Our Strategic Adviser on IHL Briefed the UN Security Council on the Geneva Conventions

Photo of the UN Security Council in session Photo of the UN Security Council in session

14 August 2019

Our Strategic Adviser on international humanitarian law (IHL), Dr Annyssa Bellal, has been invited to brief on 13 August – together with the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross Peter Maurer and the United Nations (UN) Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs Miguel de Serpa Soares – the UN Security Council (UNSC) on the Geneva Conventions.

The briefing, organized in the context of the 70th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions, discussed contemporary issues and challenges related to the respect and implementation of IHL.

In her briefing, Dr Bellal notably addressed the protracted nature of armed conflict and the need to mainstream international humanitarian law in the wider international legal system, the prevalence of non-international armed conflicts and the need to increase ownership of humanitarian norms among armed-non state actors, as well as the benefits of peer-pressure evaluation as an interesting way forward to better the overall system of IHL protection.

‘It is a great recognition for both the expertise of Dr Bellal and for the Geneva Academy to be invited to brief members of the UNSC on what we see as the more pressing issues related to the respect and implementation of the Geneva Conventions. The UN Security Council has played in the past a crucial role in enhancing their respect in certain armed conflicts and it can and should do so more systematically’ underlines Professor Marco Sassòli, Director of the Geneva Academy.

‘Having an academic and independent voice in these discussions is crucial and we are very thankful to the organizers for having invited Dr Bellal’ he adds.

Full Speech

The full speech of Dr Annyssa Bellal before the UNSC is available here.

Watch the Briefing

You can watch the briefing on the UN Web TV.

Video

Annyssa Bellal Briefs the Security Council on International Humanitarian Law

Our Strategic Adviser Dr Annyssa Bellal briefs the Security Council on International Humanitarian Law.

 

MORE ON THIS THEMATIC AREA

News

The Jean-Pictet Competition: Learning Beyond the Classroom

10 December 2024

Each year, the Geneva Academy sends a team of students to the Jean-Pictet Competition. Participating in this leading moot court is a life-changing experience and an integral part of our programmes.

Read more

IHL in Focus Spot Report News

New Report on Food Insecurity in Armed Conflict, Highlighting the Impact of Siege-like Tactics

21 October 2024

The Geneva Academy has published the first spot report from the 'IHL in Focus' research project, ‘Food Insecurity in Armed Conflict and the Use of Siege-like Tactics.’

Read more

Event

Strengths and Weaknesses of Inter-State Cases before the European Court of Human Rights

12 May 2025, 18:30-20:00

In this Geneva Academy Talk Judge Lətif Hüseynov will discuss the challenges of inter-State cases under the ECHR, especially amid rising conflict-related applications.

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

Afghanistan, Parwan detention facility. Inside a room where detainees of the prison, separated by an acrylic glass, are allowed to meet with their families a couple of times per year with the help of the ICRC employees who facilitate the programme. Short Course

Preventing and Combating Terrorism

24 April - 13 May 2025

This online short course discusses the extent to which states may limit and/or derogate from their international human rights obligations in order to prevent and counter-terrorism and thus protect persons under their jurisdiction.

Read more

Screenshot of the RULAC webpage Project

Rule of Law in Armed Conflicts (RULAC)

Started in May 2007

The Rule of Law in Armed Conflicts project (RULAC) is a unique online portal that identifies and classifies all situations of armed violence that amount to an armed conflict under international humanitarian law (IHL). It is primarily a legal reference source for a broad audience, including non-specialists, interested in issues surrounding the classification of armed conflicts under IHL.

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