Event information

4 December 2015, 12:30-14:00

The 1949 Geneva Conventions: A Commentary

Event

Cover of the Geneva Conventions Cover of the Geneva Conventions

The four Geneva Conventions, adopted in 1949, remain the fundamental basis of contemporary international humanitarian law. In this ground-breaking commentary edited by Professors Andrew Clapham, Paola Gaeta, and Marco Sassòli and prepared under the auspices of the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights, over sixty international law experts investigate the application of the Geneva Conventions and explain how they should be interpreted today.

In this livestreamed launch event for the book just published by Oxford University Press, the three editors will discuss with key experts and the public specific issues addressed by the commentary, including the extent to which some of the Conventions’ rules can now be transposed to non-international armed conflicts, the relationship with other branches of international law (such as human rights law), and the implementation of the Geneva Conventions through inter alia international criminal courts.

Welcome & Moderation

Robert Roth, Director of the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights

Panelists

Andrew Clapham, Professor of International Law, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies

Paola Gaeta, Professor of International Law, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies

Marco Sassòli, Professor of International Law and Director of the Department of International Law and International Organization, University of Geneva

Claus Kreβ, Professor at the University of Cologne & Director of the Institute for Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure at the University of Cologne

Jean-Marie Henckaerts, Head of the ICRC Unit in charge of the update of the ICRC commentaries on the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their Additional Protocols of 1977

H.E. Amb. Valentin Zellweger, Director of the Directorate of International Law of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA)

Video

The 1949 Geneva Conventions: A Commentary

In this event for the book  published by Oxford University Press, the three editors discussed with key experts and the public specific issues addressed by the commentary, including the extent to which some of 'the Conventions’ rules can now be transposed to non-international armed conflicts, the relationship with other branches of international law (such as human rights law), and the implementation of the Geneva Conventions through inter alia international criminal courts.