International Humanitarian Law is an area of international law which appears to have undergone a revival in recent years. However, the basic principles of international humanitarian law and the founding conventions in the field are longstanding. Any course in the area therefore requires an historical appreciation of the topic, a thorough understanding of the relevant international conventions - especially the Geneva Conventions and the Additional Protocols - mixed with a contemporary understanding of some of the current issues which have arisen. This course aims to provide that mix between the historical, traditional, and contemporary aspects of international humanitarian law.
Topics covered in the course may include:
- the historical evolution of international legal norms
the principles determining the rules applicable in different conflict situations
- the relationship between human rights and humanitarian law norms
- the role of the ICRC in general, as well as in specific conflicts
- enforcement of international humanitarian law; the Security Council and international war crimes tribunals for Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia
- new directions, including the challenges posed by international terrorist activities, and the emergence of new weapons.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- appreciate the historical basis for the development of the law in the field;
- understand the relevant international conventions and treaties, especially the four Geneva Conventions and two Additional Protocols to the Geneva Conventions;
- appreciate some of the contemporary issues which have arisen in the application of international humanitarian law in recent conflicts such as Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya; and
- understand the application of international humanitarian law to the actions of military forces and the impact of the law upon civilian populations.
Indicative Assessment
- Take-home examination, 50% (LO 1-4) (50) [LO null]
- Written essay, 3,000 words, 50% (LO 1-4) (50) [LO null]
In response to COVID-19: Please note that Semester 2 Class Summary information (available under the classes tab) is as up to date as possible. Changes to Class Summaries not captured by this publication will be available to enrolled students via Wattle.
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Workload
Intensive delivery - 130 hours of total student learning time made up from: a) 26 hours of contact; and b) 104 hours of independent student research, reading and writing.Inherent Requirements
Not applicable
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
Yoram Dinstein (2010) The Conduct of Hostilities under the Law of International Armed Conflict, 2nd Edition, Cambridge University Press.
Specialisations
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
If you are a domestic graduate coursework or international student you will be required to pay tuition fees. Tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 3
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are an undergraduate student and have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). You can find your student contribution amount for each course at Fees. Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2020 | $4320 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2020 | $5760 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
Autumn Session
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5405 | 01 Apr 2020 | 24 Apr 2020 | 24 Apr 2020 | 30 Jun 2020 | In Person | N/A |