TOPIC INTRODUCTION

International Law Making
This module will look at how international law is made today, from an academic but also a practitioner’s point of view. It will present a dynamic and interactive view of the sources of international law, especially treaty and customary law, and discuss the increasing role of soft law. It will also discuss specific issues related to treaty negotiations, at the bilateral and multilateral levels.

Peace and Security
The present module will focus on the current challenges to international peace and security, including regarding the role of the United Nations Security Council, new threats such as terrorism and cyber-attacks, and the increased relevance of non-state armed groups. It will analyse important questions concerning the use of force in the 21st century related to self-defence and discuss other possible exceptions to the prohibition of the use of force under international law.

International Responsibility
The objective of this module is to discuss current issues related to international responsibility concerning both States, International Organisations and other non-State actors. It will also focus the question of liability for acts not prohibited by international law and analyse concrete examples of how the regime of international responsibility is applied in practice.

Diplomatic and Consular Law and Immunities
This module discusses key challenges that arise today in relation to diplomatic law, including regarding the functions of the diplomatic mission, the protection of the diplomatic premises, the role of the host State and the question of diplomatic immunities. It will also discuss the broader issue of immunities under international law, including State immunities, the immunities of State officials before foreign criminal jurisdictions and international courts and tribunals.

Human Rights
The present module will provide a general overview of the international and regional mechanisms for the protection of human rights and of the main international human rights standards. It will discuss current challenges such as the protection of human rights in situations of armed conflict, domestic violence or turmoil and in times of pandemic, as well as the question of the relationship between human rights and the environment.

International Humanitarian Law and Criminal Law
The purpose of this module is to provide an overview of the main features of international humanitarian law and international criminal law. The module will also highlight and discuss the current challenges in this area related to new types of conflict, new actors, new weapons and technologies, and concerning the need for better implementation and the promotion of accountability. The roles of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), International Criminal Court, Ad Hoc Criminal Tribunals and mechanisms of transitional justice will merit special attention.

Courts and Tribunals (Dispute Settlement)
This module will look at current developments related to dispute settlement and international courts and tribunals. In addition the module will examine the different possibilities for settling international disputes, from negotiation to mediation and conciliation, and judicial means. It will focus on specific issues present in recent or on-going cases before international courts and tribunals relating both to State to State disputes and also investor/State disputes.

Sustaible Development
The objective of this module is to present a brief evolution the concept of sustainable development, highlighting its main features and focusing on some of the key current challenges including relating to the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. In particular it will discuss the relation between sustainable develpoment and international law and how international law provides a normative environment for sustainable development and for the sustainable development goals (SDGs).

Climate Change
This module discusses the development of the law related to climate change. It will present the key features of the international regime regarding climate change and highlight current developments regarding international and domestic implementation frameworks, as well as relating to climate justice and climate litigation.

Cyber and Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence has become a significant technology that has transformed different sectors, including cyberspace. As AI continues to advance, it poses complex challenges to the existing international legal frameworks that govern cyberspace. This module discusses the relationship between AI, cyberspace, and international law. It explores the impact of AI on the development of cyberspace and its potential consequences for international law. It also examines the existing international legal frameworks that regulate cyberspace and the challenges posed by the development of AI. It will discuss the legal implications of AI and cyberspace on international law, including in the context of state responsibility and the laws of armed conflict.