The Henry Dunant Prize’s Winning Article will be Published in the International Review of the Red Cross

18 May 2021

Every year, a student of our LLM in International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights receives the Henry Dunant Research Prize for an original and didactical LLM paper that deepens, strengthens and renews the ideals and commitments of Henry Dunant.

Through this award, the Henry Dunant Prize Foundation and the Geneva Academy motivate young people to disseminate knowledge on international rules that protect victims of armed conflict and states of emergency.

Since its creation in 2005, 16 LLM students have received this prize for their exceptional academic work. Their LLM papers covered a wide range of issues including the participation of armed groups in the elaboration of customary international humanitarian law, factors motivating armed groups to comply with IHL, the right to life of States’ own military personnel in the conduct of hostilities, IHL transparency requirements in the context of drone operations, as well as questions and challenges related to the classification of armed conflicts.

Since this academic year, recipients of the prize will have the opportunity to publish their paper in the International Review of the Red Cross, a leading publication on IHL, humanitarian policy and humanitarian action.

‘This represents a tremendous opportunity for our students and we are very grateful to the International Review of the Red Cross for such exposure. It is also a recognition of the quality and academic excellence of the LLM papers that receive this prize every year’ says Professor Gloria Gaggioli, Director of the Geneva Academy.

‘The sole instances in which such publication might not be possible is if it the paper would fall outside the Review’s editorial line or if it might jeopardize the International Committee of the Red Cross’ field operations’ she adds.

Our LLM involves the drafting of an LLM paper on a specific issue addressed in the programme, under the guidance of a faculty member.

‘These papers are an opportunity for our students to apply what they have learned during the year to specific cases or situations, reflecting on the protection existing legal frameworks afford, their potential gaps and how the latter can be filled. The fact that the paper is quite short requires a very good command of the law as well as the ability to analyse complex legal issues and situations in a precise and concise manner’ says Professor Gloria Gaggioli, Director of the Geneva Academy.