Amel House of Human Rights, part of Amel Association, is organizing the Summer School on Law and Armed Conflict, for its second running year, between the 3^rd and 15^th of September 2012. The Summer School 2012 provides a unique opportunity to law graduates, lawyers, researchers and human right advocates in Lebanon and the MENA region to take advantage of the lectures, in-depth study and advanced training in International Humanitarian Law and International Criminal law.

In 2009, Amel Association launched a dedicated human rights program entitled "Amel House of Human Rights" aiming at becoming a leading provider of high quality human rights education, training, acting as a hub for knowledge, know-how, policy design and advocacy for legal protection.

Objectives of the Summer School

In light of continuous armed conflicts and violence in Lebanon and the MENA region, the MENA World is in need to increase the number and efficiency of lawyers and experts in international legal framework for protection from conflict and its impact.

The Summer School on law and armed conflicts seeks to provide law graduates as well as human right defenders and researchers with expertise and knowledge required to work and research in the legal framework in order to offer protection to civilians and civilian objects during armed conflicts and emergency situations. Therefore, the summer school presents an in-depth insight into the international – and to a certain extent, local – legislative frameworks which govern all aspects of the conflict: Qualification of the conflict, conduct of hostilities, protection of civilian populations, the means and methods of combat, peacekeeping, international criminal law, international crimes and the international justice system. It will also debate the procedures of achieving justice for the victims of armed conflicts regarding capacity in Lebanon and the MENA region to monitor and document violation of international law during the conflict, whether in law firms or research centers, international organizations or associations of local and regional operating in Lebanon and the MENA world.

Content and Methodology

The two week Summer School will take place from Monday 3rd of September 2012 until Saturday 15th of September 2012, hosting lectures given by local and international university professors and experts alongside representatives of international organizations and United Nations agencies. It also includes in-depth case studies, and moot courts.

The 2011 edition of Summer School on Law and Conflict benefited from the generous support and contribution of:

•          Human Rights Clinic of La Sagesse University’s law school
•          Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (Beirut regional bureau)
•          Beirut Regional Office of Amnesty International
•          Beirut Office of the International Committee of the Red Cross
•          Beirut Regional Office of the International Center for Transitional Justice
•          Human Rights Center of the Beirut Arab University law faculty
•          United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
•          Justice without Frontiers
•          Ruwad Frontiers

The agenda of the 2012 Summer School is based on the success made in 2011 summer school’s program that took place in July 2011 and included lectures by leading experts on international law in the MENA world , including:

•          Introduction to IHL, principles of IHL, Geneva law and Hague law, the case of the special tribune of Lebanon - Dr. Karim EL Mufti (La Sagesse university)
•          The difference between International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights Law, International armed conflict and Non international armed conflict - Dr. Hasan El Jouni (Lebanese University)
•          Protected categories in IHL, methods and means of combat in IHL - Dr. Sherif Atlam (ICRC)
•          International Law on Peacekeeping - Dr. Lana Baydas (ICRC)
•          Military Necessity and International Humanitarian Law - Dr. Ali Awad (retired General from the Lebanese Armed Forces)
•          Case studies: Libya, Lebanon, and Gaza - Mrs Mervat Rishmawi (Human Rights Consultant) - contribution sponsored by Amnesty International.
•          Palestinian Refugee Regime, Legal standards and issues related to Palestinian refugees, to Palestinians as stateless persons and as internally displaced persons, international law, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict –

Dr. Susan Akram (Boston University School of Law) 

•          Principles of the International Criminal Court and the International Justice - Dr. Nidal EL Jurdi (OHCHR)
•          Understanding the International Criminal Court - Attorney Brigitte Chelebian (Justice without Frontiers)
•          The ICC course of action in Uganda. The point of view of the victims - M. Mathew Bowlby (Former Officer in Victims Participation & Reparations Section in Uganda & Chad for the ICC)
•          Seeking justice: the case of Sabra and Chatila in Belgium Courts - Dr. Chibli Mallat (Harvard Law School, USJ)
•          Mechanisms of Transitional Justice - International Center for Transitional Justice.
•          IHL and Terrorism, understanding the military necessity from a military perspective - Colonel Ben Klappe (Military Judge, The Netherlands, Member of the International Society for Military law and Law of War)
•          Situating the Gaza blockade in International Law and UN response - Mrs. Noura Erakat

For the detailed program of 2011 check: www.bit.ly/LOAC-Program2011

Target Audience/Eligibility requirements of participants

35 participants will be selected among jurists, lawyers, researchers and human rights advocates (including political science and media and journalism graduates engaged in civic action), divided into the following: 25 participants from Lebanon and 10 from the Arab world.

Priority is given for those who are under the age of 35.

The selection of participants will be based on merit and commitment to attend and contribute fully to the course. Gender equality will also be of paramount importance.

Research Opportunities

At the end of Summer School, the best four participants will benefit from research opportunities in international humanitarian law or international criminal law, under the supervision of experts and specialists, academics and workers in local or international organizations.  This will take place during the three months subsequent to the school and Amel House of Human Rights will cover the research costs. Moreover, the participants will benefit from the opportunity to contribute to trainings on international humanitarian law after the course.

Organizational and logistical terms

The Summer School is free of charge for selected participants.

The courses will start on 3rd of July and run until the 15th, from 9:00 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.

The Summer School will be held in at the Amel House of Human Rights training center in Mosaytbeh, Beirut.

The course will be given in Arabic.

Housing will be provided for international participants and for a limited number of Lebanese participants living outside of Beirut.

Amel House of Human Rights will cover two thirds the cost of tickets for participants coming from abroad

Certificates will be issued at the end of the course upon the successful attendance of the twelve days. Certificates will be accredited by Amel Association and La Sagesse University (Lebanon).

 Application process       

To apply to the Summer School, kindly fill the online application at the following link:

www.bit.ly/amel2012

Deadline to submit applications: 30 June 2012.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Early applications are encouraged.

For more information, please contact us at lawsummerschool@gmail.com

The Summer School on Law and Conflict is made possible with the generous support of the Open Society Institute OSI.