The risk of both individual and large-scale violations of human rights is perhaps greatest in time of armed conflict, whether internal or international. Rules of international law have been designed to protect vulnerable groups not taking part in the hostilities and to regulate the conduct of the fighting to reduce, so far as possible, the risk to civilians, while taking account of military necessity.
The module starts with an introduction to the concept of legal regulation of war and the general underlying principles, to provide a context. This is followed by an examination of the classification of armed conflict and the different types of conflict recognised in international law. Then follows a detailed examination of the law on the conduct of operations and weapon use before turning to the rules designed to protect the 'victims of war'. The module includes a class examining the means available to prevent and to punish violations of the rules, and ends with a consideration of the interplay between the regimes of human rights and humanitarian law.
The emphasis throughout the module is practical. Examples are taken from real conflict situations. Since the law reflects not only humanitarian concerns but also political imperatives and military necessity, the module seeks to examine how, in practical terms, respect for the rules could be improved.
- Module Supervisor: Noam Lubell
- Module Supervisor: Gus Waschefort