International Crimes, Justice and Human Rights Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights

Overview

Launching in 2026–2027, the LLM–Master of Advanced Studies in International Crimes, Justice and Human Rights builds on two decades of excellence in postgraduate education at the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights. Developed from the former MAS in Transitional Justice, Human Rights and the Rule of Law (offered from 2016 until this academic year), this new programme reflects the Geneva Academy’s continued commitment to evolving with global justice challenges.

It trains legal experts capable of analysing and applying the diverse mechanisms of justice—criminal, reparative, institutional, or hybrid—designed to address international crimes and serious human rights violations.

Features

Students engage with the relationship between human rights and criminal justice, the participation and protection of victims, and the complex intersections between law, politics, and society in situations of conflict, transition, and atrocity. They acquire a robust understanding of accountability processes and the evolving jurisprudence of international and regional courts, human rights bodies, and hybrid or domestic mechanisms.

Taught by leading academics and experienced practitioners, the programme benefits from Geneva’s unique ecosystem of institutions working on justice, accountability, and human rights—such as the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), UN investigative and fact-finding mechanisms, international NGOs, and specialized accountability initiatives. This setting provides students with unparalleled access to the institutions and experts shaping global practice in the fields of international crimes and human rights protection.