Executive Master in International Law in Armed Conflict: What Participants Say

23 May 2022

Durkhanay Ijaz is a Legal Advisor at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Pakistan, working primarily on the dissemination, promotion and clarification of international humanitarian law (IHL) and relevant themes amongst policy-makers and academic circles via research clinics, workshops and training courses.

Durkhanay holds an LLB from the University of London and a BA in Law and Political Science from the Jinnah College for Women in Peshawar and is following our Executive Master in International Law in Armed Conflict.

Why did you choose the Executive Master in International Law in Armed Conflict?

Prior to working at the ICRC and more so after joining, I realized that I needed to formalize my understanding of IHL and related areas like public international law, international criminal law and international human rights law. The programme offers me the opportunity to do so without compromising on my career trajectory or taking a break from a job that I find most fulfilling and rewarding.

What are the highlights of the programme?

For me, the highlight of the programme is that it is has been tailored in a way which makes it easy, for participants like me who work in the field, to follow it online.

How is distance learning?

It’s brilliant! I do feel that it’s an amazing experience to be part of this programme, especially with the calibre of the professors who taught us. In fact, this distance learning programme far exceeded my expectations. I came in thinking that I would not be able to form any connection with the Geneva Academy as I was not there in person. It has been fairly different in a great way: we can speak when we want during classes and the professors see our faces and converse with us, and we don’t miss out on any of the fun classroom jokes either. The Moodle Platform allows us to catch up with the many lectures we have to read and I didn’t face any problems in keeping up with the courses.

Can you easily manage following this programme and working at the same time?

I would say, yes. You have to manage your time and it falls on you as an individual on how you do that. That being said, the planning of classes considers our work schedules and is, I believe, as light as a master’s programme can be without compromising the content of your courses.

What will it bring to your career?

I can see the benefits of the programme for me in my professional capacity already. Understanding the nuances of the law helps me in delivering our key messages and with a more in-depth understanding of the law.

Would you recommend it?

For working professionals, it is highly recommended.

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