The Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights advances a deeper, more integrated understanding of international law applicable in situations of armed conflict, crisis, and transition. Jointly established by the University of Geneva and the Geneva Graduate Institute, we combine academic excellence with practical engagement to address contemporary challenges in international humanitarian law, human rights law with particular attention to conflict and transition, and the international responsibility for serious violations.
Our mission and vision guide our education, research, and policy engagement, ensuring that our work strengthens legal protection, supports evidence-based decision-making, and contributes to a more just international order.
We seek to advance rigorous research and high-level education in the international legal frameworks governing armed conflict, crisis, and transition.
Our mission is to:
- Provide advanced academic and professional training that equips students and practitioners with the knowledge and skills needed to address complex legal challenges;
- Conduct applied research that deepens understanding of international humanitarian law, human rights law in conflict and transition, international responsibility for serious violations, and the broader international legal regimes relevant in these contexts;
- Strengthen the capacity of states, international organizations, courts, and civil society to promote accountability and ensure the protection of individuals and communities affected by violence and instability.
We aim to be a leading centre of excellence where the strengths of our two founding institutions meet to advance international law in practice and in scholarship.
Our vision is to:
- Serve as a hub for innovative research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and evidence-based policy engagement;
- Foster an environment where scholars, teachers, and practitioners from both institutions work together to develop new ideas and approaches;
- Contribute to global debates and policy processes on humanitarian, human rights, and accountability issues emerging from armed conflict, crisis, and transition;
- Strengthen Geneva’s role as a global centre for humanitarian law and human rights.
We translate our mission and vision into concrete activities across three main pillars:
- Advanced Education: Master’s programmes, executive education, and professional trainings and customised training for junior and mid-career professionals;
- Applied Research: Legal research addressing contemporary legal challenges, aimed at supporting policy and practice;
- Policy Engagement & Public Debate: Contributions to international mechanisms, expert consultations, public events, and tools that inform decision-makers and shape global understanding.
Our work spans the full spectrum of international law applicable in armed conflict, crisis, and
transition, including:
- International humanitarian law;
- Human rights law, with particular attention to conflict, crisis, and periods of transition;
- The broader international legal regimes governing these situations;
- International responsibility and accountability for serious violations.
The Geneva Academy is a joint centre of the University of Geneva and the Geneva Graduate Institute, anchored in the academic traditions and strengths of both institutions.
We operate through a governance system that ensures strategic coherence, academic integrity, and institutional cooperation, enabling us to:
- Bring together diverse expertise and research cultures;
- Develop joint initiatives and platforms;
- Reinforce the visibility and impact of our founding institutions at the international, federal, cantonal, and municipal levels.