International Humanitarian Law

International Humanitarian Law (sometimes known as the Law of Armed Conflict) is one of the two key areas of jus in bello; the law seeking to regulate and mitigate the conduct of hostilities. International Humanitarian Law seeks to protect the victims of armed conflict from armed conflict's effects.

This modules seeks to provide students with an understanding of the different legal regimes of jus in bello and jus ad bellum.  To provide students with an appreciation ofthe general principles and laws that comprise international humanitarian law and to assess how these rules developed over time.

Format: There will be one three-hour seminar per week during the semester. Students are expected to read material in advance, and to engage in debate and discussion of the relevant issues during seminars.

Semesters: 1 

ECTS: 15 per semester

Lecturer: Professor Ray Murphy 

Learning Outcomes: 

Upon completion of this course students will be able to:

• Discuss and evaluate the role and nature of IHL,
• Critically examine the historical background to the development of IHL,
• Critically examine the provisions of the Geneva Conventions and Additional Protocols,
• Analyse and discuss the criteria for distinguishing between categories of conflict, 
• Critically examine the rules governing the treatment of combatants and prisoners of war,
• Explain and apply the rules governing the conduct of hostilities.
•  Explain and evaluate the protection of civilians under IHL,
•  Discuss and evaluate the relevance of IHL to peace support operations,
• Explain the distinction between international humanitarian law and international human rights law,
• Discuss the implementation of IHL,
• Apply the relevant principles of IHL to hypothetical scenarios.‌

International Humanitarian Law LW458 2019-2020

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