The main aim of the course is to comprehensively discuss the most significant issues of international humanitarian law and peace operations, as seen through the prism of their role in the conduct of contemporary international and non-international armed conflicts.
Basic topics to be discussed include the application of international humanitarian law; the history of IHL; contemporary legal sources of IHL; methods and means of combat; the law of belligerent occupation; protection of cultural property; the law of neutrality; implementation of IHL; types of peace operations; peace operations in practice.
The student will acquire an understanding of the genesis and basic rules of international humanitarian law as well as its applicability in international and domestic armed conflicts. The graduate will become familiar with the international instruments concerning the enforcement of international humanitarian law and be able to determine its violations in particular cases. Finally, they will have learnt about various types of modern peace operations and will be able to discuss their role in contemporary armed conflicts.