As part of UNITAR’s Division for Multilateral Diplomacy, the International Law Programme works to enhance the capacities of diplomats, public officials, delegates, professionals, students, and other stakeholders on various topics related to International Law.  The programme offers a wide range of training activities from Master programmes offered jointly with other Institutions to high level executive diplomas and tutor-facilitated online courses; self-paced online courses as well as face-to-face training activities and the blended Intensive Training Programme on International Law. Furthermore, the International Law Programme cooperates with partner organisations to create tailor-made learning products for a specific target audience.

Master's Programmes

The University for Peace (UPEACE) and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) have partnered to offer a portfolio of master programmes aimed at both entry-level and mid-career professionals, in the areas of diplomacy, development, and international law: 

Funds generated from the UPEACE-UNITAR joint “Art for Peace” NFT Collection developed in 2023 will go towards a "Pura Vida" Fellowship Programme for the UPEACE-UNITAR Programmes. LDC and SIDS nationals are eligible to apply*

*Fellowships are limited. Kindly check the LDC and SIDS lists to confirm eligibility. Please email admissions@upeace.org for more details. Fellowship applicants must submit their supporting documents together with a motivation letter, explaining how this fellowship will benefit their professional growth. 

The Master of Arts in International Law and Diplomacy 

UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe

The Master of Arts in International Law and Diplomacy (online and hybrid formats) is a graduate programme permitting students to specialize in the interface between international law and diplomacy. It will not only broaden students' knowledge in the field of international law and its various foundational dimensions, but will also equip them with the knowledge and skills required to work in the field of diplomacy and related international careers.

An online Certificate Programme is also available for "International Law and Diplomacy" - Learn more>

     

    The Master of Arts in International Law and the Settlement of Dispute

    International Court of Justice

    The Master of Arts in International Law and the Settlement of Disputes (on-campus, online, and hybrid formats) offers students an understanding of the role that international law and institutions play in the settlement of international and transnational disputes. As international and transnational adjudication has acquired a more prominent role in international relations, the programme will provide participants with a deep understanding of how global and regional courts are responding to the challenges of the 21st Century, thus preparing them for successful careers in international, national, and local government, or civil society agencies and organizations.

    An online Certificate Programme is also available for "International Law and the Settlement of Disputes" - Learn more>

    Executive Diplomas

    The International Law Programme's Executive Diplomas consist of a set of highly interactive practice-oriented workshops aimed at diplomats, legal professionals and other beneficiaries. Participants are able to explore new developments in international law and delve deeper into highly topical legal matters executive style trainings. Taught by United Nations staff, high-level experts and facilitators with insight into the United Nations system, the executive diplomas offer unique new insights. The methodology of the executive diplomas is influenced by the multilateral setting, involving peer-to-peer learning and exchange within a global body of practitioners. The executive diplomas are highly accessible as they are held online, allowing participants from all over the world to join the sessions and engage with their peers from other countries.

    Online Executive Diploma on International Law in the 21st Century

    International law is pushing frontiers both on earth, outer space and in the digital realm. Explore these cutting-edge legal topics together with high-level international experts. Following the successful previous editions, the spring intake of UNITAR’s Online Executive Diploma on International Law in the 21st Century aims at introducing students and practitioners to newest developments in international law, covering diverse issues such as Law of the Sea and Cyber Warfare and International Humanitarian Law.

    E-learning Portfolio

    The International Law programme offers a variety of e-learning courses that can either be tutor-facilitated or entirely self-paced. All e-learning courses are delivered via UNITAR’s virtual learning platform and combine video lectures, short animations, interactive lessons, optional and required readings, discussion forums, assessment quizzes, and a wealth of other information to help each participant meet the course learning objectives.

    The e-learning courses build on UNITAR’s wealth of experience designing and implementing training workshops at the country and regional levels and include and allow participants to:

    • Gain practical skills and deepen their knowledge;
    • Follow 30 to 60 hours of training through modules or one-week sessions;
    • Flexibly schedule and pace their learning according to their specific needs;
    • Make use of additional resources using the internet;
    • Work offline or from home;
    • Engage with the expert and receive online mentoring and discussions  (for tutor-facilitated courses).

    For an overview, please visit: Self-Paced Courses on International Law

    International Law

    UN Photo/Ariana Lindquist

    This self-paced course provides you with a comprehensive knowledge of the fundamentals of International Law that is necessary to understand the importance, role and purpose of international law in the contemporary legal order and international community. The course runs four times per year, with each edition giving you 3 months to complete the course during which you can go through the materials at your own pace.

