44 Professionals Begin Their Online Learning Journey in Our Executive Master in International Law in Armed Conflict

25 September 2023

A new academic year started for our online Executive Master in International Law in Armed Conflict with 44 dedicated professionals. After a comprehensive online orientation week, they are now delving into their first courses, which include introductions to international law, international human rights law (IHRL), international humanitarian law (IHL), and a course on the classification of armed conflicts.

Strong and Diverse Profiles

Hailing from 30 different countries, the 44 participants work for international organizations, NGOs, government entities, development agencies, law firms, and the private sector.

They bring an extraordinary wealth of experience, spanning a broad spectrum of fields. They encompass humanitarian workers and human rights advocates working for the International Committee of the Red Cross, the UN High Commissioner for Refugee, the World Food Programme, the International Organization for Migration, the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Children in Armed Conflict, the Office of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria, the UN Mission in South Sudan or the World Health Organization, Médecins sans Frontières and the International Centre for Transitional Justice.

In addition, our diverse cohort comprises civil servants serving in the military, in defence, foreign affairs, or interior ministries, Geneva-based diplomats, professionals from development agencies, and staff from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Google.

‘This remarkable diversity in backgrounds, with participants sharing their extensive experiences in the classroom, promises to enrich our discussions and offer a multitude of perspectives on every topic’ underlines our Head of Education Dr Clotilde Pégorier.

Focus on International Law in Armed Conflict

Over the course of nine months, participants will deepen their understanding of the legal frameworks governing armed conflicts through 16 courses. These courses encompass international law, IHL, IHRL, international refugee law, and international criminal law, and explore contemporary issues and challenges such as terrorism and the responsibility to protect.

‘This programme equips professionals working in the field or within multilateral organizations with the essential tools to comprehend and master the regulations governing modern armed conflicts’ emphasizes Dr Pégorier.

‘As these conflicts grow increasingly intricate, possessing such knowledge is pivotal for comprehensive contextual analysis and the development of effective solutions’ she adds.

About the Executive Master

The online Executive Master in International Law in Armed Conflict stands as one of the few part-time, innovative, and intellectually stimulating programmes in the law of armed conflict. Tailored for professionals, it imparts robust theoretical and practical knowledge, addressing the growing demand for specialists capable of addressing complex contemporary conflicts.

This executive programme spans nine months, from October to June, and admits approximately 40 practitioners annually. Following the completion of courses and exams in June and July, participants have an additional six months to submit their master's paper, allowing participants to investigate a subject of special interest and deepen their knowledge and expertise through research.

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