International Humanitarian Law

Dr. Raphaël van Steenberghe serves as Professor at the International Law Centre of Université catholique de Louvain while holding positions as Research Associate at the Belgian National Fund for Scientific Research and Lecturer at the Royal Military School of Belgium and University of Lille. His academic credentials include a PhD in Law from UCLouvain (2009), an LL.M. in International Law from Cambridge University, and dual Master's degrees in Law and Philosophy from UCLouvain (2001, 2002). As founder of the International Law of Armed Conflict Team in 2016, he has established himself as a leading authority in public international law, humanitarian law, and the law on use of force. His recent research focuses on the interplay between International Humanitarian Law and International Environmental Law, with significant contributions to understanding how environmental law enhances protection during armed conflicts. His scholarly impact is evidenced through major works including "Self-defence in Public International Law" (2012) and "International Humanitarian Law as a Special Regime in International Law" (2013), while his current work examines the protection of biodiversity during armed conflicts. Through his roles as professor and researcher, he continues to shape international legal scholarship, particularly in areas of humanitarian law, interstate use of force, and environmental protection in warfare.

Dr. Jérôme de Hemptinne serves as Assistant Professor at Utrecht University while maintaining positions as lecturer at multiple institutions including the Université catholique de Louvain, the Geneva Academy, and the Université de Strasbourg. His academic journey began with a law degree from the University of Louvain in 1992, followed by LL.M. degrees in public international law from the University of Cambridge (1994) and New York University (1995). His extensive professional experience includes nine years at the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia where he served as Chef de Cabinet for the President, followed by roles at the UN Office of Legal Counsel in New York and as senior legal officer at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon from 2008 to 2015. His scholarly contributions include co-editing "Modes of Liability in International Criminal Law" (2019) and "Animals in the International Law of Armed Conflict" (2022), which won the ESIL Collective Book Prize in 2023, as well as authoring "Les conflits armés en mutation" (2019), which received the Walther Hug Prize in 2020. As a member of the Editorial Committee of the Journal of International Criminal Justice, he continues to shape discourse in international humanitarian law while teaching courses on international criminal law and armed conflicts at various prestigious institutions. His recent research focuses on environmental protection during warfare, the classification of armed conflicts, and the protection of animals in wartime, demonstrating his commitment to advancing both traditional and emerging areas of international humanitarian law.