19 June-30 July 2013 (E03113) | Closed
30 October-10 December 2013 (C0313) Register for this course
This e-learning course offers a basic introduction to international humanitarian law (or the law of armed conflict). It is a foundation course for other HREA e-learning courses in this area and serves as a stepping stone for developing expertise in specialised areas of the law of armed conflict. The course examines how international humanitarian law guides the conduct of hostilities, restrains the use of force, mitigates the consequences of warfare and protects civilians in international and non-international armed conflicts and in situations of occupation. The course also discusses the role of international criminal law and international human rights law in armed conflicts as well as ways and means to enforce adherence to international humanitarian law.
Learners will acquire basic knowledge on the development, scope and purpose of international humanitarian law and on the basic protective principles (such as distinction between civilian objects and military objectives, military necessity, proportionality, the prohibition of non-discriminatory weapons, and precautions in targeting). They will examine the difference between international and non-international armed conflicts and the concept of lawful combatancy and learn about the law of occupation. They will also learn about ways to ensure adherence to IHL, including the role of the ICRC and international criminal justice.
The certificate course involves approximately 30 hours of reading, interaction among students and the instructor in the Learning Forum, an assignment, quizzes and webinars, and is offered over a 6-week period. The course will integrate active and participatory learning approaches within activities and assignments, with an emphasis on reflective and collaborative learning.
Course outline
Week 1: Development, scope and purpose of international humanitarian law
Week 2: Basic principles: the conduct of hostilities and the protection of civilians
Week 3: International and non-international armed conflicts
Week 4: Lawful and unlawful combatants and direct participation in hostilities
Week 5: The law of occupation
Week 6: Enforcing international humanitarian law
About the instructor
Dr. Gerd Oberleitner is Lecturer at the Institute of International Law and International Relations of the University of Graz, Austria. Having served as legal adviser in the human rights department of the Austrian Ministry for Foreign Affairs in 1998-1999, he was Executive Secretary of the European Training and Research Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (ETC) in Graz from 1999-2002 (and serves now on the Centre’s Executive Board). From 2002 to 2004 he was Lecturer in Human Rights at the London School of Economics (LSE) and from 2004 to 2007 Visiting Fellow at the LSE’s Centre for the Study of Human Rights. He was Visiting Scholar at the European Inter-University Centre in Venice (2009) and the Université du Quebéc à Montréal (2010) and Visiting Professor at the University of Prishtina (2010). He has regularly taught human rights at various other institutions, including SciencesPo (Paris) and in the European Regional Master Programme in Democracy and Human Rights in South-East Europe (Sarajevo) and the European Master's Programme in Human Rights and Democratisation (Venice). His publications include Global Human Rights Institutions: Between Remedy and Ritual (Cambridge, Polity, 2007).
Who should apply
The course is aimed at university students of international law, international relations, politics and other areas, NGO staff members, humanitarian actors, educators and professionals who want to gain basic knowledge in the field of international humanitarian law. (Basic) knowledge in international law is an advantage but not a prerequisite. This course is recommended to those who would like to participate in other short and specialised HREA e-learning courses but lack sufficient background and knowledge of international humanitarian law. Candidates should have a good written command of English and have high competence and comfort with computer and Internet use. HREA aims to ensure equal gender and geographical distribution across the selected participants. The maximum number of course participants is 25. It also possible to audit the course. A Certificate of Participation will be awarded upon successful completion of the course.
Costs
Tuition fee for participants: US$ 575; tuition for auditors: US$ 215.
Payments can be made online with major credit cards (Discover, MasterCard, Visa), PayPal and bank/wire transfer. Bulk rates are available.
Registration
This course will be offered from 19 June-30 July 2013 and in Spanish from 30 October-10 December 2013.
Frequently asked questions about HREA's e-learning courses.
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