Videos on IHL

A discussion of real-life challenges presented by non-State actors in conflict settings, and how (and to what extent) we can address them to affect the resolution of practical and theoretical problems in the realm of IHL.

What does it mean to say that international humanitarian law (IHL) strikes a realistic and meaningful balance between military necessity and humanity, and that the law therefore 'accounts for' military necessity? Through real-life examples and careful analysis, this lecture will challenge received wisdom on the subject.

In this HILAC lecture, Prof. Michael Scharf, Prof. Milena Sterio and Prof. Paul R. William talk about the history of the conflict in Syria and demonstrate how and to what extent it affected international law. The speakers explore instances of use of force against ISIS and the allied strikes against the Syrian chemical weapons facilities. They show how Syria, as the speakers describe it, became a “laboratory for the rapid creation of new international law” since 2011.

In this interview Benjamin Charlier, legal adviser to the International Committee of the Red Cross in Geneva, touches on the challenges of prosecuting war crimes. Mr Charlier was a trainer during the ICL-TCL training (March 2019), a training for prosecutors and judges from francophone African countries on issues concerning the prosecution of international and transnational crimes. The training course aims to strengthen domestic legal capacities to improve the overall delivery of the international justice system,

The training course is co-organised by the Asser Institute, the International Nuremberg Principles Academy and the Antonio Cassese Initiative.

The following interview was conducted with Jérŏme de Hemptinne from the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights, during the ICL-TCL training on the prosecution of international and transnational crimes. Mr De Hemptinne raises issues concerning challenges of national magistrates when judging international war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The ICL-TCL training course is delivered in French and aims to strengthen the justice sector in francophone African countries facing challenges in the administration of justice. The training course is co-organised by the Asser Institute, the International Nuremberg Principles Academy and the Antonio Cassese Initiative.

The following interview was conducted with Bakayoko Ibourahema, advocate general at the Court of Appeal in Abidjan in Ivory Coast, and participant of the ICL-TCL training held at the T.M.C. Asser Instituut in The Hague in March 2019. Mr Ibourahema elaborates on the challenges national magistrates face when confronted with issues of International Criminal and Transnational Criminal Law, and the principle of complementarity.

The ICL-TCL training course aims to strengthen domestic legal capacities in francophone African countries facing challenges in the administration of justice. The training course is co-organised by the Asser Institute, the International Nuremberg Principles Academy and the Antonio Cassese Initiative. 

On Thursday 17 March 2016, Dr. Lyal S. Sunga, Head, Rule of Law Program, The Hague Institute for Global Justice and Visiting Professor, Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, provided a lecture in the context of the Hague Initiative for Law and Armed Conflict (HILAC), entitled: “Can International Law Meet the Challenges of Today’s Lawless Conflicts?”.

On Tuesday 25 November 2014, the book Applying International Humanitarian Law in Judicial and Quasi-Judicial Bodies: International and Domestic Aspects, edited by Derek Jinks, Jackson N. Maogoto and Solon Solomon and published by T.M.C. Asser Press, was launched at the T.M.C. Asser Instituut. The event was organised by the International Humanitarian and Criminal Law (IHCL) Platform hosted by the T.M.C. Asser Instituut, in cooperation with the Kalshoven-Gieskes Forum on International Humanitarian Law of the Grotius Centre for International Legal Studies of Leiden University.

The evening was introduced by Dr. Christophe Paulussen, senior researcher International Humanitarian Law and International Criminal Law at the T.M.C. Asser Instituut and moderated by Dr. Robert Heinsch, Director of the Kalshoven-Gieskes Forum on International Humanitarian Law of Leiden University.

The book launch commenced with a brief description of the publication, provided by Mr. Solon Solomon, after which interventions followed by Judge Christopher Greenwood of the International Court of Justice, Judge Silvia Alejandra Fernández de Gurmendi of the International Criminal Court and Professor Cedric Ryngaert of Utrecht University. 

On 8 October 2014, Guido Acquaviva provided a lecture in the context of the Lebanon lecture series on war crimes.

On 24 September 2014, Geoff Roberts, from the Sabra Defence Team (Special Tribunal for Lebanon), provided a lecture in the context of the Lebanon lecture series on war crimes.

On 24 September 2014, Geoff Roberts, from the Sabra Defence Team (Special Tribunal for Lebanon), provided a lecture in the context of the Lebanon lecture series on war crimes.

On 24 September 2014, Geoff Roberts, from the Sabra Defence Team (Special Tribunal for Lebanon), provided a lecture in the context of the Lebanon lecture series on war crimes.