The dynamic legal challenges to our nations in the interpretation and application of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) in the “operational space”, driven by disparate environment factors, have never been greater.

The Emergent Issues Workshop (EIW) was a new IIHL initiative for 2016. Set against an analysis of global trends the EIW uniquely updates IHL practitioners through the engagement and participation of key IHL institutions, IGOs, governments, leading academics and examines issues brought forward by armed forces from around the world.

Maintaining appropriately trained personnel is not only necessary to meet international treaty obligations and national professional regulatory authority requirements, but is also essential for operational success. The EIW is designed to support those who face the most difficult of legal challenges in an informed, multi-national and impartial environment. To address the needs of the practitioner the EIW is formed in two parts. The first part of the workshop is an “update & situational awareness” set of briefs and discussions covering:

• Substantive & proposed changes in treaty law
• Key court decisions & jurisprudence trends
• State Practice update
• Manuals & significant stakeholder projects status update.

This first element not only serves as an update, but gives practitioners an early warning an insight as to the direction of travel of important issues which may affect current and future operations.

The second part of the EIW provides a deeper examination of emerging IHL issues either currently facing deployed armed forces, or of potential near future operational impact. The issues discussed have been identified in consultation with a wide variety of armed forces from around the world, institutions, academics and other leading sources as being of current operational relevance.

Discussion of subjects is conducted at an informal, working level, examining both the apparent and implied issues from a practical operational practitioner perspective. Discussion will elaborate both present thinking and also serve to illuminate actual or potential interoperability issues. Sessions will be facilitated by leading military and civilian practitioners augmented by academic subject matter experts (SMEs).

In addition to the formal aspects of the course, the EIW provides an opportunity for IHL practitioners to meet and discuss matters of common interest amongst peers and SMEs alike. The EIW is conducted in English at an UNCLAS level but under the Chatham House rule.