Organization: Institute of International Humanitarian Affairs
Registration deadline: 03 Oct 2016
Starting date: 17 Oct 2016
Ending date: 21 Oct 2016
Course Description: International law creates obligations on governments to respect, protect, and promote fundamental human rights and provide humanitarian protections in times of conflict. International human rights and humanitarian protections codified in treaties, customary law, declarations, and other international norms all provide important protections for individuals and groups. These protections are no more important than in times of natural and manufactured disasters, but it is during these crises that these protections are especially threatened. Governments and non-state actors often avoid their obligations or pick and choose where and to what extent they will meet them. The role of the humanitarian actor is thus critical to constantly and consistently remind, reaffirm, encourage, and pressure all parties to ensure respect for international legal standards. To do this, the effective humanitarian actor must understand those standards, and have the skills and tools to negotiate their application in times of crisis.
In this course, students will examine the related but distinct bodies of human rights and humanitarian law, which both provide fundamental protections for individuals and groups. This will include a critical examination of the origins, principles, and applications of these bodies of law. The course will provide participants with a framework for understanding the legal aspects of delivering humanitarian assistance within that framework and the necessary tools to fulfill their roles by introducing applicable conventions and protocols. The course will allow students to explore ways in which the law can enhance humanitarian assistance, provide them an opportunity to analyze case studies, and allow students to develop a thorough understanding of the applicability of human rights and humanitarian law to their daily work. With a thorough comprehension of these international laws, students will gain confidence and expertise in negotiating with other actors and navigating the various logistics of the humanitarian’s reality that sets formal standards and laws against the realities of on-the-ground challenges.
Topics covered include: Human Rights Law (Introduction, history, concepts, (non-) state actors; civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights, women’s rights and children’s rights); Tools for Humanitarian workers (natural disasters and human rights); Humanitarian Law (Introduction, history, Geneva Law, Hague Law, and related standards including rules of engagement, combatant status, determining conflicts); The human rights-based approach (integrating a human rights based approach into programming and projects), human rights monitoring and advocacy; The right to humanitarian assistance (legal concepts and current developments); Humanitarian intervention and the responsibility to protect; International Criminal Law (History, concepts, tribunals and the ICC, practical implications for humanitarian workers); International Disaster Response Law.
To learn more about this course, view the individual Course Listing on our website. For a complete list of IIHA courses, view the Course Calendar on our website. If you have questions, please contact miha@fordham.edu for more information.
About the IIHA:The Institute of International Humanitarian Affairs (IIHA) at Fordham University offers humanitarian training courses in various locations around the world. With the creation of a Master's in Humanitarian Action (MIHA), the Institute offers a flexible yet academically rigorous training model for aid practitioners looking to further their knowledge and skills in the humanitarian sector.
How to register:
To take this course, please Apply Here