27 April 2021
Chantal Touma, from Syria, follows our Executive Master in International Law in Armed Conflict online while working as Legal Adviser at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Legal Department in Damascus.
In this position, she provides legal consultations and analysis regarding various legal issues that might arise in ICRC’s operations in Syria. This involves research in national legislation and international law instruments along with presentation and dissemination of specific international humanitarian law (IHL) topics during external IHL courses.
Prior to that, Chantal completed an internship with the Norwegian Refugee Council in Syria and another internship at the ICRC Delegation in Syria. She holds a Bachelors Degree in Law from Damascus University in Syria.
During the conflict in my country, I witnessed the vast amount of legal issues arising from this exceptional situation. I realized that I needed to develop my knowledge not just in IHL, but in the entire international legal system which governs such situations. I wanted to use this knowledge not only to apply it to my current work in Syria but also to be able to someday influence the international community regarding post-violence development.
To be honest, this programme exceeded my expectations in numerous ways. It provides me with the comprehensive and detailed education I was aspiring to receive, and it teaches me critical thinking when using international law instruments to analyse events related to conflict on a practical level.
It is very difficult to select only a few, as all topics are fascinating and relevant. My highlights of the programme are learning the interplay between IHL and international human rights law (IHRL) when it comes to practical scenarios in armed conflict such as detention, right to life, counter-terrorism and the rules governing Jus ad Bellum.
At first, I thought distance learning was going to be an overwhelming challenge, but over time, I have come to realize that it is almost the same as attending the classes in person as it is very interactive. It is particularly convenient in a situation of a global pandemic and time-saving for a person who is maintaining a full-time job as well.
Upon the commencement of the programme, I found it very difficult to adjust to working and learning at the same time since both demand high commitment. However, with the guidance of the teaching assistants throughout the programme, I learned how to better manage the content and my time. The subjects seemed a bit too complicated and scattered at the beginning but they all complement each other during the programme.
It is a juggling act that, once mastered, can be tremendously fruitful!
In the short run, I can already observe the added value it brings to my current job as a legal adviser as it strengthened my understanding of IHL and IHRL and I have been able to immediately apply this in my job.
In the long run, I hope that I can use this education to help my country through the aftermath of the conflict and to continue working as a legal adviser in other countries facing an armed conflict.
I highly recommend this Executive Masters programme to anyone wishing to develop a legal career in armed conflicts while maintaining a job simultaneously. This programme is an opportunity to acquire high-quality education at a practical pace tailored to the life of a humanitarian practitioner.
Geneva Academy
The Geneva Academy is hosting during a year Dr Nataliia Hendel, a Professor of international law at the International Humanitarian University in Odesa, Ukraine, and an expert in IHL.
Geneva Academy
While the armed violence between the government and the drug cartels, as well as between cartels themselves, remains high, it has become increasingly challenging to attribute these instances of violence and clashes to specific armed groups.
ICRC
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.
UN Photo
This online short course analyses the main international and regional norms governing the international protection of refugees. It notably examines the sources of international refugee law, including the 1951 Geneva Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, and their interaction with human rights law and international humanitarian law.
orihaus
This project aims at staying abreast of the various military technology trends; promoting legal and policy debate on new military technologies; and furthering the understanding of the convergent effects of different technological trends shaping the digital battlefield of the future.
Dave Klassen/The EITI
This project aimed at identifying and clarifying policies and practices for states and businesses, including public and private investors, across the full ‘conflict cycle’ and the ‘protect, respect and remedy’ pillars of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
UKRI