Duration
48h Th
Number of credits
Lecturer
Language(s) of instruction
French language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the first semester, review in January
Schedule
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 taught from September to December, which will cover topics such as the definition and classification of armed conflicts, the concept of protected persons, the limitation of methods and means of warfare, and issues pertaining to the implementation of IHL. We will also deal with some aspects of international criminal law.
This course will also work toward the preparation and possible participation by teams of students in the Jean-Pictet competition and in the International Criminal Court moot court competition sponsored by the Hague Academy of International Law. The selection of participants takes place in May of the academic year prior to those competitions.
If they reach the final stage of these competitions, the four students selected for the International Criminal Court moot court and the three students selected for the Jean-Pictet competition will be exempted of their whole "travail de fin d'études" (thesis and internship). This only applies to law students.
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 jury takes place mid-November. The competition week takes place in February, March or April.
The ICC moot court competition : (https://www.hagueacademy.nl/concours-de-plaidoiries/)
This is a competition on international criminal law that involves three steps: an initial stage for written submissions, the oral stage of the moot court as such (that is organised in The Hague with the best ten teams during the initial stage), and the grand final organised at the International Criminal Court.
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.
Participation in the Jean-Pictet competition or in the ICC moot court competition is certainly an asset for students eager to enter the bar or an institution - whether public or private - working in conflict and postconflict contexts.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
Participants are expected to have a general knowledge of the fundamental principles of public (international) law.
Furthermore, as this is a specialised course that requires a basic legal background, enrolment is restricted to students holding a bachelor's degree in law or political science. In all other cases, access to the course is subject to explicit authorisation, which must be requested on the basis of an application.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
Subject to organisational contingencies, a guided tour of the International Criminal Court in The Hague will be organised on 8 December 2026. The programme should include a presentation of the latest judicial developments at the Court, a visit to the public gallery of the courtroom and the opportunity to attend a hearing.
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
Face-to-face course
Further information:
Lectures
Lectures will be organized during the first semester. Several guest speakers will also be invited to take the floor. Class attendance is warmly encouraged and especially desirable when a guest speaker is scheduled to come.
Selection to participate in the competitions
Around June, an internal selection process will determine which ULiege students may attempt to participate in the next Jean-Pictet competition or ICC moot court competition.
Course materials and recommended or required readings
Platform(s) used for course materials:
- eCampus
Further information:
The manual Chr. DEPREZ et L. MONACO, Droit international humanitaire, Bruxelles, Larcier, 2025, is the main written support and is available at the ULiège Presses bookshop.
The code de droit international humanitaire, Larcier, 2023, is recommended. As an alternative, it is also possible to print the several useful documents compiled in a reader available on the e-campus portal.
Exam(s) in session
Any session
- In-person
oral exam
Additional information:
Closed-book oral examination.
Work placement(s)
Organisational remarks and main changes to the course
See above.
Contacts
For further information, please contact Christophe DEPREZ (christophe.deprez@uliege.be) or Lola LIPPERT (lola.lippert@uliege.be).