This course offers a foundational exploration of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and International Human Rights Law. Students will learn the history of IHL and its application in modern conflicts and cover the role of IHL in protecting individuals during wartime. Moreover, we will look at conflicts and atrocities that have been committed throughout the 20th century, understanding how this has shaped IHL and HR, and lessons we can learn to never repeat them again. This course utilizes several different films on some very important events of the 20th century. It will also analyze the mechanisms in place for preventing human rights violations and discuss the ongoing efforts to redefine and uphold these rights in the 21st century.

Some topics that will be included are;
1. The Armenian Genocide
2. The Holocaust
3. The Bosnian War/Genocide
4. The War on Terror
5. The Salvadoran Civil War/War Crimes
6. The Rwanda War/Genocide
7. The Cambodian Civil War/Genocide
8. Ongoing Relevant Events & Conflicts

In this class, your performance will be evaluated through attendance (25%) in-person discussions (25%), a midterm exam (25%), and a final essay (25%) .