Faculdade de Direito

Direito Internacional Humanitário

Código

MM122

Departamento

Área de Ensino

Créditos

Horas semanais

4.5

Objectivos

International Humanitarian Law, also known as the Law of War or Law of Armed Conflict, is the branch of public international law that regulates international and non-international armed conflict. International Humanitarian Law consists of the rules applicable during the conflict, which can be found in both treaties and international customary law. The main objective is to provide protection to the civilian population and civilian objects as well as to those persons who are no longer taking part in the hostilities. In addition, International Humanitarian Law aims at restricting the methods and means of warfare used during the hostilities by the parties involved. The International Committee of the Red Cross, a non-governmental humanitarian organization with its headquarters in Geneva, is the primary institution for International Humanitarian Law. The initiatives of the ICRC have greatly contributed to the development of international humanitarian law and the ICRC also monitors the implementation of International Humanitarian Law norms.

The objective of this course is to provide students with knowledge about the structure, content and implementation mechanisms of International Humanitarian Law, as well as to provide them with the ability to analyze and research the main aspects of this branch of International Law and relevant international practice.

Conteúdo

Programme

1. Concept, Nature and Specificities of IHL.

2. The application of IHL: International Armed Conflicts, Wars of National Liberation, Non-International Armed Conflicts, Internal Disturbances, Peacetime.

3. IHL and Human Rights.

4. The Sources of IHL: Treaty, Customary Law and the Martens Clause.

5. Combatants and Protected Persons (Prisoners of War, Wounded and Sick, Civilians).

6. Means and Methods of Warfare. The Principle of Distinction and other Principles. Lawfulness of Weapons.

7. Violations of IHL and International Crimes: Genocide, Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes.

8. International Criminal Tribunals and the International Criminal Court (ICC).

9. IHL in Peacetime: The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Red Cross/Crescent Movement. The Protection of the Emblem and the Basic Principles: Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Voluntary Service, Unity and Universality.

10. Current challenges to IHL: Implementation, Terrorism, Non-State Actors, Privatization of War and New Weapons

Bibliografia

Selected Bibliography

Clapham, A., and P. Gaeta (eds.), The Oxford Handbook of International Law in Armed Conflict, Oxford University Press (2015)

Kolb, R., Advanced Introduction to International Humanitarian Law, Elgar (2015)

Sassòli, M. (et al.), How does law protect in war? Cases, documents and teaching materials on contemporary practice in international humanitarian law, Online Platform 2014 (www.icrc.org/casebook)

Dinstein, Y., Non-International Armed Conflicts in International Law, Cambridge University Press (2014)

White, N. D., Advanced Introduction to International Conflict and Security Law, Elgar (2014)

International Law Association (ILA) Study Group, The Conduct of Hostilities under International Humanitarian Law – Challenges of 21st Century Warfare, Report 2014

Blank, L.R., and G.P. Noone, International Law and Armed Conflict: Fundamental Principles and Contemporary Challenges in the Law of War, Kluwer Law & Business (2013)

Crowe, J., and K. Weston-Scheuber, Principles of International Humanitarian Law, Elgar (2013)

Fleck, D. (ed.), The Handbook of International Humanitarian Law, Oxford University Press (2013)

Kolb, R., and G. Gaggioli (eds.), Research Handbook on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, Elgar (2013)

Bothe, M. (et al.), New rules for Victims of Armed Conflicts: Commentary on the Two 1977 Protocols Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 1949, Martinus Nijhoff (2013)

David, E., Principes de droit des conflits armés, Bruylant (2012)

Rogers, A.P.V., Law on the Battlefield, Manchester University Press (2012)

Wilmshurst, E. (ed.), International Law and the Classification of Conflicts, Oxford University Press (2012)

Kalshoven, F. and L. Zegveld , Constraints on the Waging of War: An Introduction to International Humanitarian Law, Cambridge University Press (2011)

Thürer, D., International Humanitarian Law: Theory, Practice, Context, Hague Academy of International Law (2011)

Solis, G. D., The Law of Armed Conflict: International Humanitarian Law in War, Cambridge University Press (2010)

Melzer, N. (ed.), Interpretive Guidance on the Notion of Direct Participation in Hostilities under International Humanitarian Law, ICRC (2009)

Henckaerts, J.-M. and L. Doswald-Beck (eds.), Customary International Humanitarian Law, Cambridge University Press (2005)

Roberts, A., and R. Guelff (eds.), Documents on the Laws of War, Oxford University Press (2000)

Selected Internet Resources

www.icj-cij.org

http://www.icty.org

www.unictr.org

http://www.crimesofwar.org

http://www.asil.org/sites/default/files/ERG_HUMANIT_LAW.pdf

www.eisil.org

http://www.geneva-academy.ch/RULAC/international_humanitarian_law.php

Método de ensino

Theoretical and pratical classes, with presentations both from the professor and students. Students are encouraged to participate in the discussion of the topics of the programme, which will be analysed with the help of relevant norms (treaties and custom) and case-law.

Método de avaliação

- Oral Presentation in Class (30%) and Written Exam (70%)

- Written Exam (100%)

Cursos

2º Ciclo em Direito