'Law, Ethics and Armed Conflict' International Legal Symposium

14 May 2025, Kuwait City, Kuwait

On any given day, international armed conflict, civil war and belligerent occupations threaten the lives of civilians. The Office of the Staff Judge Advocate of Operation Spartan Shield, the Human Rights Law Committee of the International Bar Association (IBA), Advocates Group Academy and JuraLaw are organizing an international legal symposium that will explore how international law can be used to mitigate the adverse impacts of armed conflict on civilians.

This Symposium will feature a series of panels that will examine ethics in armed conflict, the crime of aggression, the laws of targeting, the Islamic laws of war, international criminal justice, corporate accountability for war crimes and humanitarian assistance and protection. Entitled “Law, Ethics and Armed Conflict," the Symposium will be held in Kuwait City on Wednesday, 14 May 2025.

*If the "Register Now" button does not automatically open a window in your email client, please send an email to Law.Ethics.ArmedConflict@gmail.com that contains your name, title, institution, email and phone number and that indicates whether you will attend in person or remotely. A Google Meet link will be provided to virtual participants.

*Application for New York and Indiana CLE accreditation of this course is currently pending.

A range of panels will feature international lawyers and senior officials from militaries, the United Nations, international NGOs, foreign ministries, the ICRC, academic institutions and international tribunals.

To download the full Symposium Program, please click here.

Session 1: Ethics in Armed Conflict: The Martens Clause, the Principle of Humanity, and Dictates of Public Conscience

(09:00-09:50)^*

Session 2: The Crime of Aggression: From World War II to the Present

(10:00-10:50)^†

Session 3: The Law of Armed Conflict from the Perspective of Public International Law and the Islamic Laws of War

(11:00-12:00)^‡

Lunch Break (12:00-13:00)

Session 4: The Laws of Targeting and the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict

(13:00-13:50)^*

Session 5: The Intersection of International Criminal Justice and Islamic Law

(14:00-14:50)^‡

Session 6: Corporate Liability for War Crimes

(15:00-15:50)^**

Session 7: Negotiating with Militant Groups Towards Humanitarian Assistance and Protection

(16:00-16:50)^*

^* CLE Accreditation for Ethics pending in NY

^† CLE Accreditation for Skills pending in NY

^‡ CLE Accreditation for Diversity, Inclusion and Elimination of Bias pending in NY

^** CLE Accreditation for Areas of Professional Practice pending in NY

For information, please contact Law.Ethics.ArmedConflict@gmail.com.

Following the Symposium, JuraLaw will invite symposium presenters to submit their working papers for potential publication in an edited volume entitled Law, Ethics and Armed Conflict: An International Law Reader. For further information, contact JuraLaw@tellerbooks.com.

We look forward to seeing you in Kuwait!

The organizers wish to express their gratitude to Advocates Group Academy, an official sponsor of the “Law, Ethics and Armed Conflict” International Legal Symposium. Contact info@advocates-group.com.