International Humanitarian Law

Objectives:
A participant who has successfully completed this course should:

• have a sound understanding of the basic international legal norms governing armed conflicts
• have a thorough knowledge of the relevant international institutional framework and especially the role of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
• acquire an appreciation of the key policy challenges arising in relation to efforts to protect the victims of armed conflict and to extend the scope and reach of existing law
• be familiar with critical perspectives on the role of these norms, institutions and policies; and
• be able to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the emerging regime in this area.

Content:
Topics covered in the course may include:

• the historical evolution of international legal norms
• the principles determining the rules applicable in different conflict situations
• the relationship between human rights and humanitarian law norms
• the role of the ICRC in general, as well as in specific conflicts such as the former Yugoslavia
• enforcement of international humanitarian law; the Security Council and international war crimes tribunals for Rwands and the former Yugoslavia
• new directions, including the challenges posed by international terrorist activities, and the emergence of new weapons.

Students must rely on the Approved Assessment which will be posted to the course homepage on the ANU Law website, prior to the commencement of the course.

26 Contact Hours (Intensive Delivery)

Click here for 2009 Graduate Law Timetable