Conferences on the Law of Armed Conflict
30.12.21
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The biannual International Conference on the Law of Armed Conflict (LOAC), hosted by the Israel Defense Forces, brings together leading academics and practitioners from around the world to discuss contemporary topics and challenges in the field of LOAC. The conference, open to invited attendees only, is typically held over three days, and includes a variety of lectures, panels and practical workshops, as well as a field tour accompanied by IDF operational commanders.
The most recent IDFInternational Conference on LOAC took place from May 28-30, 2019 in Herzliya, Israel. The conference brought together over 120 international lawyers – academics and practitioners alike – from over 20 countries, organizations and institutions. The conference featured panels on topics such as proportionality, cyber and the evolution of the law. The Commander of the Southern Command, a Major General, provided a commander's view of the operational challenges in urban warfare, and Mr. Paul Ney, Jr., General Counsel to US Department of Defense, delivered the keynote address, titled "US Views on Topical LOAC Issues." It also included a field tour of the IDF's leading urban warfare training center, where the participants observed a live exercise, as well as a visit to an active Israel Air Force air combat squadron. These visits were complemented by legal discussions.
In May 2018, the Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law published a special issue based on the conference. The issue comprises articles by almost all of the conference panelists and speakers, as well as a summary of the discussions surrounding the practical scenarios and an introduction by the Military Advocate General. The full issue can be found here.
The 2021 Israel Defense Forces International Conference on LOAC
In light of the COVID-19 outbreak, the format of the 2021 IDF International Conference on LOAC is still to be decided. For further information, please contact idf.conf@gmail.com.
