law

Started in August 2023

To unpack the challenges raised by artificial intelligence, this project will target two emerging and under-researched areas: digital military technologies and neurotechnology.

Read more

Cover of the 2023 Geneva Academy Annual Report Publication

Annual Report 2024

published on July 2025

Read more