TRAINING COURSE II EDITION 2026

INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW AND CHILDREN IN ARMED CONFLICT

With the International Institute of Humanitarian Law

VENUE: Sanremo, International Institute of Humanitarian Law/ Rome

DATES: 26 - 30 OCTOBER 2026

FORMAT: In Person

FEE: 1,200 € (tbc)

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5-Day Course on IHL and Children in Armed Conflict

 

Target Audience:

Military personnel (officers)

Civilian practitioners (NGO and IO staff, UN staff, government officials, civil society and humanitarian workers, other relevant stakeholders)

Academia (researchers, lecturers, students)

 

 

Day 1: Introduction to International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and Children in Armed Conflict

 

Morning Session

 

  • Opening ceremony

Speakers: Lt. Gen. (rtd) Giorgio Battisti, IIHL; Prof. Fausto Pocar, IIHL, NET

  • Who are children in armed conflict and how are they specifically impacted?

Facilitator: Ms Federica Sola, Office of the Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict

    • Children’s need for special protection and threats posed by armed conflicts to their specific rights

    • Definitions: children associated with armed forces and armed groups, civilian children, separated/unaccompanied children

    • Armed forces vs armed groups: specificities and duties

    • Why protecting children is so important? Social, military, and other perspectives in and after armed conflicts (e.g. role in peace negotiation and peacebuilding)

    • Reporting and monitoring (UN Security Council CAAC Agenda, MRM)

  • Overview of IHL, IHRL, and other relevant treaties on children in armed conflict

Facilitator: Prof. Marco Pedrazzi, University of Milan, IIHL

    • Overview of treaty law (Geneva Conventions, Additional Protocols, CRC-OPAC)

    • Principles of IHL and Children in armed conflict: treaty and customary law

    • IHRL complementarity and role in child protection in the event of armed conflict

    • Complementary instruments adopted at the national level

    • The EU Guidelines on IHL and Children in Armed Conflict

 

Afternoon Practical Session

 

  • Thematic spotlight session on introduction to the Children and Armed Conflict Agenda

Facilitator: Ms Federica Sola, Office of the Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict

  • Group Exercise:

Facilitator: Prof. Marco. Pedrazzi, University of Milan, IIHL; Ms Federica Sola Office of the Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict; Mr. Edoardo Gimigliano, IIHL

    • Case study on a conflict scenario—identify categories of children affected, their legal status, immediate protection needs, main risks and threats linked to the condition of children, children with specific needs (boys, girls, children with disabilities, unaccompanied children, other)

 

Day 2: Recruitment of Children and their Use in Hostilities

 

Morning Session

 

  • Prohibition of child recruitment and use of children

Facilitators: Prof. Fausto Pocar, IIHL, NET/Prof. Marco Pedrazzi, University of Milan and IIHL, Prof. Federica Favuzza, University of Milan, IIHL

    • Legal frameworks: CRC, OPAC, Rome Statute, Political Commitments, Security Council Resolutions

    • Distinction between voluntary and forced recruitment? Best practices put in place by armed forces

    • Use of children in armed conflict

    • Specific responsibilities of States and non-state actors under international law

 

Afternoon Practical Session

 

  • Thematic spotlight session on Engaging with Armed Actors to Increase the Protection of Children in Armed Conflict and facilitate reintegration

Facilitator: Dr. Ezequiel Heffes, UNICEF

  • Scenario-based exercise:

Facilitators: Prof. Fausto Pocar, IIHL, NET/Marco Pedrazzi, University of Milan, IIHL; Prof. Federica Favuzza, University of Milan, IIHL; Dr. Ezequiel Heffes, UNICEF; Mr. Edoardo Gimigliano, IIHL

    • Analyze individual cases and situations to identify the features of recruitment and use, advise on such cases, develop a plan to prevent recruitment and facilitate disarmament and demobilisation of child soldiers from armed actors.

