The program aims at qualifying university graduates in various fields of International Humanitarian Law as well as personnel working in humanitarian field, by providing them with the knowledge and skills that enable them to enhance their capacities in the field of human rights protection during armed conflicts. These are provided by the rules of international humanitarian law and the understanding of the mechanisms of applying the rules of this law, the methods of dealing with violations at the national and international levels, and the development of their skills in dealing with protected groups; and enabling graduates to link concepts and theoretical studies, with the practical practice of the provisions of this law.

Learning outcomes:

A. Knowledge and Understanding:

       Upon completing the Master, the graduate will be able to:

• Define the nature of the international humanitarian law, its origin, its development, its basic principles and its main sources.
• Define the scope of the application of the IHL, people protected by it and the defined aspects of their protection.
• Compare international humanitarian law with other similar laws, in particular the international human rights law and international criminal law.
• Identify types of armed conflict (international or non-international) and the provisions associated with each.
• Define violations of international humanitarian law, their legal adaptation, methods of criminalization, and criminal liability.
• Recall the mechanisms for the application of the international humanitarian law at the international and national levels and the measures to be taken to respect and ensure respect for the rules of the international humanitarian law.
• Outline the basic concepts of the international human rights law, the rights protected under it, the regional, national, and international protection mechanisms and the role of the concerned United Nations systems.
• Ability to remember the legal rules governing international armed conflicts (land, sea and air) and the concepts related to non-international armed conflicts.
• Define the most important contemporary international issues and problems, and the challenges associated with them; and their adaptation in accordance with the rules of the international humanitarian law and foreseeing their future.
• Identify legal problems on the national and international level, identify the roles of the concerned parties, and the role of the United Nations systems and specialized international organizations in addressing the issues at hand.

B. Intellectual Abilities:

Upon completing the Master, the graduate will be able to:

• Analyze the rules of international and customary humanitarian law, linking them to international and non-international armed conflicts and harmonizing them with the national laws.
• Describe the violations of international humanitarian law, their legal adaptation, their linkage to the rules of criminal responsibility in international criminal law, and procedures for accountability and criminal prosecution at the national and international levels.
• Recognize international legal rules for the protection of human rights that must be applied to international armed conflicts: (international humanitarian law), and distinguish them from the legal rules applicable in time of peace (international human rights law).
• Classify armed conflicts (international or non-international) and recognize the differences between the classifications and the legal rules applicable to them.
• Analyze the contemporary challenges of international humanitarian law, the ability to extract, infer and deepen, adapt and discuss legal arguments in support of its findings.
• Assess national laws and international legal rules, develop them in line with contemporary international conflicts, confront challenges through practice, and apply the rules of international humanitarian law.
• Analyze and evaluate the role of the United Nations systems and international humanitarian organizations in the protection of human rights in peacetime and during armed conflicts and their mechanisms of action.

C. Practical Skills:

     Upon completing the Master, the graduate will be able to:

• Use the rules of the international humanitarian law and the rules of international human rights law in accordance with the scope of their application.
• Apply the mechanisms of international humanitarian law of all kinds.
• Classify armed conflicts, whether international or non-international, and the provisions applicable to them.
• Adapt international crimes, violations of international humanitarian law, and specialized courts for consideration.
• Assess contemporary international issues and problems related to international humanitarian law.
• Harmonize national legislation with international conventions on human rights.
• Document violations of international humanitarian law and support them with appropriate legal evidence and rules.

D. General Transferring Skills:

    Upon completing the Master, the graduate will be able to:

• Lead humanitarian task forces and within the framework of international humanitarian organizations.
• Disseminate the concepts of international humanitarian law in the working circles they exercise.
• Train humanitarian co-workers to apply the rules of international humanitarian law.
• Use appropriate international humanitarian law mechanisms according to the nature and effects of the conflict.
• Use the rules he/she has learned to review and develop national legislation, taking into account international conventions.
• Prepare studies and legal and judicial memorandum on international humanitarian law and the protections it provides.
• Pursue the search for best practices and experiences relating to compliance with and implementation of the rules of international humanitarian law at the domestic and international levels.