How We Work

Genèva, ICRC headquarters, Humanitarium. Joint ICRC-Geneva Academy raining tcourse in IHL for university professors Genèva, ICRC headquarters, Humanitarium. Joint ICRC-Geneva Academy raining tcourse in IHL for university professors

Training Experts and Practitioners

Our three master’s programmes and various training and short courses disseminate legal knowledge in international humanitarian law (IHL), international human rights law and transitional justice. Our teaching enables specialists to apply these legal frameworks to complex situations – Afghanistan, Central African Republic, Colombia, Iraq, Syria – and challenging processes such as criminal proceedings, political transitions, international negotiations and humanitarian interventions.

Informing Policy

Our research examines issues that are under-explored, need clarification or are unconventional, experimental or challenging. It thus advances understanding and stimulates debate in the academic community and in policy-making institutions and government. The findings of our research regularly inform policy recommendations and support practitioners working on issues such as IHL, human rights (HR) or transitional justice.

Our Convening Power

The Geneva Academy regularly convenes expert meetings, seminars, conferences and events. This provides a critical and scholarly forum for experts and practitioners to discuss and debate topical issues in IHL, HR and transitional justice. For example, the right to life, the duty to investigate, reparations for past mass crimes, new trends and developments in international law in armed conflict or the work of United Nations HR mechanisms.

Promoting Diversity

We are committed to promoting diversity in all respects: cultural diversity, diversity in the geographical origin of students, staff and speakers, as well as generational, and gender diversity. We pursue this in our various activities and via different measures.

Masters

We are a leading education institution in international humanitarian law, human rights and transitional justice.

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Research

Our research examines issues that are under-explored, need clarification, or are unconventional, experimental or challenging.

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Executive Education

We provide training and short courses for professionals who want to deepen their expertise in a specific issue.

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Events

Our events provide a critical and scholarly forum for experts and practitioners to debate topical humanitarian, human rights and transitional justice issues.

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video camera on a tripod News

The Geneva Academy in 2023: 10 Things to Watch

13 February 2023

2023 will be a busy year for us. Discover what we are up to and some topical issues we will address and work on via our research, Geneva Human Rights Platform and master’s programmes.

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Aleppo, Syria: great Umayyad mosque. Destructions. Event

Book Launch: Cultural Heritage and Mass Atrocities

1 March 2023, 18:15-20:00

At this book launch, one of the book’s editors will discuss cultural heritage and mass atrocities with contributors to the book and specialists.

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Portrait of Madeleine Rees Event

Opening Lecture of the Spring Semester

6 March 2023, 18:00-20:00

In this Opening Lecture of the Spring Semester, Madeleine Rees, Secretary-General of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, will explore the innumerable fault lines which can lead to violent conflict.

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