Course description
The vast majority of armed conflicts today are not “traditional”
inter-State confrontations but are rather of a non-international
character. Furthermore, armed conflicts have become more complex – with
some involving dozens or even hundreds of different armed groups, as
well as varying levels of involvement and influence of other actors –
resulting in greater challenges for the protection of civilians.
This workshop provides an in-depth analysis of the norms applicable
in non-international armed conflicts, with a primary focus on IHL, in
light of the most salient contemporary issues for the protection of
civilians. In particular, it is designed to review the logic and
development of the law of non-international armed conflict while
addressing the on-going debates in its application on the basis of the
key legal and practical differences with the law of international armed
conflict.
Through examination of cases based on current complex emergency
contexts, the workshop explores specific questions humanitarian
professionals face, from the central notions of "civilian" and "direct
participation in hostilities" to urban warfare, access issues, and
humanitarian engagement with armed actors. Ultimately, it is designed to
strengthen the capacity of practitioners to more effectively address
protection of civilians concerns in non-international armed conflicts
through a deeper understanding of existing norms and their
interpretation and application in practice.