International humanitarian law (also known as the law of war, or the law of armed conflict) consists of the international rules governing the conduct of hostilities, the methods and means of warfare, and international rules designed to protect the victims of armed conflict. It can also be said to cover international rules relating to treatment of displaced persons and refugees where these persons are fleeing from armed conflict. This course will examine the laws relating to the conduct of armed conflicts, including the four 1949 Geneva Conventions and their historical antecedents; the 1977 Protocols; the laws of the Hague; problems of enforcement of humanitarian law; war crimes; humanitarian intervention; protection of refugees; and the role of NGOs, the Red Cross, and the UN. The proliferation of internal conflicts during the last few decades and the increasing threat of international terrorism is forcing us to reexamine many of the traditional axioms of international human rights and humanitarian law. The course will examine the contemporary relevance of international humanitarian law in light of these challenges.