Online Program in International Human Rights Law and International Humanitarian Law
Giessen, Germany
DURATION
2 Weeks
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Request earliest startdate
TUITION FEES
EUR 900 *
STUDY FORMAT
Distance Learning
* total Costs
Introduction
The application period for the 2025 IWU is open from 1st September to 30th of October 2024.The selected candidates will be informed of the decision by mid November.
What to expect:
Spend Your Winter Gaining Knowledge
The Faculty of Law at Justus Liebig University Giessen are looking forward to hosting students from all over the world for the 4th International Online Winter University in International Human Rights Law and International Humanitarian Law. The International Winter University takes place in January 2025 and offers an in-depth approach to current challenges faced in International Human Rights Law and International Humanitarian Law and Environmental Protection.
The program offers you a foundation in International Human Rights Law and International Humanitarian Law before discussing the major debates and challenges that are currently found in these fields of law. This will primarily focus on those issues that are present in both fields of law and consider how similar issues are approached differently. Allowing you to appreciate the differences between International Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law and how both these fields of law, in different manners, seek to protect individuals.
The program combines high-quality teaching by excellent lecturers and practitioners from all over the world.
Credits
- ECTS
Non-US participants will be awarded 6 ECTS credits. The European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System [ECTS] is a student-centered system based on the workload required to achieve the objectives of a course. The organization's aim is to facilitate student mobility and therefore simplify the process of credit transfer. The system is based on the assumption that 60 credits equal the workload of a full-time student during one academic year. The student workload of a full-time study program in Europe approximately amounts to 40 weeks per year and in this case, one credit stands for 24 to 30 working hours. For more information on ECTS please visit the homepage of the European Union.
Please note: ECTS credits will only be awarded upon passing examinations.
The aim of the course is to help you
- develop a critical and analytical understanding of the background of current debates in international humanitarian law and international human rights law;
- develop a critical understanding of the difference between international humanitarian law and international human rights law by examining similar issues from both perspectives;
- enhance critical understanding of regulatory limits within a contemporary, fast-moving, and geopolitical context;
- strengthen a critical and enquiring mind capable of presenting theory-based arguments with coherent evidence about international human rights law and international humanitarian law; and
- enhance research skills and use of a wide range of primary and secondary materials, national and international law, soft law, and academic sources.
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Program Outcome
By the end of this course, you should be able to demonstrate:
- a critical knowledge and understanding of the fundamental doctrines, theories, key elements, general principles, and institutions that underpin current debates in international humanitarian law and international human rights law;
- a critical knowledge and understanding of legal concepts, values, general principles, rules, and terminology relevant to international humanitarian law and international human rights law;
- a critical knowledge and understanding of some key debates and challenges in the current discussion on international humanitarian law and international human rights law;
- the critical ability to apply knowledge, principles, and doctrine in order to construct arguments about complex legal problems based upon appropriate humanitarian law and human rights theories and accurate research;
- high-level use of primary and secondary sources to evidence legal doctrine and support legal arguments; and
- an ability to provide a critical and supported answer to a contemporary business and human rights question in an assessment environment, in suitable academic form, and to a high standard of English.
Winter University 2024: The Digital Age
The 2024 Winter University on International Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law focused on the Digital Age.
Curriculum
First week: Introduction to International Human Rights Law and International Humanitarian Law
| Time | Thursday January 2 | Friday January 3 | Saturday January 4 |
| 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm (Berlin) 8:00 am - 9:30 am (Wisconsin) | Opening Ceremony |
The Sources of International Humanitarian Law: Treaties and Beyond |
Introduction to International Humanitarian Law: Conflict Classification |
| 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm (Berlin) 10:00 am - 11:30 am (Wisconsin) | Introduction to Public International Law (PIL)
| Dr. León Castellanos- Jankiewicz The Sources of International Human Rights Law: Treaties and Beyond | Dr. Omar Fassatoui Introducing Civil and Political Rights, and Economic, Social and Cultural Rights |
| 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm (Berlin) 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm (Wisconsin) | International Enviromental Law and Other Branches of PIL |
Second week: International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law in the Digital Age
| Time | Monday January 6 | Tuesday January 7 | Wednesday January 8 | Thursday January 9 | Friday January 10 | Saturday January 11 |
| 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm (Berlin) 8:00 am - 9:30 am (Wisconsin) | Conduct of Hostilites | Environmental Protection in Armed Conflict | Right to a Healthy Enviroment | Strategic Litigation and Environmental Protection | Biodiversity Conservation and Wildlife Protection | Common Heritage of Mankind |
| 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm (Berlin) 10:00 am - 11:30 am (Wisconsin) | Environmental Protection: Role of Regional Human Rights Courts and International Courts | Protection of Environment: Specific Weapons | Environmental Justice for Future Generations | Climate Change and Forced Migration | Animal Rights and Protection of Animals in Armed Conflict | Introduction to Space Law |
| 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm (Berlin) 12:00 am - 1:30 pm (Wisconsin) |
| Closing ceremony |
Please note, that changes to the program are still possible and that all lectures take place through the Zoom platform.
