WMG03001 International Humanitarian Law and Principled Humanitarian Action

Hiroshima University Syllabus

Japanese

Academic Year 2024Year School/Graduate School Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences (Master's Course) Division of Humanities and Social Sciences International Peace and Co-existence Program

Lecture Code WMG03001 Subject Classification Specialized Education

Subject Name International Humanitarian Law and Principled Humanitarian Action

Subject Name
（Katakana）

Subject Name in
English International Humanitarian Law and Principled Humanitarian Action

Instructor SAVIOZ REGIS

Instructor
(Katakana) サビオ　レジス

Campus 　 Semester/Term 1st-Year,  First Semester,  Intensive

Days, Periods, and Classrooms (Int) Inte：IDEC 204

Lesson Style Lecture Lesson Style
(More Details) 　

Lecture, Discussions, Debates, Group work, Role play, Presentations by students
This course will be face-to-face, but the modality may be changed depending on the Corona situation. If there are students yet to come to Japan, hybrid mode may be applied.

Credits 2.0 Class Hours/Week 　 Language of Instruction E : English

Course Level 5 : Graduate Basic

Course Area（Area） 24 : Social Sciences

Course Area（Discipline） 02 : Political Science

Eligible Students Master’s students

Keywords International Law, International Humanitarian Law, Humanitarian action, Humanitarian principles, Humanitarian needs, Humanitarian assistance, Conflicts, International Armed Conflict, Frontline negotiations, Geneva Conventions

Special Subject for Teacher Education 　 Special Subject 　

Class Status
within Educational
Program
(Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)
Criterion referenced
Evaluation
(Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)

Class Objectives
/Class Outline The objective of the class will be for students to analyze and reflect on today’s armed conflicts around the world and identify main trends. Based on a case study, which is purely fictional but inspired by real situations of armed conflict and violence, students will work on identifying humanitarian needs and ways to address them by defining engagement strategies with the parties to the conflict and a multidisciplinary humanitarian response. They will also be asked to reflect on challenges front line humanitarian aid workers are confronted with and learn about the negotiations’ tools which have been developed in that regard.  How humanitarian principles are being applied in action and the positive difference International Humanitarian Law can make for people affected by armed conflict will be a central feature of the class, the objective being that students leave with having assimilated the main principles of international humanitarian law and a clear understanding of the humanitarian principle guiding humanitarian action. Students will also learn about the negative impact of misinformation, disinformation and hate speeches on populations affected by conflict and ways to address this issue.

