Call for Papers: Young Researchers Workshop 2025, The ICRC’s Study at 20

The Institute for International Peace and Security Law (Universität zu Köln) and the Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict (Ruhr-Universität Bochum) are hosting a workshop for young researchers, scheduled to take place in Bochum in July or September 2025. This call for abstracts invites early career scholars (all postgraduate students and postdocs up to 5 years after completion of their PhD) to explore customary international humanitarian law in light of the ICRC’s 2005 study on this subject. We aim to gather unique perspectives from an international audience and to publish the contributions presented over the course of the workshop in a special volume of the Cologne Studies of International Peace and Security Law. On the twentieth anniversary of the ICRC’s Study, we hope to reinvigorate the conversation about this influential body of research.

This call for papers invites young scholars to explore various aspects of the Study, whether they pertain to its past, present, or its future. Thematically, we invite participants to deal with aspects relating but not limited to

• the methodology, background, history, and influence of the study and/or the rules (in general or of specific rules);
• international perspectives on the study and/or the rules;
• the future influence and expansion of the study and/or the rules;
• critical assessments of the study and/or the rules, whether in theoretical, doctrinal, or normative terms.

The workshop will include multiple panels on overarching topics, each to be led by a senior researcher in the field. Those senior academics will provide feedback on paper drafts and presentations.

Abstracts no longer than 500 words are to be submitted by November 30, 2024 via email to [email protected]. Please indicate your availability in July/September 2025. The final contribution shall not exceed 60.000 characters.

Key Dates

The abstract submission deadline is on November 30, 2024.

The review outcomes on acceptance or rejection of the abstracts and the final date of the workshop (either July or September 2025) will be communicated by January 15, 2025.

The full chapter submissions are due 6 weeks before the workshop.

For more details, refer here