The Geneva IHL Platform is the Geneva Academy’s integrated hub for research, expertise, policy engagement and training relating to international humanitarian law and contemporary armed conflicts.
Building on the Geneva Academy’s long-standing engagement in the field of the law applicable in armed conflicts, the Platform brings together research initiatives, monitoring tools, expert dialogue, conferences, policy discussions, digital initiatives, and training to strengthen understanding and implementation of, and respect for, international humanitarian law (IHL).
The Platform combines academic excellence with practical relevance and serves as a space for engagement between academia, diplomats, humanitarian practitioners, international organisations, military legal advisers, civil society actors and technical experts.
As part of the Geneva Academy’s broader research and policy engagement activities, the Platform contributes to the promotion and effective implementation of IHL and related legal frameworks applicable in situations of armed conflict and crisis.
The Geneva IHL Platform develops activities and initiatives relating to a broad range of contemporary humanitarian and legal challenges arising in armed conflicts, including:
- The protection of civilians;
- The conduct of hostilities;
- Humanitarian access and assistance;
- The prohibition of starvation as a method of warfare and the protection of objects indispensable to civilian survival;
- Open-source investigations and documentation of violations;
- Digital military technologies and cyber operations;
- Artificial intelligence and warfare;
- Weapons law and emerging military technologies;
- Non-State armed groups
- Conflict classification;
- Accountability for violations of IHL;
- The interaction between IHL and international human rights law.
The Platform promotes both thematic and cross-cutting engagement in collaboration with States, international organisations, humanitarian actors, academic institutions, research centres, and independent experts.
The Geneva IHL Platform combines legal research with monitoring initiatives and digital tools aimed at improving access to information, legal analysis and data relating to contemporary armed conflicts and the implementation of IHL.
Its activities include:
- Research and expert initiatives;
- Monitoring and documentation projects;
- Digital and knowledge-sharing tools;
- Legal analysis and policy-oriented publications;
- Workshops, conferences and expert consultations;
- Public discussions and podcasts.
Key initiatives include:
A monitoring and analysis initiative aimed at providing the public legally grounded information and analysis relating to contemporary armed conflicts and humanitarian challenges.
RULAC – Rule of Law in Armed Conflict
The Geneva Academy’s online portal classifying armed conflicts under international law and providing legal analysis relating to parties to conflict and applicable legal frameworks.
A research and innovation space for master’s students in Geneva dedicated to examining emerging humanitarian and legal challenges arising from technological transformation and contemporary warfare, including digital military technologies, cyber operations and AI-related developments.
An expert support initiative aimed at providing technical expertise and legal analysis relating to international humanitarian law and its interaction with international human rights law. While previously developed through dedicated funding support, the initiative continues to serve as a resource for expert engagement and knowledge-sharing activities.
The Platform convenes academic and policy-oriented discussions aimed at fostering informed dialogue on contemporary humanitarian challenges and the implementation of IHL.
Its activities include:
- IHL Talks;
- Expert meetings and diplomatic dialogues;
- Workshops and conferences;
- Practitioner-focused discussions;
- Technical consultations held in collaboration with institutional and humanitarian partners.
A key initiative is the IHL Discussion Series, jointly organized with the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. First convened in the context of the 75th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions, the series has provided a confidential space for dialogue among diplomats, experts and practitioners on pressing contemporary IHL challenges, including:
- Digital military technologies and civilian protection;
- Open-source information and documentation of IHL violations;
- Access to goods and services essential to civilian survival;
- Humanitarian exemptions to sanctions regimes.
The discussions aimed to promote practical, solution-oriented exchanges and strengthen understanding of the application of IHL to contemporary conflicts and emerging humanitarian challenges.
The Geneva IHL Platform contributes to public engagement through podcasts, public discussions and expert interviews aimed at making debates on armed conflict and humanitarian law accessible to broader audiences.
The Platform’s podcast series exploring legal, humanitarian and policy questions arising from contemporary armed conflicts through conversations with leading experts and practitioners.
A podcast initiative discussing current armed conflicts, humanitarian developments and contemporary challenges relating to the implementation of international humanitarian law.
The Platform also contributes to cross-platform public engagement activities across the Geneva Academy, including conferences, public discussions, and book launches and author conversations relating to contemporary international law and policy challenges.
The Geneva IHL Platform also serves as a hub for specialised training and educational activities relating to international humanitarian law and contemporary armed conflicts.
These activities may include:
- Tailored trainings;
- Expert workshops;
- Thematic short courses;
- Learning activities developed in connection with the Geneva Academy’s broader educational programmes, including its Summer Intensive Courses.
The Platform aims to support knowledge exchange and capacity building among practitioners, diplomats, humanitarian actors, military legal advisers, researchers, and civil society actors working on armed conflict-related issues.