Class Schedule lesson1 Contemporary armed conflicts trends and challenges for humanitarian action
Students will be asked to reflect on today’s world and situation of armed conflict (Russia – Ukraine, Ethiopia, Afghanistan, Syria, the Sahel etc…). Objective is that they do identify main trends, issues and that they do include the humanitarian dimension in the analysis they do of geopolitical dynamics around the world (on top of the political, security or economic dimensions they might have looked at through other classes).
lesson2 Expanded humanitarian needs and principled humanitarian action
Students will learn about the evolution of humanitarian needs and the cumulative effects that conflict and global challenges like climate change or pandemics have on the world’s population. The global humanitarian impact of the international armed conflict between Ukraine and Russia will also be analyzed.
lesson3 Fundamental principles
Students will learn about humanitarian principles and will be asked to reflect on how to best apply them in situations or armed conflict. Concrete examples of the dilemmas and challenges it poses when being applied in real time situation will be debated and discussed.
lesson4 What is International Humanitarian Law?
Under this topic the following questions will be addressed with the students so that they gain a greater understanding about international humanitarian law: What are jus ad bellum and jus in bello? What are the origins of IHL and what treaties make up IHL? When does IHL apply? What are the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols? Whom does IHL protect? Who is bound by IHL? What is the difference between IHL and human rights law? What are the main IHL rules governing hostilities? What are the provisions of IHL governing the use and protection of the emblem? What objects are specially protected under IHL? What is the ICRC’s role in developing and ensuring respect for IHL? What are the main challenges to IHL in contemporary armed conflict?
lesson5 What is International Humanitarian Law?
lesson6 What is International Humanitarian Law?
lesson7 What is International Humanitarian Law?
lesson8 Role play - Protection of detainees
Students will discover ICRC specific role when it comes to visiting prisoners. Through a role play exercise, they will interact with detainees and test arguments to positively influence good management and humane treatment of detainees by detention authorities.
lesson9  Case study – Introduction and group work – Identifying humanitarian problems
Based on a case study, which is purely fictional but inspired by real situations of armed conflict and violence, student will work on identifying humanitarian problems and ways to address them by defining engagement strategies with the parties to the conflict.
lesson10 Case study – Restitution of group work by students and discussions – Identifying humanitarian problems
Based on a case study, which is purely fictional but inspired by real situations of armed conflict and violence, student will work on identifying humanitarian problems and ways to address them by defining engagement strategies with the parties to the conflict.
lesson11 Case study – Introduction and group work – Defining objectives and engagement strategies
Based on a case study, which is purely fictional but inspired by real situations of armed conflict and violence, student will work on identifying humanitarian problems and ways to address them by defining engagement strategies with the parties to the conflict.
lesson12 Case study – Restitution of group work by students and discussions – Defining objectives and engagement strategies
Based on a case study, which is purely fictional but inspired by real situations of armed conflict and violence, student will work on identifying humanitarian problems and ways to address them by defining engagement strategies with the parties to the conflict.
lesson13 Frontline negotiations
Students will be asked to reflect on challenges front line humanitarian aid workers are confronted with and learn about the negotiations’ tools which have been developed in that regard.
lesson14 Frontline negotiations
Students will be asked to reflect on challenges front line humanitarian aid workers are confronted with and learn about the negotiations’ tools which have been developed in that regard.
lesson15 Misinformation, disinformation and hate speech (MDH)
Concrete examples of the negative impact of MDH on communities affected by armed conflict and on the safe delivery of humanitarian assistance will be shared with the students and we will reflect together on how to best address this issue.
Class 16. What did we learn?
In this final session we will look back at the journey together and see what we have learned and what students will take away from the course. Will also be the occasion to get their feedback on what they liked was missing or/and what are the domains they would like to know more about.

Neither an examination nor report submission is planned.

【Schedule】
June 15(Sat) 10:30-17:50June 16 (Sun) 10:30-17:50June 22(Sat) 10:30-17:50June 23 (Sun) 10:30-16:05

Text/Reference
Books,etc. There may be handouts and on-line materials but no text books.

PC or AV used in
Class,etc. 　

(More Details)

Learning techniques to be incorporated 　

Suggestions on
Preparation and
Review Students can go to the ICRC website ( https://www.icrc.org/) and browse through the site to get some understanding of the organization as well as IHL.

Requirements Max 30 students

Grading Method Attitude toward the class, oral presentation

Practical Experience Experienced

Summary of Practical Experience and Class Contents based on it Régis Savioz joined the ICRC in 1998 and carried out various assignments in the field. At headquarters, he became Head of operations for South and Central Asia and Head of unit for the External Resources Department. From 2009 to 2016, he took the global role of Deputy Director of Operations. Before joining the ICRC team in Japan, he served as the Head of Regional Delegation in Paris. He took his current position as Head of delegation in Japan since August 2019.

Message International humanitarian law is not made to be confined to glossy legal texts. It is designed for the dirty frontlines of war. Its power resides on the battlefields of the Israel-Hamas war, the Ukraine-Russia's international armed conflict and the Sudan, Ethiopia, Syria and Afghanistan of our world. Sharing my practical field experience of a humanitarian aid worker at the International Committee of the Red Cross delegate, you will learn through this course how humanitarian principles are applied in action and the difference thy make for people affected. You will also better understand how law does protect in war and how IHL when being respected will make a difference for people avoid unnecessary sufferings.

Other This course will be taught by a visiting professor. If you need to contact the lecturer, please send an email to: marikat@hiroshima-u.ac.jp.

