Faculty of Law and the Canadian Red Cross Sign Pact
The Faculty of Law and the Human Rights Research and Education Centre, HRREC, have signed an agreement with the Canadian Red Cross on a partnership to offer an intensive course on international humanitarian law (IHL).This course, offered in 2007 and 2008, was a great success. It was put together by the former director of the HRREC, Marie-Claude Roberge and the Canadian Red Cross. Eighty students, members of NGO and federal departments had a chance to learn more about human rights in situations of armed conflicts.
The courses respond to a demand according to the Canadian Red Cross’ General Secretary, Conrad Sauvé.
“When we look at what is happening in the world, our relations with the armed forces, with governments and all Red Cross societies, there is an increasing demand regarding international humanitarian law.”
The course allows participants to deepen their knowledge of the humanitarian stakes created by international and national conflicts.
“It allows us to offer an analytical legal framework of the events that happen on September 11th and after, and the following conflicts”, said Isabelle Daoust, Canadian Red Cross adviser on IHL. “We realize that people need a lens to analyse what is going on; that there is some norms that apply in armed conflicts and some people don’t know that. It is necessary to know the rules to better analyse a situation.”
During the intensive course, students will learn about the purpose and the scope of the application of IHL, the conduct of hostilities, the protection of persons, the implementation of IHL and current issues like terrorism and non-international armed conflicts.
The HRREC and the Faculty of Law are pleased to be part of this agreement with the Red-Cross considering the Faculty’s expertise in international law and the fact that a new program in humanitarian and security law is now offered in Graduates Studies.
Next year, the course could admit twice as many students than it had this year. Two groups, one French and one English, could be created to better respond to the demand with joint activities during the week.
From left to right: first row: Conrad Sauvé, Canadian Red Cross' General Secretary, Dean Bruce Feldthusen. Second row: Ilario Maiolo, Canadian Red Cross' Legal Advisor, Dean Nathalie Des Rosiers, and Isabelle Daoust, Canadian Red Cross Advisor on IHL.
Check our Web site in the next few months for updates on the next course.