    Law of International Organizations

    The overall goal of this self-paced course is to provide participants with a comprehensive knowledge of the key issues of the Law of International Organizations that is necessary to understand the role and position of international organizations in the contemporary legal order. The course runs four times per year, with each edition giving you 3 months to complete the course during which you can go through the materials at your own pace.

    Law of the Treaties

    UN Photo

    The overall goal of this self-paced course is to provide participants with the fundamental theoretical and practical knowledge of the key issues surrounding the International Law of Treaties. You will gain a comprehensive understanding of the provisions of the universal conventions as the sources of the International Law of Treaties and developed critical skills of analysis and interpretation of cases regarding contemporary practice. The course runs four times per year, with each edition giving you 3 months to complete the course during which you can go through the materials at your own pace.

    International Humanitarian Law

    War remains a matter of great concern to humanity. Recent conflicts have demonstrated that the ravages of war continue to have a devastating impact, especially on the civilian population. This tutor-facilitated course provides participants with a sound understanding on International humanitarian law and encourages them to explore the legal uncertainties surrounding new-age military capabilities.  

    International Environmental Law

    UN Photo/ Mark Garten

    This self-paced course provides participants with basics of International Environmental Law (IEL) by identifying its sources and fundamental principles, the law-making process, its main actors, as well as the implementation and compliance procedures needed to understand and apply Multilateral Environmental Agreements. The course runs four times per year, with each edition giving you for 3 months to complete the course during which you can go through the materials at your own pace.

    Techniques and Procedures of International Environmental Law

    UN Photo/Mark Garten

    This self-paced course explores the different mechanisms made available in international environmental law to facilitate the creation and implementation of sound environmental norms; from the regulatory and economic instruments used by policy-makers, to the role of Environmental Impact Assessments and public participation in environmental decisions. The course runs four times per year, with each edition giving you 3 months to complete the course during which you can go through the materials at your own pace.

    Human Rights, Environmental Protection and Climate Change

    This tutor-facilitated course introduces participants to application of human rights to environmental issues and the procedural and substantive obligations relating to the environment, covering Principle 10 of the Rio Declaration, as well as the obligations relating to vulnerable group. Through examples of constitutions that have incorporated a right to a healthy environment, good practices in procedural and substantive environmental protection, as well as good practices in the protection of groups particularly vulnerable to environmental harm, participants will understand how the relationship between human rights and environmental protection takes place in practice. 

    Tailor-made e-Learning courses

    UNITAR also designs and facilitates tailor-made e-Learning courses, Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), simulation exercises, webinars and discussion boards in cooperation with partner organizations.

    Please contact Dr. Anna Sabrina Wollmann at anna.wollmann@unitar.org for more information. 

    Face-to-Face Trainings

    Upon request of UN Member States and/or in partnership with intergovernmental organizations or UN agencies, the International Law Programme organizes and implements specifically designed courses on themes pertaining to international law. The duration, content and mode of delivery of the courses are defined in close consultation with the beneficiaries and partnering organizations in order to meet the specific and varying needs of participants. The training activities can be implemented face-to-face in Geneva, in capital cities and in other locations, and/or online via UNITAR's e-Learning platform.

    For more information, please contact Dr. Anna Sabrina Wollmann at anna.wollmann@unitar.org

    Intensive Training Programme on International Law

    International Law is the cornerstone of global interaction, politics, and policy. As such, a sound understanding of its intricacies and fundamental principles is essential for productive work in today’s globalized and interconnected world. Given the wide scope of themes in International Law, UNITAR offers an intensive, two-phased training programme.

    Phase one of the programme consists of four self-paced online courses covering the essentials of International Law, Law of International Organizations, Law of the Treaties, and International Environmental Law. Having acquired the fundamentals through the online courses, participants are able to further delve into the issues identified by the partnering organizations as priorities during the second phase.

    Phase two takes place in Geneva and combines a variety of interactive training sessions, panel discussions and study visits. This mixed-methodology approach aims to optimize knowledge retention, while the tailor-made blended learning programme allows participants to acquire the exact knowledge and skills they need for their professional development.

    The topics of both phases can be customized in accordance with the identified learning needs.

    More Information

    For more information, please contact Dr. Anna Sabrina Wollmann via Info.ilp@unitar.org or telephone +41 22 917 8471

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