The PhD Forum: Promoting Exchanges Among Peers

18 April 2024

The Geneva Academy PhD Forum provides a space of exchanges and discussions for PhD researchers and experts – in Geneva and beyond – who work in international humanitarian law, international human rights law, international criminal law, transitional justice, international refugee law and selected public international law topics.

At each event, PhD students – who can be based in Geneva but also elsewhere – can present and discuss their work in progress with the main discussant – who can be a PhD peer or a well-established expert with rich experience and knowledge on the topic. Following the discussant’s first reaction to the presentation, the floor is open for further comments or questions from the attendees and discussion with the presenter.

‘Writing a PhD is definitely enhanced by having instances to discuss your ideas and your work in progress with your peers and experts in the field. Even as an attendee, the PhD Forum always inspired me to make progress in my PhD.’ explains our Teaching Assistant Katia Rosenblat, co-coordinator of the PhD Forums.

‘In the first place, the PhD forum provides a platform for discussions that offers PhD students a sounding board for their proposals. Beyond that, it creates an opportunity for PhD students to connect and obtain constructive feedback from experts in their field of interest’, underlines Mina Radoncic, Teaching Assistant and co-ordinator of the PhD Forum.

Upcoming PhD Forum: The criterion of internal legitimacy as a benchmark to decide which NSAGs can be included in law-making

The next session of the PhD Forum will take place on 26 April 2024 at 18:30 (Geneva time) in person at the Geneva Academy and online. To take part in the in-person event, please register here.

Pauline Janssens, who is a PhD Candidate at the KU Leuven Institute for International Law, will present a part of her working paper 'The criterion of internal legitimacy as a benchmark to decide which NSAGs can be included in law-making'.

The main discussant for this event is Dr Ezequiel Heffes, an alumnus of the Geneva Academy and the Director of Watchlist on Children and Armed Conflict.

Drinks will be offered after the session.

To Be Updated about PHD Forums and Register for Upcoming Events

If you are interested in presenting your work and/or in attending the next series of events, you can subscribe to the PhD Forum mailing list.

A registration form for each event and a Zoom link for online participation will be shared via the mailing list. You can also contact the organizers at gaphd@geneva-academy.ch.

MORE ON THIS THEMATIC AREA

Geneva Academy at the EU DElegation in Geneva News

Spotlight on IHL: Geneva Academy Briefs EU Delegation on Alarming Conflict Trends

10 April 2025

Alarming conflict trends from the IHL in Focus report were presented to members of the UN at the EU Delegation in Geneva by members of the Geneva Academy.

Read more

ECOSOC Panel United Nations News

Dr Erica Harper Warns of Dangerous Global Conflict Surge at UN ECOSOC Panel

23 June 2025

Our Head of Research and Policy Studies, Dr Erica Harper, spoke at a United Nations Economic and Social Council panel on June 16th, focused on Humanitarian Aid Under Siege.

Read more

Warzone Event

Advanced IHL Seminar for Academics and Policymakers

25-29 August 2025, 09:00-17:30

Co-hosted with the ICRC, this event aims to enhance the capacity of academics to teach and research international humanitarian law, while also equipping policymakers with an in-depth understanding of ongoing legal debates.

Read more

Town Hall Meeting Training

Localizing International Human Rights

8-10 October 2025

This training course, specifically designed for staff of city and regional governments, will explore the means and mechanisms through which local and regional governments can interact with and integrate the recommendations of international human rights bodies in their concrete work at the local level.

Read more

Training

Human Rights and the Environment: Introducing Legal Regimes and Key Issues

1-8 September 2025

Participants in this training course will be introduced to the major international and regional instruments for the promotion of human rights, as well as international environmental law and its implementation and enforcement mechanisms.

Read more

Screenshot of the RULAC webpage Project

Rule of Law in Armed Conflicts (RULAC)

Started in May 2007

The Rule of Law in Armed Conflicts project (RULAC) is a unique online portal that identifies and classifies all situations of armed violence that amount to an armed conflict under international humanitarian law (IHL). It is primarily a legal reference source for a broad audience, including non-specialists, interested in issues surrounding the classification of armed conflicts under IHL.

Read more

Session of the UN Human Rights Committee Project

Treaty Body Review 2020 and Beyond

Started in January 2018

The Geneva Human Rights Platform contributes to this review process by providing expert input via different avenues, by facilitating dialogue on the review among various stakeholders, as well as by accompanying the development of a follow-up resolution to 68/268 in New York and in Geneva.

Read more

Cover Page of Research Brief Publication

War on Minorities’ Under the Guise of Countering Terrorism and Violent Extremism

published on December 2024

Beatrice Meretti

Read more

Cover Page of Research Brief Publication

Navigating Pathways Toward Transitional Justice in Ukraine

published on October 2024

Robin van der Lugt, Chhime Namdol Sherpa

Read more