The Second Summer School on International Humanitarian Law Concluded in Kyiv

Over several days, international and Ukrainian experts, representatives of the Government and non-governmental organisations, representatives of the Supreme Court of Ukraine, the Office of the Prosecutor General, and the Security Service of Ukraine, alongside leading Ukrainian scholars and partners from the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement addressed and discussed crucial and often sensitive issues of our time. Topics included protecting children’s rights during armed conflicts, limiting means and methods of warfare in modern conditions, the use of force in cyberspace, war crimes, and the protection of war victims. This event provided insights into the peculiarities of the application and implementation of international humanitarian law in Ukraine and the international experience of our partners.  

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War. Therefore, the lectures and discussions focused on the Geneva Conventions, their relevance, and their implementation experience in other European countries, including the United Kingdom, Denmark, and the Netherlands.  

In concluding the event, Olena Stokoz, Deputy Director General of the Ukrainian Red Cross, stated: “This school has brought together representatives of public authorities, various government agencies, and law enforcement agencies involved in overcoming the consequences of armed aggression in Ukraine. We are glad that knowledge of international humanitarian law today is not merely a page of history or something abstract, but something that works and is constantly being improved.” 

The Ukrainian Red Cross Summer School on International Humanitarian Law was held with the support of the Danish Red Cross.