DROI2330-4

Duration

45h Th

Number of credits

	Extra courses intended for exchange students (Erasmus, ...)	5 crédits

Lecturer

Christophe Deprez, Vincent Guerra, Marine Wery

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the first semester, review in January

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

This course deals with the key principles of international humanitarian law (IHL), or the law of armed conflict (LOAC).
Twenty lectures approximately will be held from September to December - by several lecturers who will share their knowledge and experience -, which will cover topics such as the definition and classification of armed conflicts, the notion of protected persons, authorized methods and means of warfare, and issues connected to the implementation of IHL. We will also deal with some issues of international criminal law (in particular as regards the activities of the International Criminal Court).
This course will also work toward the preparation and possible participation, by a team of three students, to the Jean-Pictet Competition, and by a team of three students to the Inter-University Competition sponsored by the Belgian Red Cross. The internal selection of participants in these competitions will take place in May-June of the academic year prior to the competitions (see below).
The three students selected for the Inter-University Competition will not have to write a Master thesis (this only applies to law students). The three students selected for participating in the Jean-Pictet Competition will be exempted from both their Master thesis and their final internship (this only applies to law students). If the three participants are not short-listed to participate in the final stage of the competition, they will be required to complete a 90-hour internship on IHL in the course of the second semester (the course instructors are committed to arranging and supervising this internship).

The Jean-Pictet Competition :(http://ww.concourspictet.org) This is a competition on IHL that involves each year universities from all around the globe. Beside the competitive aspect, it also consists of an intensive training session for students, which aims at allowing them to increase their knowledge of IHL through simulations and role-playing games. These games take place during an intensive week that pits the finalist teams against each other. Each team is made up of three candidates. Selection by the Comity takes place in mid-November. The competition week takes place in March or April.
Inter-university Competition of the Belgian Red Cross: (http://www.croix-rouge.be) This competition organized by the Belgian Red Cross is intended for students in law, criminology, political science and international relations. In the perspective of the 2019 edition, the format of the competition has been changed and will not consist of a mock trial before the International Criminal Court anymore. More information will follow, when disclosed by the Red Cross.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

This course aims to disseminate the key principles of IHL. It enables students to acquire basic knowledge in this field. It also seeks to stimulate, through concrete case studies, a practical and useful application of these principles.
The possible participation in the Jean-Pictet Competition or the Moot Court Competition is certainly an asset for students eager to enter the bar or an institution - public or private - that deals with conflict and postconflict contexts.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

Participants are expected to be familar with the key principles of public international law.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning)

Lectures Lectures will be organized during the first semester. Several guest speakers (military, judges,...) will also be invited to take the floor. Class attendance is obviously, warmly encouraged (please do inform us of any absence to classes for which a guest speaker is scheduled to come).
Selection to participate in the competitions Around the end of May or June, an internal selection process will determine which ULg students may attempt to participate in the next Jean-Pictet Competition or in the next Inter-university Mock Trial Competition of the Belgian Red Cross. Participation in the selection process requires that applicants plan to attend, or have already attended, this course.
The selection process will be made on the basis of a CV, a cover letter and a personal interview.

Assessment methods and criteria

Written examination. The exact forms of the examination will be detailed during the first class.

Work placement(s)

Organizational remarks

See above.

Contacts

For further information, please contact Marine WERY (marine.wery@uliege.be) or Christophe DEPREZ (christophe.deprez@uliege.be).
The course is organized Christophe DEPREZ (christophe.deprez@uliege.be) and Marine WERY (marine.wery@uliege.be), under the academic supervision of Prof. Patrick WAUTELET.

International humanitarian law