Information

9-17 April 2025
Application start 5 August 2024
Application end 26 March 2025
Fee: 1250 Swiss Francs

Downloads

Flyer >

The Rules Governing the Use of Force in International Law

Yemen,  Sana'a, Faj Attan district. Destruction. Yemen,  Sana'a, Faj Attan district. Destruction.

Descriptive

This online short course provides an overview of the content and evolution of the rules governing the use of unilateral force in international law, including military intervention on humanitarian grounds and the fight against international terrorism. It focuses on the practice of states and international organizations.

This course focuses on the practice of states and international organizations. It has two main closely related objectives. First, it provides an overview of the content and evolution of the rules governing the use of unilateral force in international law, including military intervention on humanitarian grounds and the fight against international terrorism. During the course, the legal issues raised by the main recent cases of unilateral force, especially Kosovo (1999), Iraq (2003), Syria (since 2014), Ukraine (2014 and 2022), and Gaza (since 2023), as well as their normative implications will be thoroughly and critically analysed. Second, the course will address the key features, evolution and shortcomings of the United Nations collective security system, from its creation in 1945 to the so-called authorization practice, which was inaugurated during the first Gulf Crisis (1990-1). The interventions in Libya (2011) and Mali (2012-3) will serve to trigger a discussion on the role of the United Nations and regional organizations in maintaining and restoring international peace and security.

Online

This is an online short course.

Schedule

Classes will take place online during lunchtime on:

  • 09.04 from 12-14h (CET)
  • 10.04 from 12-14h (CET)
  • 11.04 from 12-14h (CET)
  • 15.04 from 12-14h (CET)
  • 16.04 from 09-11h (CET)
  • 17.04 from 12-14h (CET)

Audience

This course forms part of the Geneva Academy Executive Master in International Law in Armed Conflict. It is open to professionals – diplomats, lawyers, legal advisers, judges, NGO staff, human rights advocates, media specialists, professionals working in emergency situations, UN staff and staff from other international organizations – who are not enrolled in the Executive Master and who want to deepen their expertise in this specific issue.

Fee

The fee for this short course is 1,250 Swiss Francs. In case of cancellation by the participants, CHF 200 won't be returned.

Certificate

Participants obtain a certificate at the end of the course (no ECTS credits are gained).

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted via this online form.

If you encounter problems with your application, do not hesitate to contact us.

Your application will need to include:

  • A short motivation letter (no more than one page)
  • Your curriculum vitae
  • Proof of your competence in English (a certificate or statement highlighting your solid background in English)
  • Once admitted to the course, participants receive instructions on how to pay. Proof of payment is required before you begin the course.

Professor and Lecturer

Picture of Tarcisio Gazzini

Tarcisio Gazzini

Professor of international law at the University of Padua

Tarcisio Gazzini is Professor of International Law at the University of Padua.

Location

Online course

Access

The course will be conducted online using the ZOOM platform.

MORE ON THIS THEMATIC AREA

Kutum, North Darfur: Members of the Sudanese army patrol Kutum market News

Does the Recent Peace Agreement Put an End to the Non-International Armed Conflicts in Sudan?

7 September 2020

Our RULAC online portal provides a detailed analysis and legal classification of the various non-international armed conflicts that are taking place in Sudan. In this interview, our Research Fellow Dr Chiara Redaelli explains why the recent peace agreement does not put an end to them.

Read more

Group photo of the participants to the expert meeting News

Experts and Practitioners Discuss Reparations by Non-State Armed Groups

18 June 2019

In an expert meeting organized at the Geneva Academy by the School of Law at Queen’s University Belfast, more than 30 academics and practitioners discussed reparations by non-state armed groups during and following armed conflicts.

Read more

Warzone Event

Advanced IHL Seminar for Academics and Policymakers

25-29 August 2025, 09:00-17:30

Co-hosted with the ICRC, this event aims to enhance the capacity of academics to teach and research international humanitarian law, while also equipping policymakers with an in-depth understanding of ongoing legal debates.

Read more

On the screen, on the screen is Peter Maurer, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), briefing the Security Council on the 70th Anniversary of Geneva Conventions. Project

International Humanitarian Law and the United Nations Security Council

Completed in January 2020

Read more

A wheelchair completely destroyed after the bombing of a civilian area Project

Disability and Armed Conflict

Completed in May 2016

This project aimed to ensure better protection of and assistance for persons with disabilities in situations of armed conflict or its aftermath by identifying legal obligations to protect and assist persons with disabilities during conflict, and the policies and practices required to put these obligations into effect.

Read more