Insights from the 26th Sanremo Summer School

Participating in the 26th Sanremo Summer School was such an intellectually refreshing experience.

Subjects covered include the following: international humanitarian law (IHL); international human rights law; refugee and migration law; and disaster law.

Participants came from various countries: Bulgaria, Canada, China, Congo (DRC), Denmark, Egypt, Finland, Germany, Ghana, Italy, Lithuania, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Philippines, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Korea, Syria, and USA.

Modules discussed over two weeks include the following: introduction to IHL; IHL principles and classification of conflicts; IHL in military operations: means and methods of warfare; IHL and military operations: occupation and operations other than war; IHL and individual and command responsibility; IHL violations and prosecution: war crimes and international criminal law procedures; human rights law relationship and interplay with IHL; gender-related issues in humanitarian crises and fragile contexts; specific aspects of protection of vulnerable categories: gender perspective and child protection; protection of water resources and water-related infrastructure in the event of armed conflict; the international legal protection framework for refugees; who is a refugee; rights and responsibilities of refugees; the institution of asylum and security considerations; mixed movements and other persons in need of protection; climate change and forced displacement; refugee status determination: interviewing techniques; protection within diversity; protection at sea; durable solutions and contemporary pathways; forced displacement: contemporary trends and challenges; defining disaster law: the role of law and policies in disaster risk management; and international disaster response law: goods, equipment and the legal status of relief personnel.

Sanremo is an elegant coastal city in northwestern Italy. It is located about 48 kms east of Nice airport (Nice Côte d’Azur Airport/France). Its green spaces include the park of Villa Ormond, home to the International Institute of Humanitarian Law. It is also located about 22 kms southeast of Dolceacqua, a medieval village, home to the Dolceacqua Castle (also known as the Doria Castle – Castello dei Doria).