Student Essay Competition: Avoiding Civilian Harm during Military Cyber Operations

Toy soldiers siulating a fight in a context of electronic computer circuits Toy soldiers siulating a fight in a context of electronic computer circuits

6 April 2021

The Geneva Academy and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) are organizing – in the context of our Digitalization of Conflict joint initiative – a student essay competition open to all undergraduate students from universities (including military academies) anywhere in the world.

Looking at Civilian Harm from Military Cyber Operations

Students are invited to discuss, in their essays, which measures – including technical, policy, and legal – states should put in place to avoid or at least reduce the risk of civilian harm from military cyber operations during armed conflicts.

‘This issue is at the forefront of current protection questions during armed conflicts and we look forward to receive inputs from the young generation – who can look at this issue with fresh eyes and propose out of the box solutions – on how to ensure the continued relevance of international humanitarian law in these contexts,’ underlined Professor Robin Geiss, Swiss Chair of International Humanitarian Law at the Geneva Academy.

‘Our research aims at mapping the terrain and at consulting various stakeholders. Students, as the leaders and decision-makers of tomorrow, are definitely part of the exercise,’ he added.

The jury – composed of ICRC and Geneva Academy experts – will select the three best essays which will be announced at the public launch of ICRC’s forthcoming report on Avoiding Civilian Harm during Military Cyber Operations. The winning essay will be published on the ICRC’s Humanitarian Law & Policy Blog, in a blog series on the same theme in the summer of 2021.

‘This is a great opportunity for students to share their views and thinking about such an important topic. At the ICRC, we know that there are many young people who care about the diverse challenges posed by new technologies and we look forward to learning from their contributions,’ said Dr Kubo Mačák, Legal Adviser at the ICRC.

The deadline for submissions is Monday 31 May 2021. Competition rules and all further details of the call can be found here.

 

MORE ON THIS THEMATIC AREA

News

The Jean-Pictet Competition: Learning Beyond the Classroom

10 December 2024

Each year, the Geneva Academy sends a team of students to the Jean-Pictet Competition. Participating in this leading moot court is a life-changing experience and an integral part of our programmes.

Read more

Students at a Geneva Academy event News

Join Our Online Meetings for Prospective Students

1 October 2024

We organize online information sessions for prospective students interested in our LLM in International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights and Master in Transitional Justice, Human Rights and the Rule of 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

24 April - 13 May 2025

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