Executive Master in International Law in Armed Conflict: What Participants Say

23 May 2022

Durkhanay Ijaz is a Legal Advisor at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Pakistan, working primarily on the dissemination, promotion and clarification of international humanitarian law (IHL) and relevant themes amongst policy-makers and academic circles via research clinics, workshops and training courses.

Durkhanay holds an LLB from the University of London and a BA in Law and Political Science from the Jinnah College for Women in Peshawar and is following our Executive Master in International Law in Armed Conflict.

Why did you choose the Executive Master in International Law in Armed Conflict?

Prior to working at the ICRC and more so after joining, I realized that I needed to formalize my understanding of IHL and related areas like public international law, international criminal law and international human rights law. The programme offers me the opportunity to do so without compromising on my career trajectory or taking a break from a job that I find most fulfilling and rewarding.

What are the highlights of the programme?

For me, the highlight of the programme is that it is has been tailored in a way which makes it easy, for participants like me who work in the field, to follow it online.

How is distance learning?

It’s brilliant! I do feel that it’s an amazing experience to be part of this programme, especially with the calibre of the professors who taught us. In fact, this distance learning programme far exceeded my expectations. I came in thinking that I would not be able to form any connection with the Geneva Academy as I was not there in person. It has been fairly different in a great way: we can speak when we want during classes and the professors see our faces and converse with us, and we don’t miss out on any of the fun classroom jokes either. The Moodle Platform allows us to catch up with the many lectures we have to read and I didn’t face any problems in keeping up with the courses.

Can you easily manage following this programme and working at the same time?

I would say, yes. You have to manage your time and it falls on you as an individual on how you do that. That being said, the planning of classes considers our work schedules and is, I believe, as light as a master’s programme can be without compromising the content of your courses.

What will it bring to your career?

I can see the benefits of the programme for me in my professional capacity already. Understanding the nuances of the law helps me in delivering our key messages and with a more in-depth understanding of the law.

Would you recommend it?

For working professionals, it is highly recommended.

MORE ON THIS THEMATIC AREA

Houses destroyed due to the violent war in the city of Taiz, Yemen News

Join our Online Executive Master in the Law of Armed Conflict and Upgrade Your Legal Skills

1 February 2023

Applications for the upcoming academic year of our Executive Master in International Law in Armed Conflict are open. They will run until 30 April 2023, with courses starting at the end of September 2023.

Read more

Portrait of Daniel Fyfe News

Executive Master in International Law in Armed Conflict: What Participants Say

27 March 2023

Daniel Fyfe follows our online Executive Master in International Law in Armed Conflict while working as an Associate Expert at OHCHR in Geneva on UN treaty bodies’ individual communications procedures.

Read more

Central African Republic,  Bangui. Soldiers of the Democratic Republic of Congo patrol the Multinational Force of Central African States - Event

Duties to One's Own Population and Combatants in War: Is there an ‘Internal’ Jus in Bello?

11 May 2023, 18:30-20:00

In this talk, Professor Frédéric Mégret will seek to excavate an understanding of IHL as partly about protecting one’s population rather than minimizing harm to ‘other’ populations.

Read more

Portrait of Professor Chiara Giorgetti Event

International Law Responses to Russia’s Aggression – Building an International Reparation Mechanism for Ukraine

18 April 2023, 18:30-21:00

In this lecture organized with the MIDS, Professor Chiara Giorgetti will discuss current efforts to create a reparation mechanism for Ukraine in order to hold Russia liable for its violations of international law.

Read more

Afghanistan, Parwan detention facility. Inside a room where detainees of the prison, separated by an acrylic glass, are allowed to meet with their families a couple of times per year with the help of the ICRC employees who facilitate the programme. Short Course

Preventing and Combating Terrorism

27 April - 8 June 2023

This online short course discusses the extent to which states may limit and/or derogate from their international human rights obligations in order to prevent and counter-terrorism and thus protect persons under their jurisdiction.

Read more

Mine Project

Business, Human Rights and Conflict-Affected Regions

Completed in July 2021

This project aimed at identifying and clarifying policies and practices for states and businesses, including public and private investors, across the full ‘conflict cycle’ and the ‘protect, respect and remedy’ pillars of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

Read more

Screen Shot of Obsolete, a game made for the 7DFPS project in 7 days. Download for PC and Mac Project

Disruptive Military Technologies

Started in February 2020

This project aims at staying abreast of the various military technology trends; promoting legal and policy debate on new military technologies; and furthering the understanding of the convergent effects of different technological trends shaping the digital battlefield of the future.

Read more

Cover page of the study Publication

From Words to Deeds A Study of Armed Non-State Actors’ Practice and Interpretation of International Humanitarian and Human Rights Norms: Research and Policy Conclusions

published on September 2022

Annyssa Bellal, Pascal Bongard, Ezequiel Heffes

Read more

Cover of the publication Publication

From Words to Deeds: A Study of Armed Non-State Actors’ Practice and Interpretation of International Humanitarian and Human Rights Norms: Al-Qaeda

published on September 2022

Annyssa Bellal, Pascal Bongard and Ezequiel Heffes

Read more