International Humanitarian Law training and events

This three-day course, delivered in collaboration with the Australian Defence Force (ADF) Indo-Pacific Centre for Military Law (IPCML), is designed for a mixed audience of Humanitarian, ADF and Government participants.

The course examines the key bodies of international law that regulate armed conflict and how these bodies of law can be used by practitioners, including in relation to:

Application of international humanitarian law;
Protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure;
Protection of refugees and internally displaced persons;
Civil-military interaction;
Contemporary trends and challenges in international law and humanitarian action; and
Accountability for violations of international law.
The course combines scenario-based learning, panel discussions, workshops and expert presentations by Australian Red Cross, the ADF, academics and NGOs. It provides participants with accessible information to inform their work, making them aware of their own rights and obligations under international law, as well as those of other actors.

Details of upcoming courses will be provided in early 2026.

In this March 2026 seminar, intended as continuing professional development for lawyers practicing in Australia who are advising businesses, government or humanitarian organisations, the Australian Red Cross IHL team explore the following: 

• The specific rules around the loss of protection of civilians for such time as they take a direct part in hostiles, the requirement to facilitate rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief, and how legal practitioners can best advise clients who may be operating in conflict zones to comply with international norms and avoid actions that may endanger either themselves or humanitarian personnel. To this end the presentation includes information about the Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel.
• The legal frameworks in Australia for counter-terrorism and sanctions, and what legal advisers need to be aware of in order to best advise on their clients’ operations to ensure they do not breach these laws.

As this is a legal session delivered by qualified legal experts, practitioners, at their own discretion, may be able to count this session to their CPD where relevant as per their Law Society CPD Guidelines.