JUS5730 – International Humanitarian Law (The Law of Armed Conflict)
Course description
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
International Humanitarian Law (IHL) or the law of armed conflict (LOAC) aims at reducing the disastrous effects of armed conflicts by regulating the means and methods of warfare and by establishing relevant legal protections not only for civilians and for non-combatants more generally, but also for combatants. The course provides important insights on several key aspects of IHL, including its historical development, legal sources, types of armed conflict, means and methods of waging war, protection of civilians and civilian objects, protection of cultural heritage and of the environment, international peace operations, implementation and responsibility for serious IHL violations, the relationship with other branches of public international law, and some of the current challenges IHL faces.
The main legal basis for IHL is composed of the four 1949 Geneva Conventions with their two additional protocols of 1977 and the third additional protocol of 2005, The Hague Regulations of 1907, rules of customary international law, and fundamental principles of IHL. In addition, there are several specific treaties trying to regulate or ban various types of weapons, including biological and chemical weapons, cluster munitions, and nuclear weapons.
While IHL’s relationship with other branches of public international law, especially the rules on the use of force (jus ad or contra bellum), international human rights law, and international criminal law law is addressed, these latter subjects are covered in specific courses offered by the Faculty. The course’s main focus remains on which legal rules apply when there is an armed conflict (jus in bello), whether that is of an international or of a non-international nature. Using a case-based approach students are engaged in the discussion of specific scenarios that resemble or typically are real-world examples.
For students enrolled in Rettsvitenskap (jus) (master – 5 ?r): Have you considered a specialization as part of your degree? The course is part of the profile Internasjonal rett og menneskerettigheter.
Learning outcome
This course is aimed at helping students better understand how armed conflicts are regulated and what are the main legal obligations on the parties to an armed conflict.
Admission
You may register for this course if you have admission to a Master’s programme at UiO or the faculty's exchange programme. You can also register for this course if you do not have admission to any programme at UiO, but meet the formal prerequistites.
All students are required meet the formal prerequistites.
Have you met the formal prerequisites at another institution than the University of Oslo, and the results are not formally registered at UiO, you must apply for admission to courses at Master’s level . Students with admission to Master’s degree programmes at other faculties than The Faculty of Law must also apply for admission.
When your admission is in order you must register for courses in StudentWeb
Prerequisites
Formal prerequisite knowledge
Students must fill one of these requirements:
- Passed 1st - 3rd year of the 5-years degree Master of Laws (Master i rettsvitenskap at UiO) (or exams that qualify for exemption for these) or
- Hold a 5-years Master’s degree in Laws (Master i rettsvitenskap at UiO) or equivalent.
Exemptions from the formal prerequisites will be given to students with admission to the faculty's own exchange or master’s degree programmes. This rule does not apply to students with admission to other master’s degree programmes at the University of Oslo, unless otherwise agreed.
Recommended previous knowledge
Three years of law studies.
Overlapping courses
- 10 credits overlap with JUR1730 – International Humanitarian Law (The Law of Armed Conflict)
- 10 credits overlap with VALKRIG – Krigens folkerett/internasjonal humanit?rrett (discontinued)
- 10 credits overlap with JUXKRIG – Krigens folkerett / internasjonal humanit?rrett (discontinued)
- 10 credits overlap with JUR5730 – International Humanitarian Law (The Law of Armed Conflict) (discontinued)
Teaching
Lectures.
Language of teaching for this course is English. This means that all
communication during lectures/seminars will be in English, and all
literature and auxiliary materials are in English.
Examination
4 hour written open book digital school examination
Examination support material
This is an open book digital school examination. You are permitted to use any materials written on paper during the examination. This includes books, lecture materials and your own notes, whether handwritten or printed. There are no restrictions on marking up or highlighting these written materials. Printouts/notes from Lovdata are allowed.
No electronic support materials are allowed. Lovdata Pro will be closed for all students during the 4 hour school exam.
General rules on exam support materials
Use of sources and rules for citing
Familiarize yourself with the use of sources and citations in legal writing. In an exam situation, using other people’s material without declaring it in a clear manner may be considered cheating or an attempt at cheating. You must cite any sources you draw on.
Language of examination
The examination text is given in English, and you submit your response in English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
Marking criteria for written examination
This guide is used by examiners for grading elective courses at the Faculty of Law.
Explanations and appeals
Resit an examination
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Resitting an examination.
- There are special rules for resitting a passed examination in the master's programme in Law.
Withdrawal from an examination
It is possible to take this exam up to 3 times. If you withdraw from the exam after the deadline or during the exam, this will be counted as an examination attempt.
There are special rules for resitting a passed examination in the master's programme in Law.
Special examination arrangements
Application form, deadline and requirements for special examination arrangements.
Evaluation
The course is subject to continuous evaluation. At regular intervals we also ask students to participate in a more comprehensive evaluation.
Other
The language for this course is English. Students enrolled in the
Masterprogrammet i rettsvitenskap must pass one
English subject as part of their degree, this course will meet these
obligations.
This subject is taught at Master 's level. The subject is also taught at Bachelor's level (15 ECTS credits), see JUR1730 – International Humanitarian Law (The Law of Armed Conflict). Please see the chapter above, regarding overlap. For instances of overlap, credits will be deducted on the subject at Bachelors's level.