Learning outcome - master's level (JUS5730)
Knowledge
Students are expected to gain good knowledge (JUS5730) of the followings issues:
- Key moments from the historic development of IHL
- The legal sources of IHL
- The fundamental principles of IHL, including the principle of humanity, of military necessity, of distinction, of proportionality, and of the prohibition of unnecessary suffering and superfluous injury
- The classification of armed conflicts and the scope of application of IHL
- The limitations on means and methods of armed conflicts
- Combatant status and its implications
- Protection of various categories of persons, including prisoners of war (POW), civilians, and non-combatants more generally
- Protection of civilian objects and civilian infrastructure
- Protection of cultural property
- Protection of the environment
- International peace operations
- The relationship between IHL and other branches of public international law, including international human rights law, especially international human rights law
- Gender perspectives on IHL
- Implementation and enforcement of IHL, including national implementation, and enforcement through international courts and tribunals
- Some of the main current challenges to IHL, including new technologies and the use of artificial intelligence
Skills
Students will be able to:
- Find and effectively use the various legal sources of IHL
- Identify and apply relevant provisions from the 1949 Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols, as well as The Hague Regulations, in relation to various fact patterns
- Categorize armed conflicts and explain in detail the legal responsibilities incumbent upon the warring parties
- Find and analyse relevant international case law from various international (criminal) courts and tribunals
General competence
Through the knowledge and skills gained in this course, students will be able to:
- Understand the causes and legal consequences of armed conflicts
- Develop a good understanding of the role that IHL plays in armed conflict situations
- Apply IHL to factual realities and practical problems, which would be relevant for their future careers in various ministries, (humanitarian) NGO's, International organisations and other similar institutions
- Learn how to balance law and ethics in difficult factual circumstances
Learning outcome - bachelor's level (JUR1730)
Knowledge
Students are expected to gain general knowledge on the followings issues:
- Key moments of the historic development of IHL
- The legal sources of IHL
- The categories of armed conflict and the scope of application of IHL
- The limitations on means and methods of armed conflicts
- Combatant status and its implications
- Protection of various categories of persons, including prisoners of war (POW), civilians, and non-combatants more generally
- Protection of civilian objects and civilian infrastructure
- Protection of cultural property
- International peace operations
- The relationship between IHL and other branches of public international law, especially international human rights law
- Gender perspectives on IHL
- Implementation and enforcement of IHL, including national implementation, and enforcement through international courts and tribunals
Skills
Students will be able to:
- Find and effectively use the various legal sources of IHL
- Identify and apply provisions from the 1949 Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols, as well as The Hague Regulations, in relation to various fact patterns
- Classify armed conflicts and understand the various responsibilities incumbent upon the warrying parties
- Find and use relevant international case law from various international courts and tribunals
- Apply IHL rules to factual realities and practical problems
General competence
Through the knowledge and skills gained in this course, students will be able to:
- Develop an understanding of the causes and legal consequences of armed conflicts
- Understand the role that IHL plays in armed conflict situations and use that knowledge in their future roles at various ministries, (humanitarian) NGOs, international organisations and other similar institutions
- Learn how to balance law and ethics in difficult factual circumstances