National Conference on International Humanitarian Law at VIPS, Delhi with ICRC on 19 Jan 2019 [Submit by 10 December]

What: National Conference on Humanitarian Law

When: 19 January 2019

Where: Vivekanand Institute of Professional Studies (VIPS), Pitampura, New Delhi

About the conference

International Humanitarian Law (IHL) in modern times is being continuously challenged by the changing nature of contemporary armed conflict. A wide array of new technologies has entered the modern battlefield. Cyberspace has opened up a potentially new war-fighting domain. Remote controlled weapon systems such as drones are increasingly being used by the parties to armed conflicts.

Automated weapons systems are also on the rise and certain autonomous systems such as combat robots are being considered for future use in the battlefield. There can be no doubt that IHL applies to these new weapons and the employment of new technology in warfare. However, these new means and methods of warfare pose legal and practical challenges in terms of ensuring their compliance with existing IHL norms, and also that due regard is given to the foreseeable humanitarian impact of their use.

Another recent challenge for IHL has been the tendency of States to label all acts of warfare committed by non-State armed groups against them as acts of 'terrorists', especially in non-international armed conflicts. While armed conflict and acts of terrorism are different forms of violence governed by different bodies of law, they have come to be perceived as almost synonymous due to constant conflation in the public domain.

Thus, the conference aims to spread awareness and initiate discussions on contemporary challenges and prevailing scope of IHL on realities of modern warfare and its impact on protection of victims of armed conflicts.

About the organisers

The Vivekananda School of Law & Legal Studies (VSLLS) of Vivekananda Institute of Professional Studies (VIPS) is committed to realizing the words of Swami Vivekananda: "Man Making, Character Building and Nation Building". Vivekananda Institute of Professional Studies is affiliated to Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU), recognized by Bar Council of India and University Grants Commission (UGC) under section 2(f), with NAAC 'A' accreditation.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is an independent and non-political organisation with a large scope of strictly humanitarian activities which it undertakes through its presence in over 80 countries around the world. It has a universally recognised responsibility to promote IHL and to respond to the needs of people affected by situations of humanitarian concern, in particular armed conflict and violence.

Themes of the conference

Prospective delegates can send their submissions on the following or related themes:

Terrorism and IHL
Criminalisation of Humanitarian Actors/Organisations
IHL and UN Peacekeeping Operations
Challenge of Enforcement of IHL
IHL and South Asia : Challenges and Way Forward
New Technology of Warfare: Cyber Warfare, Autonomous Weapon System, Airburst
Weapon Systems etc.
Analysing Critically 70 years of Geneva Conventions
Domestication of IHL : Case study of countries in South Asia
Child soldiers: Victims or Combatants?
Protection of Emblems

Submission guidelines

To qualify as delegates for the conference, applicants will have to submit abstracts of not more than 300 words. The abstracts can only be submitted via this link.

Authors of approved abstracts will be intimated by 15 December, 2018. Authors of selected papers will have to pay a participation fees of Rs. 1000/- per participant not later than 18 December, 2018. The last date for submission of full length papers is 7 January, 2019. To view the submission guidelines, please see the website link at the end of this post.

Eligibility criteria

Academicians, professionals, research scholars, post-graduates in law and students pursuing LL.M. from any recognised university shall be eligible to participate in the conference, subject to selection of their abstracts. Certificates will be provided to the participating delegates.

Important dates

Last date of abstract submission: 10 December, 2018
Communication of short-listed abstracts: 15 December, 2018
Early-bird payment and registration: 16 December, 2018
Last date of payment and registration: 18 December, 2018
Submission of full length papers: 7 January, 2019

For brochure and Submission Guidelines, Click here.