EXECUTIVE COURSE
8 – 12 December 2014
WEAPONS LAW AND LEGAL REVIEW OF WEAPONS Course Director
1 week programme
“Learning to conduct legal reviews of weapons” States have a legal obligation to ensure that the weapons that are newly developed, manufactured or produced for their own armed forces – or for export to other States – are compliant with international law. Therefore, all States should conduct legal reviews of weapons at various stages in their manufacture or procurement. These reviews should be carried out by experts with a good understanding of the relevant legal provisions. This course will
Dr William Boothby
provide lawyers, diplomats and other officials with the knowledge and skills
Dr Bill Boothby
required for that purpose.
retired in July 2011 as Deputy Director of Legal Services (RAF) in the rank of Air Com-
KEY BENEFITS FOR YOU
modore (1 star) after
The course will enable you to:
30 years in the Royal
• Acquire the new knowledge, tools and skills required to ensure your State’s compliance with international weapons law
Air Force (UK) and is an Associate Fellow at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy.
GCSP We are an international foundation with over 40 member states from across the globe that provides forward-thinking and innovative solutions for leaders and policymakers concerned with international affairs and security in today’s complex, globalised world.
• Exchange views among peers and experienced experts and practitioners in a neutral and open environment • Conceptualize and/or conduct a legal review of any category of new weapon • Develop your judgment and decisionmaking through practical case studies • Access an extensive network of experts in international affairs, law and security as a GCSP alumnus
FACULTY PROFILES In addition to the course director, the faculty teaching the course hold, or have held, the positions: Professor of Public Law at the Europa-Universität Viadrina in Frankfurt, Head of the Arms Unit, Legal Adviser and Deputy Head of Delegation for the International Committee of the Red Cross, Senior Advisor and Senior Fellow at the GCSP.
WHY YOU SHOULD ATTEND It is a legal obligation for States to ensure that the weapons that are developed manufactured or procured for issue to their own armed forces – or for export to other States – are compliant with international law. The course is designed to provide lawyers, diplomats and other officials, either currently involved or likely to be involved in legal weapons reviews and / or other weapons related issues , with the necessary understanding to ensure their State’s compliance with the law.
Course Focus
Participant’s Profile
• Defining Weapons, Means and Methods of Warfare
The course is designed to provide lawyers, diplomats and other officials, either currently involved or likely to be involved in legal weapons reviews and/or other weapons related issues, with the necessary understanding to ensure their State’s compliance with the law. The course does not assume any particular level of knowledge of, or previous experience in international law or the law of armed conflict. The course will be held in English. No translation will be provided.
• The Evolution and Sources of Weapons Law • Unnecessary Suffering and Indiscriminate Weapons • Weapons and the Environment • Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Weapons • Missiles, Bombs, Firearms and Bullets • New Weapons Technologies
In the heart of “International Geneva” Hosting over 85 international organisations, more than 250 non-governmental organisations, some 200 diplomatic missions, representations and delegations, Geneva represents one of the world’s richest networks in international affairs.
Admission For further details about the course and the application process, please contact: a.pissis@gcsp.ch +41 (0)22 730 96 94 Application deadline: Wednesday, 15 October 2014 Tuition fees: CHF 750
Course Design The course design is based on a learning cycle starting with knowledge transfer in presentational sessions, continuing with the practical application of that knowledge in small groups through case studies (experience) and leading to consolidated expertise and skills. This learning cycle is applied to each of the various thematic areas throughout the course.
This course, which has been running since 2011, is funded by the Swiss Government and is conducted in cooperation with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the International Institute for Humanitarian Law (San Remo, Italy).
Venue: GCSP Maison de la paix Chemin Eugène-Rigot 2D P.O. Box 1295 CH-1211 Geneva 1 www.gcsp.ch Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn