International Institute of Humanitarian Law

The International Institute of Humanitarian Law (IIHL) is an independent, nonprofit humanitarian association founded in 1970 in Sanremo, Italy. Its central purpose is to promote knowledge, implementation and development of international humanitarian law and closely related legal fields. The institute is headquartered at Villa Ormond in Sanremo and maintains a liaison office in Geneva, Switzerland, placing it near both the Italian humanitarian-law community and major international organizations based in Geneva. IIHL serves a broad professional audience rather than a conventional consumer market. Its participants include military personnel, legal advisers, diplomats, government officials, judges, academics, representatives of international and nongovernmental organizations, students and specialists working with refugees, internally displaced people, stateless persons and migrants. Its programme combines formal instruction with practical exercises, discussion and exchange of national experience. This emphasis reflects the institute’s role as a bridge between legal doctrine and operational decision-making in armed conflict and other humanitarian emergencies. The institute’s principal activity is its annual and specialist training programme. In international humanitarian law and the law of armed conflict, it offers foundation, advanced and specialized courses. Specialized subjects have included peace-support operations, detention and captured persons, targeting, rules of engagement, naval operations and the law, and the preparation of directors of IHL training programmes. Shorter workshops are designed for practitioners facing difficult or rapidly changing legal problems. Separate programmes address refugee law, statelessness, internal displacement and migration law, often in cooperation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and other protection organizations. IIHL also participates in international disaster-law education with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the Italian Red Cross and academic partners. A major part of the institute’s public identity is the Sanremo Round Table, an international conference held in Sanremo that examines current developments in humanitarian law and related disciplines. The institute also conducts research and publishes manuals, handbooks, essays and conference proceedings. Its best-known publications include the San Remo Manual on International Law Applicable to Armed Conflicts at Sea, the Sanremo Handbook on Rules of Engagement, the Manual on the Law of Non-International Armed Conflict, and practical guidance on protection of cultural property and gender perspectives in international operations. These publications are intended for military academies, legal advisers, officials and humanitarian practitioners. IIHL works with organizations including the International Committee of the Red Cross, UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration. It has operational relations with the European Union, UNESCO, NATO, the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and holds consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council. Its governance consists of a General Assembly, president, council, executive board, secretary-general and treasurer. The Municipality of Sanremo and the Italian Red Cross participate as ex officio council members. Since September 2023, the institute’s president has been Lieutenant General (ret.) Giorgio Battisti, while Judge Fausto Pocar is honorary president.

The International Institute of Humanitarian Law was established in 1970 in Sanremo, Italy, as an independent nonprofit association devoted to humanitarian objectives and the promotion of international humanitarian law. From its base at Villa Ormond, the institute developed an international role centered on professional education, expert dialogue and the practical application of legal rules governing armed conflict and humanitarian protection. Over time, IIHL expanded beyond general instruction in the law of armed conflict. Its programme came to include military and civilian legal advisers, diplomats, officials, academics and humanitarian practitioners from different national and institutional backgrounds. The institute organized courses at foundation, advanced and specialized levels, using lectures, exercises and discussion to connect legal principles with operational problems. Specialized activities addressed subjects such as detention, targeting, rules of engagement, peace-support operations and naval warfare. The institute also built a substantial research and publication programme. Between 1988 and 1994, experts associated with Sanremo compiled the San Remo Manual on International Law Applicable to Armed Conflicts at Sea. The manual became an important reference for naval academies and practitioners and has subsequently been subject to updating work. Other publications addressed non-international armed conflict, rules of engagement, the protection of cultural property and the integration of gender perspectives into international operations. The institute has also published proceedings and analyses connected with its recurring Sanremo Round Table. The Sanremo Round Table became one of IIHL’s principal recurring forums for examining contemporary humanitarian-law issues. The event brings together specialists to assess legal and operational developments, including the changing character of warfare and the impact of new technologies. Alongside its armed-conflict work, IIHL developed courses on refugee law, statelessness, internal displacement, migration and international disaster law. These activities have been conducted with partners such as UNHCR, IOM, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the Italian Red Cross and academic institutions. The institute’s international network includes cooperation with the International Committee of the Red Cross, UNHCR and IOM, as well as operational relations with the European Union, UNESCO, NATO, the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. It also holds consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council. A liaison office in Geneva supports the institute’s connections with international humanitarian and legal organizations. IIHL is governed through a General Assembly, president, council, executive board, secretary-general and treasurer. The General Assembly sets broad policy and reviews the budget and accounts. The council supervises management and programmes, elects the president and vice-presidents, and appoints the secretary-general and treasurer. The Municipality of Sanremo and the Italian Red Cross are ex officio council members. In September 2023, Lieutenant General (ret.) Giorgio Battisti became president; Judge Fausto Pocar continued as honorary president. The institute remains active as a specialized international center for training, research and exchange in humanitarian and related fields.

