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Université catholique de Louvain

International Humanitarian Law

Université catholique de Louvain via edX

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Overview

Armed conflicts have always existed around the world. Unfortunately, recent events have shown that this phenomenon is becoming increasingly complex, especially with respect to some legal issues, such as:

- The definition of combatants and the protection of detainees when terrorists are involved in the hostilities.
- The detention by rebels of State armed forces.
- The involvement and status of UN peacekeepers in armed conflicts.

This course will help you understand these complex legal issues by teaching you the law of armed conflict , a branch of public international law also known as ‘International Humanitarian Law’ (‘IHL’).We will address these issues in light of recent practice, including counter-terrorism, such as the fight against non-state actors like ISIS and Al-Qaeda in different regions of the world, as well as other recent and older conflicts, such as those in Armenia, Afghanistan, Libya, Mali, and the Israeli-Palestinian one.

The course will provide essential theoretical and practical knowledge for students, researchers and academics who wish to specialize in International Humanitarian Law as well as professionals, including members of NGOs, involved in armed conflict situations, or even members of armed forces.

In this course, you can choose between an audit (free) track and a verified track ($199 fee).

The audit track

  • Proposes a general approach to International Humanitarian Law (it’s a master level law course so learners with poor knowledge on this subject may have to work harder to understand the materials).
  • Assesses your mastery of the relevant concepts through multiple choice questions that avoid complex and controversial issues.
  • Implies a workload of about 4-7 hours/chapter

The verified track

  • Offers a deeper and more complex learning experience: detailed considerations and developments on controversial issues, additional videos and readings.
  • Assesses your mastery of complex and controversial issues through more complex MCQ, case studies and peer review assignments.
  • Offers a staff graded final exam.
  • Implies a workload of about 8-12 hours/chapter.
  • Delivers a verified certificate (in case of passing final grade) and allows you to pursue the International Law MicroMasters credentials.

Syllabus

Week 1: Introduction

Introductory remarks about International Humanitarian Law, including the relationships between law and armed conflicts, a brief history of that Law and its relations with other branches of International Law, such as international human rights law.

Week 2: Sources and subjects

Analysis of the sources (treaty, including the four 1949 Geneva Conventions, custom and jus cogens) as well as subjects (States, international organizations like the United Nations and armed groups) of International Humanitarian Law.

Week 3: Scope of application

Qualification of situations of violence as armed conflicts and analysis of the temporal and geographical scope of application of International Humanitarian Law.

Week 4: Conduct of hostilities

Analysis of the norms regulating the conduct of hostilities, including the prohibitions to target persons and objects, the prohibitions to use weapons and methods of warfare and the obligation of precaution.

Week 5: Protection of persons

Analysis of the norms regulating the protection of persons in time of war, notably the wounded and sick people, the captured combatants and the civilians, including in time of occupation.

Week 6: State responsibility

Introductory remarks on the implementation means of International Humanitarian Law and analysis of State responsibility mechanisms in case of violations of that Law.

Week 7: Individual responsibility

Analysis of the relevant rules of international criminal law, including the national/international/hybrid mechanisms for the punishing of individuals responsible of war crimes.

Taught by

Raphaël Van Steenberghe and Jerôme de Hemptinne

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Reviews

5.0 rating, based on 1 Class Central review

4.1 rating at edX based on 11 ratings

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  • Profile image for Karen Carlson
    Karen Carlson @sloopie72
    Fascinating but hard; prepare to do some intense reading and get ready to make some very fine distinctions between subtle points. I have no background in law other than the first course of this series, International Law, so it might be easier for those with an extensive background in the details of how wars are fought and/or legal systems. I found it very worthwhile, however, to understand the benefits and limits of the current system.

    FMI see my personal blog post at https://sloopie72.wordpress.com/2017/06/09/international-humanitarian-law-mooc/
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