Please fill in the class improvement questionnaire which is carried out on all classes.
Instructors will reflect on your feedback and utilize the information for improving their teaching.

Academic Year	2024Year	School/Graduate School	Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences (Master's Course) Division of Humanities and Social Sciences International Peace and Co-existence Program
Lecture Code	WMG03001	Subject Classification	Specialized Education
Subject Name	International Humanitarian Law and Principled Humanitarian Action
Subject Name （Katakana）
Subject Name in English	International Humanitarian Law and Principled Humanitarian Action
Instructor	SAVIOZ REGIS
Instructor (Katakana)	サビオ　レジス
Campus		Semester/Term	1st-Year, First Semester, Intensive
Days, Periods, and Classrooms	(Int) Inte：IDEC 204
Lesson Style	Lecture	Lesson Style (More Details)
Lecture, Discussions, Debates, Group work, Role play, Presentations by students This course will be face-to-face, but the modality may be changed depending on the Corona situation. If there are students yet to come to Japan, hybrid mode may be applied.
Credits	2.0	Class Hours/Week		Language of Instruction	E : English
Course Level	5 : Graduate Basic
Course Area（Area）	24 : Social Sciences
Course Area（Discipline）	02 : Political Science
Eligible Students	Master’s students
Keywords	International Law, International Humanitarian Law, Humanitarian action, Humanitarian principles, Humanitarian needs, Humanitarian assistance, Conflicts, International Armed Conflict, Frontline negotiations, Geneva Conventions
Special Subject for Teacher Education		Special Subject
Class Status within Educational Program (Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)
Criterion referenced Evaluation (Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)
Class Objectives /Class Outline	The objective of the class will be for students to analyze and reflect on today’s armed conflicts around the world and identify main trends. Based on a case study, which is purely fictional but inspired by real situations of armed conflict and violence, students will work on identifying humanitarian needs and ways to address them by defining engagement strategies with the parties to the conflict and a multidisciplinary humanitarian response. They will also be asked to reflect on challenges front line humanitarian aid workers are confronted with and learn about the negotiations’ tools which have been developed in that regard. How humanitarian principles are being applied in action and the positive difference International Humanitarian Law can make for people affected by armed conflict will be a central feature of the class, the objective being that students leave with having assimilated the main principles of international humanitarian law and a clear understanding of the humanitarian principle guiding humanitarian action. Students will also learn about the negative impact of misinformation, disinformation and hate speeches on populations affected by conflict and ways to address this issue.
Class Schedule	lesson1 Contemporary armed conflicts trends and challenges for humanitarian action Students will be asked to reflect on today’s world and situation of armed conflict (Russia – Ukraine, Ethiopia, Afghanistan, Syria, the Sahel etc…). Objective is that they do identify main trends, issues and that they do include the humanitarian dimension in the analysis they do of geopolitical dynamics around the world (on top of the political, security or economic dimensions they might have looked at through other classes). lesson2 Expanded humanitarian needs and principled humanitarian action Students will learn about the evolution of humanitarian needs and the cumulative effects that conflict and global challenges like climate change or pandemics have on the world’s population. The global humanitarian impact of the international armed conflict between Ukraine and Russia will also be analyzed. lesson3 Fundamental principles Students will learn about humanitarian principles and will be asked to reflect on how to best apply them in situations or armed conflict. Concrete examples of the dilemmas and challenges it poses when being applied in real time situation will be debated and discussed. lesson4 What is International Humanitarian Law? Under this topic the following questions will be addressed with the students so that they gain a greater understanding about international humanitarian law: What are jus ad bellum and jus in bello? What are the origins of IHL and what treaties make up IHL? When does IHL apply? What are the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols? Whom does IHL protect? Who is bound by IHL? What is the difference between IHL and human rights law? What are the main IHL rules governing hostilities? What are the provisions of IHL governing the use and protection of the emblem? What objects are specially protected under IHL? What is the ICRC’s role in developing and ensuring respect for IHL? What are the main challenges to IHL in contemporary armed conflict? lesson5 What is International Humanitarian Law? lesson6 What is International