European and International Human Rights Standards in Conflicts and Disasters (EIHRSCaD), 3rd Edition

The Third Edition of the Intensive Course ‘European and International Human Rights Standards in Conflicts and Disasters’ will take place at Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa, from 6 – 10 July 2026. Applications are now open, with deadlines on 29 April 2026 (1st round) and 4 June 2026 (2nd round). The Course, organized in the framework of a Jean Monnet Chair, will focus on the role of human rights in the prevention and response to natural and technological disasters and armed conflicts, with a view to promoting a more human rights-sensitive approach to humanitarian assistance in these settings. The Course is intended for graduate and postgraduate students, research fellows and other academics, as well as practitioners working in humanitarian assistance or for national and international organizations, NGOs and other actors active in this field. More information on the course and the application procedure can be found here.

Course description

In recent years, the impact of natural and technological disasters, as well as of other emergencies, has been constantly on the rise, both within and outside the EU. The recent COVID-19 pandemic is the most evident example of this trend. At the same time, Europe is once again experiencing the devastating effects of armed conflicts within its borders.

Looking at these phenomena through a legal lens, it is widely acknowledged that conflicts and disasters heavily impact the enjoyment of the human rights of the affected communities. Humanitarian organizations insist that human rights principles should be more thoroughly integrated into conflict and disaster management policies in order to strengthen prevention, response, recovery, and accountability, while increasing the protection of the affected individuals and communities. However, efforts to disseminate human rights standards applicable in conflict and disaster settings have been limited, including in Europe. The intensive course on European and International Human Rights Standards in Conflicts and Disasters (EIHRSCaD) aims at addressing these gaps.
The Course is offered as part of the training activities envisaged by a Jean Monnet Chair co-funded by the European Union. For additional information, please visit the project’s website at: https://eihrscad.santannapisa.it/

Course target

The course is intended for graduate and post-graduate students, research fellows and other academics, practitioners working in humanitarian assistance or for national and international organizations, NGOs and other actors active in this field (ICRC, IFRC, national Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, etc.). Applicants must have a sound working knowledge of English.

Training objectives

• Provide participants with a sound knowledge of the legal frameworks and principal actors relevant to humanitarian assistance activities in conflict and/or disaster settings, and of the role of human rights in the prevention and response to natural and technological disasters, as well as to armed conflicts.
• Raise awareness of the critical role of human rights in conflict and disaster settings, and therefore favour a more human rights-sensitive approach to their management.
• Offer a solid understanding of the specific needs of vulnerable groups affected by conflicts and disasters.

Teaching methods

The teaching methodology will be characterized by a combination of frontal lecturing and more interactive training techniques (case study solving, etc.).

Participants will have access to online resources ahead of the sessions to favour their active participation during classes and improve the learning experience.

Course programme

The Course is divided into 5 sub-modules, one for each day of classes:

1. Introduction to International Human Rights Law (IHRL), International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and International Disaster Law, providing a general introduction on the relevant legal frameworks and addressing the primary role of the affected State in conflict and disaster settings.
2. Actors in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Management, focusing on non-State actors (UN, EU, IFRC, NGOs) that have a role in humanitarian assistance and disaster management activities, especially in those related to human rights protection.
3. Protection Issues, shedding light on the notion of ‘vulnerability’ and exploring the specific protection needs of vulnerable segments of the population.
4. Applying Human Rights in Disasters and Armed Conflicts, dealing with concrete human rights standards applicable to conflict and disaster settings, and describing the legal duties they impose on States and non-State actors.
5. Human Rights, Disaster Prevention, and the Repression of International Crimes, addressing the interplay between IHRL, IHL and other branches of international law that contribute to preventing and mitigating the effects of conflicts and disasters, and to establishing accountability for violations of international norms.

Attendance certificate

Participants will be required to pass a final exam in order to obtain 2 university credits (ECTS).

Participants attending at least 80% of the classes will be anyhow awarded a certificate of attendance.