How We Work

Genèva, ICRC headquarters, Humanitarium. Joint ICRC-Geneva Academy raining tcourse in IHL for university professors Genèva, ICRC headquarters, Humanitarium. Joint ICRC-Geneva Academy raining tcourse in IHL for university professors

Training Professionals and the Next Generation of IHL and Human Rights Experts

Our three master’s programmes and various training and short courses disseminate legal knowledge in international humanitarian law (IHL), international human rights law and transitional justice. Our teaching enables specialists to apply these legal frameworks to complex situations – Afghanistan, Central African Republic, Colombia, Iraq, Syria – and challenging processes such as criminal proceedings, political transitions, international negotiations and humanitarian interventions.

Informing Policy

Our research examines issues that are under-explored, need clarification or are unconventional, experimental or challenging. It thus advances understanding and stimulates debate in the academic community and in policy-making institutions and government. The findings of our research regularly inform policy recommendations and support practitioners working on issues such as IHL, human rights (HR) or transitional justice.

Our Convening Power

The Geneva Academy regularly convenes expert meetings, seminars, conferences and events. This provides a critical and scholarly forum for experts and practitioners to discuss and debate topical issues in IHL, HR and transitional justice. For example, the right to life, the duty to investigate, reparations for past mass crimes, new trends and developments in international law in armed conflict or the work of United Nations HR mechanisms.

Promoting Diversity

We are committed to promoting diversity in all respects: cultural diversity, diversity in the geographical origin of students, staff and speakers, as well as generational, and gender diversity. We pursue this in our various activities and via different measures.

Masters

We are a leading education institution in international humanitarian law, human rights and transitional justice.

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Research

Our research examines issues that are under-explored, need clarification, or are unconventional, experimental or challenging.

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Executive Education

We provide training and short courses for professionals who want to deepen their expertise in a specific issue.

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Events

Our events provide a critical and scholarly forum for experts and practitioners to debate topical humanitarian, human rights and transitional justice issues.

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Dr Harper at the panel on Afghanistan News

Dr Erica Harper Addresses Afghanistan's Complex Situation and the Role of Investigations at the UN Human Rights Council

19 October 2023

During the latest UN Human Rights Council session, our Head of Research and Policy Studies Dr Erica Harper presented at a side event the situation in Afghanistan.

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News

Meet our 2023–2024 Faculty

9 October 2023

Discover the photo gallery of our 2023–2024 faculty members and their motivation to teach and share their expertise with our students.

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Crowd Control photo News

Counterterrorism in Europe: Ambiguous Security Gains for Significant Impacts on Rights

26 September 2023

Our new Working Paper invites readers to embark on a critical journey, shedding light on the intricate dynamics between security and human rights and calls for us to consider the effectiveness of counterterrorism policies as a matter of human rights law, demonstrating the benefits of this approach in improving the rationality of the decision-making process.

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