• 2023

  Giorgio Battisti becomes president

  [1]International Institute of Humanitarian Lawen.wikipedia.org

  Lieutenant General (ret.) Giorgio Battisti assumed the institute’s presidency in September.

• 2019

  Sanremo Handbook on Gender published

  [1]International Institute of Humanitarian Lawen.wikipedia.org

  IIHL published a handbook on integrating gender perspectives into international operations.

• 2009

  Sanremo Handbook on Rules of Engagement published

  [1]International Institute of Humanitarian Lawen.wikipedia.org

  The institute released a practical handbook explaining the development and implementation of rules of engagement.

• 2006

  Manual on the Law of Non-International Armed Conflict published

  [1]International Institute of Humanitarian Lawen.wikipedia.org

  IIHL published a manual addressing humanitarian rules applicable to conflicts that do not fit the traditional model of interstate warfare.

• 1998

  Round Table proceedings publication series begins

  [1]International Institute of Humanitarian Lawen.wikipedia.org

  The institute continued a publication series documenting discussions from its Sanremo Round Table and related humanitarian-law activities.

• 1994

  San Remo Manual completed

  [1]International Institute of Humanitarian Lawen.wikipedia.org

  The manual on international law applicable to armed conflicts at sea was completed and became a widely used professional reference.

• 1988

  Work begins on the San Remo Manual

  [1]International Institute of Humanitarian Lawen.wikipedia.org

  Experts began compiling the San Remo Manual on International Law Applicable to Armed Conflicts at Sea.

• 1970

  Institute founded in Sanremo

  [1]International Institute of Humanitarian Lawen.wikipedia.org

  The International Institute of Humanitarian Law was founded as an independent nonprofit humanitarian association in Sanremo, Italy.

An independent, practice-oriented international center for education, research and professional exchange in humanitarian, refugee, migration and disaster law.

• Professional training

  International Humanitarian Law Foundation Courses

  Introductory courses that provide military and civilian participants with a practical grounding in the law of armed conflict and international humanitarian law. The programmes are designed for an international audience and emphasize operational application, discussion and comparison of national approaches.

• Professional training

  Advanced and Specialized IHL Courses

  Intensive programmes for experienced legal advisers, officers, government officials and international-organization personnel. Subjects include detention and captured persons, targeting, rules of engagement, peace-support operations, naval operations and the law, and the management of IHL training.

• Protection-law training

  Refugee, Statelessness, Internal Displacement and Migration Law Courses

  Training and capacity-building activities for officials and civil-society practitioners working with refugees, internally displaced people, stateless persons and migrants. The courses combine legal theory, practical problem-solving and exchange of field experience.

• Legal manual · 1994

  San Remo Manual on International Law Applicable to Armed Conflicts at Sea

  A major reference work developed by international experts under the institute’s auspices between 1988 and 1994. It explains the international legal framework applicable to armed conflict at sea and has been used by naval academies and military-law practitioners worldwide.

• Legal handbook · 2009

  Sanremo Handbook on Rules of Engagement

  A practical guide to the procedures and methodology used to develop and implement rules of engagement. The handbook was designed for military and legal practitioners and has been translated into several languages.

• Legal manual · 2006

  Manual on the Law of Non-International Armed Conflict

  A manual addressing the application and development of humanitarian rules in non-international armed conflicts, reflecting the increasing importance of conflicts that do not follow the classic interstate model.

• Operational handbook · 2019

  Sanremo Handbook on Gender

  A practical framework for incorporating gender perspectives into the training and work of military personnel, police officers and civilians involved in international operations and conflict situations.

• Sanremo Round Table

  International

  An annual international forum in Sanremo focused on current developments in international humanitarian law and related subjects. It brings together legal scholars, military practitioners, humanitarian specialists and officials for discussion of emerging challenges.

  Outcome. The event became a recognized platform for expert exchange and generated proceedings and publications on contemporary humanitarian-law questions.

  Source

1. 1International Institute of Humanitarian Lawen.wikipedia.org
2. 2International Institute of Humanitarian Law official websiteiihl.org