International Humanitarian Law 2751-KONJA-IHL

The classes consist of 30 hours. The following subjects will be presented in more details: the name, contents and principles of IHL, its genesis and historical development, general rules of the Hague Conventions of 1907 and Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their Additional Protocols of 1977, amelioration of the condition of the wounded and sick in armies in the field as well as wounded, sick and shipwrecked in the war at sea, status and treatment of prisoners of war and protection afforded civilian population in times of war, prohibited weapons, civilian objects and military objectives, implementation of IHL, war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and international criminal tribunals, relations between IHL and human rights law as well as challenges and new trends in IHL.

Total student workload

Classes - 30 h; gathering materials to prepare the presentation (time spent in the library, searching for the materials on the internet) - 30 h; direct preparation of the presentation (writing an essay, making Power Point presentation) - 30 h; internalizing the materials and preparing to make a speech in the framework of the presentation - 60 h. In total: 150 h.

Learning outcomes - knowledge

K_W01 A student knows the terminology, aims and principles of international humanitarian law; K_W02 A student knows the currently binding international humanitarian law regulations; K_W03 A student knows mechanisms of application and interpretation of international humanitarian law; K_W04 A student knows the role of international humanitarian law in international relations, including nowadays frequent non-international armed conflicts.

Learning outcomes - skills

K_U01 A student uses the terminology of international humanitarian law; K_U02 A student interprets legal texts of the international humanitarian law.

Learning outcomes - social competencies

K_K01 A student works efficiently in a group; K_K02 A student takes responsibility for preparing a paper which is a basis for passing the classes; K_K03 A student can think and put arguments on his/her own and in an independent manner; K_K04 A student is aware of the necessity of self-education and self-development.

Teaching methods

The classes are conducted with the use of the method of an intoductory lecture followed by presentation made by two- or three-students groups. After that there is a discussion with the partcipation of all students present.

Expository teaching methods

- informative (conventional) lecture

Exploratory teaching methods

- presentation of a paper

Prerequisites

Basic knowledge of public international law and good ability to speak English.

Course coordinators

Agnieszka Szpak

Learning outcomes

The results of teaching are the abilities and competences to use the IHL terminology and to understand the mechanism of IHL, when it is applicable, what its role is especially in contemporary armed conflicts with special emphasis on the more an often non-international armed conflicts.

Assessment criteria

Each student taking part in IHL classes has to present a paper (oral presentation). I will also take into account the attendance and activities during classes.
2 absences are allowed.

Bibliography

Dinstein Y., The Conduct of Hostilities under the Law of International Armed Conflict, Cambridge University Press, 2004;
Dinstein Y., Unlawful Combatancy, “Israel Yearbook on Human Rights” nr 32 (2002);
Dinstein Y., Humanitarian Law on the Conflict in Afghanistan, ASIL Proceedings 2002;
Emanuelli, C. International Humanitarian Law, Éditions Yvon Blais, Québec 2009 ;
Henckaerts, J.-M., Doswald-Beck, L., Customary International Humanitarian Law. Volume I: Rules, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 2005;
Kalshoven F., The Law of Warfare. A Summary of its Recent History and Trends in Development, Genewa 1973;
Kalshoven F., Zegveld L., Constrains on the Waging of War. An Introduction to International Humanitarian Law, Geneva 2001;
Levie H. S., Prisoners of War in International Armed Conflict, International Law Studies, tom 59, Newport, Naval War College Press, 1979;
Levie H. S., Enforcing the Third Geneva Convention on the Humanitarian Treatment of Prisoners of War, “Journal of Legal Studies” nr 7 (1996-1997);
Mulinen, de F., Handbook on the Law of War for Armed Forces, ICRC, Geneva 1987;
Rosas A., The Legal Status of Prisoners of War. A Study in International Humanitarian Law Applicable in Armed Conflicts, Helsinki 1976;
Rose D., Guantanamo. America’s War on Human Rights, Londyn 2004.

Notes

Term 2021/22Z:

None

Additional information

Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system:

Description of 2751-KONJA-IHL in USOSweb