International Legal Framework for Humanitarian Action (IRDR0034)

Humanitarian action takes place in a variety of settings, including war, occupation, disasters, famine, and mass influx of refugees. International law provides guidance on how to address such situations and serves as a powerful tool for humanitarian work. This module explores the international legal framework within which humanitarian action operates. The framework comprises different branches of international law, including international humanitarian law, human rights law, refugee law, environmental law, criminal law, and (emerging) international disaster response law. This module will provide an introduction to these branches of international law to the extent they are relevant to humanitarian action. The module will examine a broad variety of issues, such as access to humanitarian assistance, forced migration, climate change, and protection of persons in the event of disasters and armed conflict.