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Research and policy engagement

Research Projects

The Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights conducts research projects that examine how international law responds to the challenges of armed conflict, repression, technological change, and accountability for serious violations.

Each project contributes to one or more of our strategic research areas, combining rigorous legal analysis with practical insights that inform international policy and practice. This research clarifies legal norms, analyses how they are implemented in complex environments, and develops tools, policy briefs, and guidelines that strengthen protection, justice, and prevention.

Through these projects, the Geneva Academy consolidates its role as a centre of excellence for applied legal research in international humanitarian law, human rights law, and accountability for serious violations of international law.

Current and Recent Research Projects

IHL in Focus

November 2023 – Present
Classification of situations of armed conflict and assessment of civilian harm, combining systematic legal analysis with reliable secondary data to promote compliance with international humanitarian law and accountability for violations.

Digitalization of armed conflicts

January 2020 – December 2024
Assessing how digitalization, cyber operations, and emerging military technologies are reshaping the conduct of hostilities and the protection of civilians.

Neurotechnology and Human Rights

August 2023 – Present
This project analyses the legal and ethical implications of brain–computer interfaces and neurodata, promoting human-rights-based approaches to innovation and the development of international regulatory frameworks that safeguard human dignity.

IHL Expert Pool

January 2022 – Present
Strengthening the capacity of human rights bodies to interpret and apply International Humanitarian Law effectively.

These projects produce a range of outputs, including working papers, policy briefs, guidelines, and expert consultations, with dissemination taking place through podcasts, blogposts, and interviews. This ensures that the Geneva Academy’s research findings reach academic, institutional, and public audiences, and contribute directly to informed policy-making in Geneva and globally.

VIEW ALL RESEARCH PROJECTS On OUR ARCHIVE SITE