Law, war and human rights

Eight week evening course - CPD accredited

1 February - 22 March 2010

Professor Andrew Clapham This eight-week programme, carried out by way of a two-hour seminar each Monday (and one Tuesday) evening, examines the laws of war and international criminal law from the perspective of international human rights law. It confronts the crucial questions: are human rights law, the laws of war and international criminal law three distinct disciplines? Have they now become so entwined that it is not possible fully to understand one without some knowledge of the other?

Humanitarian law, international criminal law and the law of human rights have many features in common. This course will make the links between these different strands of law and show how they work together and complement each other. It will also show where they are distinct and analyse why it is necessary to acknowledge that the three bodies of law are separate, despite the fact that the three strands work towards many of the same goals.

At the course’s conclusion, participants will have a real grasp of how human rights law now informs all aspects of conflict and its aftermath, including terrorism and international crimes. A certificate of attendance from the Centre for the Study of Human Rights at LSE will be awarded to all those who have successfully completed the course.

Course components

Human rights and internal armed conflict
Human rights and resort to force
Human rights and international armed conflict
The relationship between human rights law and laws of war in practice
War crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and the crime of aggression
Women, war and conflict
Children and other vulnerable groups in war and conflict
Terrorism, war and conflict

Why take this course?

Offers an in-depth analysis of law, war and human rights, including a detailed overview of international human rights standards relevant to war and conflict
Makes the links between the laws of war, international criminal law and human rights law
Offers access to leading human rights practitioners and academics
Explains the interaction between anti-terrorism laws and international human rights law
Engages with contemporary matters of great importance
Provides a strong theoretical understanding of some of the key issues of our times

Who should take this course?

This course is relevant not only to those who need to be able to apply the international human rights law framework to the law of war in their work, but also to those who are interested in the added value of human rights, and in discussing and analysing all of these issues.

For those involved in developing government policy and practice, the course will be of great strategic value. Military lawyers will be able to use the course to update their knowledge. Equally the course will be highly beneficial for those who hold government to account, including journalists, campaigners, politicians and those acting for victims of conflict. Academics and students will find the course highly rewarding as will those with a general interest in war and conflict and how it is being regulated.

Teachers

Teachers on the course are distinguished academic experts and leading barristers. They include Dapo Akande, Professor Christine Chinkin; Professor Andrew Clapham; Professor Conor Gearty; Dr Jenny Kuper; Tim Otty QC and Professor Gerry Simpson. The course convener is Jonathan Cooper OBE, a barrister at Doughty Street Chambers and editor of the European Human Rights Law Review.

Course dates

The course runs over eight weeks on consecutive Monday evenings from 6-8pm, from 1 February to 22 March 2010, except in week 6 when the course will run on Tuesday 9th March, rather than Monday 8th. One, wholly optional, discussion-based seminar will be held on Thursday 11 March.

Fees and administration

The course fee is £1,320. The Centre is able to offer up to eight subsidised places, five partially funded (half price) and up to three fully funded places for those would otherwise be unable to attend.

The course is now running, fully booked. It will next be run in February 2011.

More information about the course (2010 course details) (PDF)

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