Event information

1 December 2021, 17:30-19:00

Book Launch: Rebel Courts

Geneva Academy Talks

Cover page of the book Cover page of the book

The new book Rebel Courts (Oxford University Press) by Professor René Provost, discusses the administration of justice by armed groups. Based on extensive fieldwork, it offers a unique insight into the judicial governance of armed groups, a phenomenon never studied comprehensively until now.

Using a series of detailed case studies of non-state armed groups in a diverse range of conflict situations, including the FARC (Colombia), Islamic State (Syria and Iraq), Taliban (Afghanistan), Tamil Tigers (Sri Lanka), PKK (Turkey), PYD (Syria), and KRG (Iraq), the book argues that it is possible for armed groups to legally establish and operate a system of courts to administer justice.

In this online book launch – part of our IHL Talk series –, Professor René Provost will discuss with leading scholars in international humanitarian law (IHL) and international human rights law the legal and practical challenges related to the administration of justice by armed groups.

Moderation

  • Annyssa Bellal, Senior Research Fellow and Strategic Adviser on IHL, Geneva Academy

Panelists

  • René Provost, Professor, McGill University
  • Marco Sassòli, Professor of International Law, University of Geneva
  • Mara Revkin, Fellow, Georgetown’s Center on National Security and the Law
  • Helen Duffy, International Lawyer, Human Rights in Practice and Professor of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights, Leiden University
  • Ezequiel Heffes, Senior Policy and Legal Advisor, Geneva Call
  • Mina Radondic, Former LLM Student, Geneva Academy

About IHL Talks

The IHL Talks are a series of events, hosted by the Geneva Academy, on international humanitarian law and current humanitarian topics. Every two months, academic experts, practitioners, policymakers and journalists discuss burning humanitarian issues and their regulation under international law.

Video

Book Launch: Rebel Courts

In this online book launch – part of our IHL Talk series – Professor René Provost discussed with leading scholars in IHL and human rights the legal and practical challenges related to the administration of justice by armed groups.

MORE ON THIS THEMATIC AREA

IHL Lab Geneva Academy News

The Geneva IHL Lab: Bridging Theory and Practice

21 May 2025

The Geneva Academy has launched a practice-oriented course designed to equip our Master of Advanced Studies students with skills in open-source research and legal analysis under international humanitarian law.

Read more

soldiers News

New Publication Examines the Effects of Private Military and Security Companies

12 March 2025

Our latest research brief examines how Private Military and Security Companies have reshaped warfare, international law, and global stability.

Read more

Warzone Event

Advanced IHL Seminar for Academics and Policymakers

25-29 August 2025, 09:00-17:30

Co-hosted with the ICRC, this event aims to enhance the capacity of academics to teach and research international humanitarian law, while also equipping policymakers with an in-depth understanding of ongoing legal debates.

Read more

Iraq, Mosul. View of the west bank after the war. Project

IHL in Focus

Started in January 2024

As a yearly publication, it keeps decision-makers, practitioners and scholars up-to-date with the latest trends and challenges in IHL implementation in over 100 armed conflicts worldwide – both international and non-international.

Read more

A session of the UN Human Rights Council Project

IHL Expert Pool

Started in January 2022

The IHL-EP works to strengthen the capacity of human rights mechanisms to incorporate IHL into their work in an efficacious and comprehensive manner. By so doing, it aims to address the normative and practical challenges that human rights bodies encounter when dealing with cases in which IHL applies.

Read more

Cover of the 2023 Geneva Academy Annual Report Publication

Annual Report 2023

published on July 2024

Read more