Robert Kolb

Robert Kolb

Professor of Public International Law at the Law Faculty, University of Geneva

Areas of expertise

International Humanitarian Law  /  Qualification of Armed Conflict  /  International Human Rights Law  /  Extraterritoriality  /  Conduct of Hostilities  /  Protection of Civilians  /  Law of Occupation  /  Use of Force  /  Public International Law

Robert Kolb has been Professor of Public International Law at the Law Faculty, University of Geneva since 2007.

He is a leading expert in international law and international humanitarian law and has published several books and articles on these topics in English, French, German and Italian.
In 2011, he acted as a counsel for the German government in the Jurisdictional Immunities (Germany v. Italy) case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Prior to 2007, Professor Kolb worked as a legal adviser to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. He was also Secretary of the Institute of International Law and a member of the Board of Directors of the University Centre for International Humanitarian Law, which became the Geneva Academy in 2007.

He was Lecturer in Public International Law at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Associate Professor at the University of Bern and Adjunct Professor at the University of Neuchatel. He also taught at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Milan.

Taught Courses

Central African republic, Bangui. Soldiers of the Democratic Republic of Congo patrol the Multinational Force of Central African States - Executive Master - Course

The Law of International Armed Conflicts – Geneva Law

This course will examine the sources of international humanitarian law (IHL), as well as the threshold criteria for its applicability in an armed conflict. It will provide an introduction to the key principles and terminology of IHL.

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Syria, Homs. A view of the badly damaged center of the city. Executive Master - Course

The Law of International Armed Conflicts - Hague Law

Alongside protecting the victims of armed conflict, IHL also seeks to mitigate human suffering by regulating the means and methods of warfare. This branch of IHL is also known as Hague Law. 

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Ukraine, damaged bicycle and car in front of a destroyed building Short Course

The Law of International Armed Conflicts – Hague Law

After having followed this online short course, participants will know who the protected persons and goods are and what rules of IHL can be used for their protection in an international armed conflict. An overview of the rules applicable in non-international armed conflicts will also be given.

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Syria, destroyed building and ambulance Short Course

The Law of International Armed Conflicts – Geneva Law

This online short course will examine the sources of international humanitarian law (IHL), as well as the threshold criteria for its applicability in an armed conflict

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Publications

Cover of the book The Global Community Yearbook of International Law and Jurisprudence 2014

Crimes contre l'humanité

October 2014

Robert Kolb

Global Community Yearbook 2014

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Cover of Swiss Review of International Law

L'Etat X n'est pas membre des Nations Unies; donc, il ne doit pas respecter le droit international: variations sur un thème saugrenu

October 2014

Robert Kolb

Revue suisse de droit international et européen 2014, no 3

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Cover of the Revue belge de droit international

Commentaires (iconoclastes?) sur l'obligation de faire respecter le droit international humanitaire selon l'article 1 commun des Conventions de Genève de 1949

January 2014

Robert Kolb

Revue belge de droit international 2014

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Cover of Swiss Review of International Law

Chronique de la jurisprudence de la Cour internationale de Justice, 2013

October 2013

Robert Kolb

Revue suisse de droit international et européen 2014

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