Call for Papers: The Role of Human Rights Mechanisms in Implementing International Humanitarian Law

Voting during the  40th session of the Human Rights Council, March 2019 Voting during the  40th session of the Human Rights Council, March 2019

1 April 2019

In the perspective of a conference co-organized with the Global Studies Institute (University of Geneva), the Office of the United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs and the Canton of Geneva, we invite proposals that address the role of human rights mechanisms in implementing international humanitarian law (IHL).

‘Proposals should focus on how human rights mechanisms could increase their impact on the respect of IHL and how the related risks can be reduced or avoided’ explains Professor Marco Sassòli, Director of the Geneva Academy.

‘The Geneva Academy will also prepare, for the conference, a policy paper on overcoming difficulties for human rights protection mechanisms to apply IHL’ he adds.

Eligibility

Graduate and postgraduate law researchers having obtained their PhD within the past 10 years.

Deadlines

Applicants are invited to submit proposals of up to 500 words, in English, plus a short biographical note of 100 words, and 5 keywords to Alice Breathe (alice.breath[at]unige.ch) by Wednesday 15 May 2019.

Applicants whose proposals have been selected will be informed by Monday 1 July 2019.

Final papers, of about 8,000 words in English, to be submitted by selected applicants will be due by Monday 30 September 2019.

Conference

The Conference will take place on 14-15 November in Geneva. It will bring together graduate and postgraduate researchers (selected on the basis of their proposals), experienced academics and practitioners from the UN, the International Committee of the Red Cross and elsewhere.

MORE ON THIS THEMATIC AREA

Students at a Geneva Academy event News

Join Our Online Meetings for Prospective Students

6 November 2025

 Join our online information sessions for prospective students interested in our LLM - MAS Programmes.

Read more

GHRP Ai for Good Workshop News

Exploring the Role of Artificial Intelligence in Human Rights Monitoring: Key Takeaways from the AI for Good Workshop

22 July 2025

Our event brought together human rights practitioners, data scientists, and AI experts to explore how artificial intelligence can support efforts to monitor human rights and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Read more

Un plate with Rapporteur Spécial written on it Project

Support to UN Special Procedures

Started in June 2020

Read more

Screenshot of the RULAC webpage Project

Rule of Law in Armed Conflicts (RULAC)

Started in May 2007

The Rule of Law in Armed Conflicts project (RULAC) is a unique online portal that identifies and classifies all situations of armed violence that amount to an armed conflict under international humanitarian law (IHL). It is primarily a legal reference source for a broad audience, including non-specialists, interested in issues surrounding the classification of armed conflicts under IHL.

Read more

Cover of the 2023 Geneva Academy Annual Report Publication

Annual Report 2024

published on July 2025

Read more