TRAINING COURSE I EDITION 2026
NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND CHILDREN IN ARMED CONFLICT: RISKS, PROTECTION AND ACCOUNTABILITY
VENUE: LAUSANNE, Switzerland
DATES : 5 - 9 OCTOBER 2026
FORMAT: HYBRID ( in person and online )
FEE : €300 (in presence) – €250 (online)
For further information, please contact: unetchacadvancedcourse@gmail.com
To apply, please complete the application form at the following link:
https://forms.gle/KPHvYYPkY5ixRuwDAPROGRAMME
Early registration fee: A 20% discount on the indicated price will be granted to those who complete the accreditation by 20 September 2026.
ORGANISERS
This course is organised by the Universities Network for Children in Armed Conflict, in cooperation with the Swiss Institute of Comparative Law.
INTRODUCTION
Armed conflicts are increasingly shaped by rapid technological developments, including digital platforms, artificial intelligence, surveillance technologies, cyber operations, and autonomous systems.
While these technologies may offer new tools for protection, documentation, and accountability, they also generate unprecedented risks for children affected by armed conflict.
Children are exposed to online recruitment, digital surveillance, cyber-enabled trafficking, misinformation, and gender-based digital violence, while the use of emerging military technologies raises serious legal, ethical, and humanitarian concerns.
This course aims to equip participants with a multidisciplinary understanding of how new technologies intersect with international humanitarian law, international human rights law, child protection frameworks, and gender analysis. It combines theoretical foundations, legal analysis, and practical skills, enabling participants to critically assess risks, design child-sensitive responses, and contribute to prevention, protection, and accountability efforts.
A gender perspective is mainstreamed throughout the course, recognizing the differentiated impact of technologies on girls, boys, and gender-diverse children in conflict settings.
METHODOLOGY
The course adopts an interactive and multidisciplinary methodology combining theoretical analysis with practical application. Teaching methods include:
● Lectures and expert presentations aimed at providing solid legal, policy, and conceptual
foundations on children and armed conflict in the context of new technologies;
● Case studies drawn from recent and ongoing conflicts, allowing participants to critically assess real-world scenarios and emerging challenges;
● Workshops and group activities, designed to foster collaborative learning, peer exchange, and problem-solving skills;
● Role-playing exercises and simulations, enabling participants to apply legal and policy frameworks in realistic operational and decision-making contexts;
● Q&A sessions and panel discussions with experts, practitioners, and academics, encouraging dialogue, critical reflection, and engagement with diverse perspectives.
OBJECTIVES
To analyse how new and emerging technologies impact children in armed conflict, including digital platforms, artificial intelligence, surveillance systems, and military technologies.
To examine the relevant international legal and policy frameworks governing child protection, accountability, and the use of technology in conflict settings.
To identify key risks and vulnerabilities arising from technological developments, with attention to gendered and intersectional impacts on children.
To develop child-centred and gender-responsive prevention and protection strategies addressing digital and technological harms.
To strengthen participants’ analytical, policy, and practical capacities, fostering cooperation among professionals working on children and armed conflict.
TARGET PARTICIPANTS
The course is intended for an international and multidisciplinary audience, including:
● Government officials and diplomats;
● Staff of international organisations, UN agencies, and humanitarian actors;
● Legal practitioners and professionals working on accountability and international justice;
● Academics, researchers, and civil society actors;
● Undergraduate and graduate students, PhD candidates, and early-career professionals in law, international relations, human rights, and related fields.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
The course aims to:
● provide participants with a multidisciplinary understanding of how new and emerging technologies affect children in armed conflict
● strengthen knowledge of international humanitarian law, international human rights law, and child protection frameworks through a child-centred and gender-sensitive approach
● identify key risks, protection gaps, and accountability challenges related to digital, surveillance, and military technologies
● develop practical, rights-based, and gender-responsive policy and operational responses
● enhance participants’ capacity to contribute to prevention, protection, and accountability efforts at national and international levels