030349 KU International Humanitarian Law (2021W)

This course will provide a comprehensive introduction to the international law governing the conduct of hostilities (ius in bello, also known as the law of armed conflict or international humanitarian law (IHL)). It will enable students to gain a good knowledge of the principles and regulations applicable in the event of armed conflict and to learn how to identify and analyze the applicable law. The teaching will focus on independent reflection and the application of academic theories to practical scenarios.
Topics include the principles of IHL (distinction, proportionality, military necessity, humanity); classification of conflicts (minimum prerequisites of an armed conflict, the distinction between international and non-international armed conflict); means and methods of warfare (‘Hague law’), protected groups hors de combat (‘Geneva law’); the law of occupation; implementation and enforcement of IHL; and the interrelationship of IHL with human rights law and international criminal law.
The course will be taught interactively, using a combination of lectures, case studies, and class discussions. It will examine the application of IHL in recent armed conflicts, including in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, and Israel/Palestine.