The Course offers an in-depth approach to current challenges faced in International Human Rights Law and International Humanitarian Law with a special focus on the protection of the environment. The first week of the program offers students a foundation in public international law including International Human Rights Law and International Humanitarian Law. The second week focuses on a more specialized overview of the specific challenges and topics relevant to environmental protection.
The tailored courses of the program allow students to gain a comprehensive understanding of a wide range of discussions relevant to International Humanitarian Law, International Human Rights Law, and general Public International Law. The program empowers the student’s ability to consider interactions between various fields of law and their response to environmental protection. The selected lectures will offer expertise and analysis of approaches, developments, and current challenges present within these fields.
Reading and preparation
All of the materials cited in this course will be available in digital form. Links will be included in each citation where available. Students are expected to actively participate in the lectures, and therefore students must prepare for the lectures by reading the provided materials.
Assessment
The final examination will be a take-home exam taking place after the program, preliminary on Saturday 18th of January, and Sunday 19th of January. After the exam questions have been published, the students are allowed to use as much time as needed for the exam and need to submit it by the set deadline. To pass the exam, the students need to show their comprehension of the taught material by answering questions in essay form. Further details will be issued during the course. Due to the nature of the program, all the exam results are final, and no possibility to retake the exam will be offered.
Attendance policy
Students are required to participate in all lectures, with absences generally not being allowed. Exceptions to this rule can be made due to exceptional circumstances. If the students do not excuse an absence beforehand, they are not allowed to write the final exam and will therefore be unable to receive academic credits.
Credits and grading scale
Upon successful completion, 6 ECTS will be awarded for the class. According to the rules of ECTS, one credit is equivalent to 25-30 hours of student workload.
The exams will be graded within three weeks after the end of the program and in addition to the ECTS, the students will receive a certificate of participation. The certificates and transcripts of records will be issued within two weeks after the end of the grading period.
Grading Scale
| Percentage | Grade | Description |
|
85-100% | 18 | Very good: an outstanding achievement |
| 17 | ||
| 16 | ||
| 15 | ||
| 14 | ||
| 75-85% | 13 | Good: an achievement substantially above average requirement |
| 12 | ||
| 11 | ||
| 10 | ||
|
65-75% | 9 | Satisfactory: an achievement that corresponds to average requirements |
| 8 | ||
| 7 | ||
| 6 | ||
| 60-65% | 5 | Sufficient: an achievement that barely meets the requirements |
| 4 | ||
| 0-60% | <4 | Not sufficient / failed: an achievement which does not meet the |
Admissions
Program Tuition Fee
Scholarships and Funding
Scholarships
There might be the possibility to offer partial scholarships for Students, who want to participate in the International Winter University.
How to apply for a scholarship?
If you state that you wish to apply for financial subsidies in our Application Form, you need to attach the following additional documents to your application:
- One letter of reference from one of your lecturers (written in the English language)
- A thorough letter of motivation including your reasons to apply for the course and stating your personal financial neediness.
- Transcripts of Records showing us your academic achievements (optional)
- A certificate of your proficiency in the English language (for non-native speakers)
What do we take into consideration?
- Individual students’ motivation for their participation in our International Winter University
- Students’ academic excellence
- Students’ financial needs
- Diversity in the composition of the Winter University group
What is covered by a scholarship?
A scholarship will partially reduce the total fee. The sum is set individually since it depends on the individual application and the available funds, which vary yearly. Unfortunately, we are not able to provide scholarships, which waive the complete program fee.