 

Day 3: Protection of Children During Military Operations

 

Morning Session

 

  • Rules on conduct of hostilities

Facilitator: Col. Mark Dakers, UK Armed Forces, IIHL/Military Department representative (TBD)

    • Prohibition of deliberate attacks on civilians and civilian objects, including children and children-related infrastructures (e.g. schools)

    • Precautions in attack, principles of proportionality and humanity considerations related to children

    • Operational implementation of IHL principles to ensure the protection of children in and after armed conflict (e.g. specific risks related to the use of land mines and other explosive weapons in urban areas)

    • Humanitarian access, protection of children’s needs, and military challenges in operations

    • Early warnings and evacuation

  • Civil-military cooperation and role of different actors during hostilities

Facilitator: Lt. Col. Peter Chilvers, UK Armed Forces

    • Best practices of civil-military coordination for child protection during hostilities.

    • Relevant actors involved in the protection of children, including international, governmental, and non-governmental stakeholders

 

Afternoon semi-Practical Session

 

·      Thematic spotlight session on Specific vulnerability of children vis-à-vis military AI, new technologies and weapons, and latest trends in contemporary armed conflicts

Facilitators: Dr. Mikiko Otani, Child Rights Connect/Dr. Ezequiel Heffes, UNICEF/Other speaker from NET publication (TBD)

AI, new Technologies and their impacts on the conduct during the armed conflict: How can children be protected?

  • Scenario-based Exercise:

Facilitators: Col. Mark Dakers, UK Armed Forces, IIHL; Lt. Col. Peter Chilvers, UK Armed Forces; Dr. Mikiko Otani, Child Rights Connect/Dr. Ezequiel Heffes, UNICEF; Mr. Edoardo Gimigliano, IIHL

    • Planning a military operation while ensuring child protection (scenario presenting specific strategic decisions to make, issues of civil-military and humanitarian coordination, needs to address, specific threats related to AI and new technologies, evacuation strategies, and other tools presented during the previous sessions)

 

Day 4: Detention, Displacement, and Family Tracing

 

Morning Session

 

  • Legal framework and standards for children protection in detention operations and within displacement

Facilitators: Ms Cristina Perozzi, Italian Red Cross, ICRC, IIHL; Prof. Laura Guercio, NET, IIHL

    • Detention standards (humane treatment, separation from adults, right to family contact)

    • Displacement of children and family tracing and reunification

 

Afternoon Practical Session

 

  • Scenario-based exercise:

Facilitators: Ms Cristina Perozzi, Italian Red Cross, ICRC, IIHL; Prof. Laura Guercio, NET, IIHL; Mr. Edoardo Gimigliano, IIHL

Drafting Standard Operating Procedures: advising competent authorities on how to integrate child protection considerations into detention operations (e.g. specific treatment and needs, transfer to competent authorities), and how to manage children within displacement phenomena of different entity

 

Day 5: Accountability and Prosecution

 

Morning Session

 

  • Accountability for violations against children in relation to armed conflicts

Facilitators: Prof. Fausto Pocar, IIHL, NET; Dr. Paolina Massidda ICC, IIHL/Dr. Mikiko Otani, Child Rights Connect

    • The Rome Statute (ICC) and its role in international and national criminal jurisdiction

    • International criminal responsibility of civilians, of members of regular armed forces and of non-State actors

    • Other forms of accountability for violations against children in armed conflict

·      Guided Case Law review: analysis and collective reflection on key judicial decisions and specific aspects of ICL enforcement

Facilitators: Prof. Laura Guercio, NET, IIHL; Dr. Paolina Massidda, ICC, IIHL/Dr. Mikiko Otani, Child Rights Connect

Children's involvement in investigations, analysis of real judicial procedures, class discussion on specific violations (e.g. use, sexual and gender-based crimes, others) and relevant practice, including a focus on the victim/perpetrator dilemma

·      Closing ceremony

Speakers: Lt. Gen. (rtd) Giorgio Battisti, IIHL/Mr. Gian Luca Beruto, IIHL; Prof. Fausto Pocar, IIHL, NET