LAW4199 - International laws of armed conflict - 2019

The unit teaches students about the international laws of armed conflict (LOAC), known also as International Humanitarian Law. It will cover the historical development and sources of LOAC, including the permissible methods and means of armed conflict; the protection regime under the Geneva Conventions, their Additional Protocols and the developing body of customary international law; the distinction between combatants and civilians; and enforcement regimes such as that under the International Criminal Court. It will also cover the imbalance of protection between international and non-international armed conflict, and the law of jus ad bellum, that is when war is legal and when it is illegal.

At the successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

1. identify, articulate, critically assess and apply the law of armed conflict, including its sources and modern application;
2. understand, analyse and critically evaluate cases which apply the law of armed conflict;
3. compare and contrast different regimes, including the human rights regime, and the different LOAC regimes applicable in international and non-international armed conflicts;
4. demonstrate independent research skills to interpret and synthesise relevant legal and policy issues and apply them to a set of facts;
5. Evaluate the role of international law in managing the phenomenon of armed conflict;
6. communicate knowledge from this subject effectively and persuasively;
7. Learn and work autonomously and assess their own capabilities, using feedback to improve performance.

NOTE: From 1 July 2019, the duration of all exams is changing to combine reading and writing time. The new exam duration for this unit is 2 hours and 30 minutes.

1. Online quiz: 20%
2. Research Essay (2000 words): 40%
3. Final exam (2 hours and 30 minutes): 40%

Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. The unit requires on average three/four hours of scheduled activities per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.

See also Unit timetable information