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Course in International Humanitarian Law for humanitarian professionals and policy makers

05-12-2013 Event

The ICRC's 18th course in IHL is designed to acquaint participants with the international rules, principles and instruments applicable in times of armed conflict. It offers participants practical knowledge in IHL applicable in their fieldwork and their decision-making processes.

Event Info

Where: Kenya, Nairobi

When: 03.02.2014-08.02.2014

Events such as armed conflicts in different parts of the world confront us day after day with the cruelty of war and the suffering, death and destruction they cause. Humanitarian agencies can bring some relief to restore the lives and dignity of victims of armed conflict. However, such agencies face questions of life or death for their beneficiaries and their staff members worldwide.  On a daily basis, they must draw on a variety of tools to further their work and protect their personnel.  One of the tools is International Humanitarian Law (IHL) that is designed to limit the damage of warfare and protect victims of armed conflict. It provides a normative framework to facilitate humanitarian action for all actors and agencies that are engaged in bringing relief to mitigate suffering caused by armed conflict. Therefore, it is desirable that humanitarian professionals and policy makers are familiar with the basic concepts of IHL and how they work in practice.

The ICRC's 18th course in IHL is designed to acquaint participants with the international rules, principles and instruments applicable in times of armed conflict. It offers participants practical knowledge in IHL applicable in their fieldwork and their decision-making processes.  

The 18th course provides in-depth instruction in the following broad themes:

  • How International Humanitarian Law and other legal regimes are designed to protect victims during armed conflict and other forms of violence
  • The relationship between IHL and other legal regimes such as human rights law, refugee law, etc
  • IHL and the Conduct of Hostilities; the law governing means and methods of warfare; special protection to certain categories of persons under IHL
  • Ensuring respect for IHL on the part of different actors involved in armed conflict
  • Challenges to humanitarian action in light of the changing nature of armed conflicts and violence

Participants will be provided with both expert lectures and participative exercises based on the ICRC's experience in 150 years of humanitarian action and International Humanitarian Law.  The course draws on the participants' collective experience to further illuminate the role and importance of IHL in the daily work of their respective organisations.  

Participants:

The course is open to senior representatives of NGOs, international organisations, state agencies and humanitarian donor agencies. Applicants should occupy positions within their respective organisations with decision-making roles at the national, regional or global level.  A legal background is not required. Completed application forms should be sent to the ICRC Regional Delegation in Nairobi to reach before 5 January 2014. Participants are strongly urged to send their applications by email.

Practical Details:

Venue: 
Naivasha Country Club, Naivasha Kenya, a beautiful lake resort town that is located in the Rift Valley, about 1 - 1 ½ hours drive from Nairobi. All participants will be accommodated in single rooms at the resort.

Dates: 
3 – 8 February 2014 - Participants are expected to arrive in Naivasha on Sunday 2 February  (Check in) and leave on 8 February (Check out). A shuttle service will be arranged for all participants from Nairobi to Naivasha and back. Details will be sent to selected participants.

Fees:   
USD 850 (full board accommodation, travel to Nairobi not included), payment to be made after selection process, via bank transfer. Participants are expected to make their own travel arrangements to and from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi if coming from abroad.

Language: 
Participants must have good working knowledge of English. All working sessions will be conducted in English. The participants will be provided with reading materials on all modules included in the course.

Programme: 
A detailed programme for the entire course and other practical details will be sent to selected participants.

For Further Information:

Please contact:  The International Committee of the Red Cross, Department for Integration and Promotion of the Law, Nairobi Regional Delegation, P.O. Box 73226, 00200 Nairobi, Kenya. Tel: +254.20.272.3963/3964 or 3965.  Fax number: +254.20.271.3003; E-mail: nairobi@icrc.org