Humanitarian Law? lesson7 What is International Humanitarian Law? lesson8 Role play - Protection of detainees Students will discover ICRC specific role when it comes to visiting prisoners. Through a role play exercise, they will interact with detainees and test arguments to positively influence good management and humane treatment of detainees by detention authorities. lesson9 Case study – Introduction and group work – Identifying humanitarian problems Based on a case study, which is purely fictional but inspired by real situations of armed conflict and violence, student will work on identifying humanitarian problems and ways to address them by defining engagement strategies with the parties to the conflict. lesson10 Case study – Restitution of group work by students and discussions – Identifying humanitarian problems Based on a case study, which is purely fictional but inspired by real situations of armed conflict and violence, student will work on identifying humanitarian problems and ways to address them by defining engagement strategies with the parties to the conflict. lesson11 Case study – Introduction and group work – Defining objectives and engagement strategies Based on a case study, which is purely fictional but inspired by real situations of armed conflict and violence, student will work on identifying humanitarian problems and ways to address them by defining engagement strategies with the parties to the conflict. lesson12 Case study – Restitution of group work by students and discussions – Defining objectives and engagement strategies Based on a case study, which is purely fictional but inspired by real situations of armed conflict and violence, student will work on identifying humanitarian problems and ways to address them by defining engagement strategies with the parties to the conflict. lesson13 Frontline negotiations Students will be asked to reflect on challenges front line humanitarian aid workers are confronted with and learn about the negotiations’ tools which have been developed in that regard. lesson14 Frontline negotiations Students will be asked to reflect on challenges front line humanitarian aid workers are confronted with and learn about the negotiations’ tools which have been developed in that regard. lesson15 Misinformation, disinformation and hate speech (MDH) Concrete examples of the negative impact of MDH on communities affected by armed conflict and on the safe delivery of humanitarian assistance will be shared with the students and we will reflect together on how to best address this issue. Class 16. What did we learn? In this final session we will look back at the journey together and see what we have learned and what students will take away from the course. Will also be the occasion to get their feedback on what they liked was missing or/and what are the domains they would like to know more about. Neither an examination nor report submission is planned. 【Schedule】 June 15(Sat) 10:30-17:50June 16 (Sun) 10:30-17:50June 22(Sat) 10:30-17:50June 23 (Sun) 10:30-16:05
Text/Reference Books,etc.	There may be handouts and on-line materials but no text books.
PC or AV used in Class,etc.
(More Details)
Learning techniques to be incorporated
Suggestions on Preparation and Review	Students can go to the ICRC website ( https://www.icrc.org/) and browse through the site to get some understanding of the organization as well as IHL.
Requirements	Max 30 students
Grading Method	Attitude toward the class, oral presentation
Practical Experience	Experienced
Summary of Practical Experience and Class Contents based on it	Régis Savioz joined the ICRC in 1998 and carried out various assignments in the field. At headquarters, he became Head of operations for South and Central Asia and Head of unit for the External Resources Department. From 2009 to 2016, he took the global role of Deputy Director of Operations. Before joining the ICRC team in Japan, he served as the Head of Regional Delegation in Paris. He took his current position as Head of delegation in Japan since August 2019.
Message	International humanitarian law is not made to be confined to glossy legal texts. It is designed for the dirty frontlines of war. Its power resides on the battlefields of the Israel-Hamas war, the Ukraine-Russia's international armed conflict and the Sudan, Ethiopia, Syria and Afghanistan of our world. Sharing my practical field experience of a humanitarian aid worker at the International Committee of the Red Cross delegate, you will learn through this course how humanitarian principles are applied in action and the difference thy make for people affected. You will also better understand how law does protect in war and how IHL when being respected will make a difference for people avoid unnecessary sufferings.
Other	This course will be taught by a visiting professor. If you need to contact the lecturer, please send an email to: marikat@hiroshima-u.ac.jp.
Please fill in the class improvement questionnaire which is carried out on all classes. Instructors will reflect on your feedback and utilize the information for improving their teaching.

Back to syllabus main page