International Humanitarian Law

Subject LAWS70234 (2011)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2011.

Credit Points: 12.50
Level: 7 (Graduate/Postgraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2011:

June, Parkville - Taught on campus.
Pre-teaching Period Start not applicable
Teaching Period not applicable
Assessment Period End not applicable
Last date to Self-Enrol not applicable
Census Date not applicable
Last date to Withdraw without fail not applicable


Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: The total class time is between 24 and 26 hours.
Total Time Commitment: Not available
Prerequisites: Successful completion of Principles of International Law or equivalent.
Corequisites: Visit the Melbourne Law Masters website for more information about this subject.
Recommended Background Knowledge: Visit the Melbourne Law Masters website for more information about this subject.
Non Allowed Subjects: Visit the Melbourne Law Masters website for more information about this subject.
Core Participation Requirements: Visit the Melbourne Law Masters website for more information about this subject.

Coordinator

Assoc Prof Bruce Oswald

Contact

For more information, contact the Melbourne Law Masters office.

Email law-masters@unimelb.edu.au or phone +61 3 8344 6190.

Alternatively, visit our website:

www.masters.law.unimelb.edu.au

Subject Overview:

Principal topics will include:

  • The historical development of international humanitarian law and its rationale in a broader context
  • The Geneva Conventions of 1949 and the Additional Protocols of 1977 and developments in customary international law
  • The unique role of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in armed conflict
  • The relationship of international humanitarian law to related areas of international law, such as the use of force, arms control and disarmament, human rights and international criminal law
  • Implementation of the law, through case studies
  • Current issues for development of the law, such as cluster munitions, child soldiers, the protection of women in armed conflict, the law of occupation and terrorism.
Objectives:

A student who has successfully completed this subject should:

  • Be conversant with the international legal principles regulating the conduct of armed conflict
  • Understand the principal institutional structures for the implementation of international humanitarian law
  • Be aware of the influence of legal principles on military strategy and deployment
  • Understand the key issues for further development of the law and current initiatives for change
  • Appreciate the existence of critiques of the efficacy of the legal principles and be able to evaluate the relative strengths and weaknesses of the law.
Assessment:

Visit the Melbourne Law Masters website for more information about this subject.
Prescribed Texts: Core subject materials will be provided free of charge to all students. Some subjects require further texts to be purchased. Visit the Melbourne Law Masters website for more information about this subject.
Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.
Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date

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