Workshop
Training Workshop on the Fundamentals of Public International Law
The Training Workshop on the Fundamentals of Public International Law serves as a foundational introduction to understanding the legal rules that govern relations between states and other subjects of international law, as well as the principles that regulate t...
Duration2 Weeks
Credit hours5
DegreeWorkshop
Language of studyArabic
Terms1
About the program
The Training Workshop on the Fundamentals of Public International Law serves as a foundational introduction to understanding the legal rules that govern relations between states and other subjects of international law, as well as the principles that regulate the international community in times of peace, crises, and armed conflicts. The program provides a structured overview of the emergence and development of international law, its primary sources, its subjects, and the relationship between international obligations and national sovereignty. It also introduces international treaties, customary international law, general principles of law, and the role of international organizations in developing and applying legal rules.The workshop focuses on bridging theoretical legal concepts with real-world examples from international relations through the analysis of selected cases, discussions on international responsibility, the peaceful settlement of disputes, and compliance with obligations arising from international agreements. It is designed to provide participants with an entry-level knowledge base that enables them to comprehend international legal discourse, read documents and treaties with greater awareness, and prepare for more specialized training programs in public international law or its various subfields.
Vision
To contribute to building an international legal awareness capable of understanding the rules governing international relations, and to foster a culture of respect for the rule of law, peaceful cooperation, and the settlement of disputes through legal means.
Mission
To deliver an intensive educational experience that integrates core concepts of international law with practical case analysis, thereby enabling participants to acquire foundational knowledge of international legal sources and key institutions and mechanisms that facilitate their application, while enhancing their ability to analyze international developments from a disciplined legal perspective.
Objectives
- Introduce participants to the concept of public international law, its scope, and its essential functions.
- Clarify the distinction between international law and domestic law, illustrating the interactions between them.
- Introduce the primary sources of international law and the methodologies for identifying international legal rules.
- Provide a clear understanding of the subjects of international law, primarily states and international organizations.
- Explain fundamental principles regarding sovereignty, sovereign equality of states, good faith, and the fulfillment of international obligations.
- Develop baseline skills in reading international treaties and documents to extract key legal issues.
- Introduce peaceful means for settling international disputes, alongside the role of international judicial and arbitral institutions.
- Train participants on analyzing simplified international case studies and distinguishing between political facts and pertinent legal issues.
- Prepare participants to pursue advanced programs in international law and related professional fields.
Educational philosophy
The educational philosophy of this workshop is rooted in the principle that understanding international law cannot be achieved merely by memorizing treaty names or listing legal doctrines; it requires the analytical capacity to connect legal rules with the international facts to which they apply. Therefore, the program adopts concept-driven learning, progressive case analysis, structured discussions, and brief practical exercises that guide the learner from knowing a term to comprehending its legal implications.Topics are delivered from the general to the specific: participants begin by understanding the nature of the international legal order, progress to its sources and subjects, and proceed to apply this knowledge to treaties, disputes, and international state responsibility. Instruction does not assume prior legal background, utilizing Arabic legal terminology alongside key English equivalents where relevant.The workshop incorporates selected educational cases, published international documents, short analytical questions, and collaborative exercises that emulate legal reasoning. Participants are assessed on their ability to identify legal issues, align them with relevant rules, and provide logically reasoned justifications. The program does not aim to produce an independent international law specialist within two weeks, but rather to build an initial conceptual and practical foundation that can be expanded through subsequent study and practice.
Learning outcomes
- Define public international law and explain its function in regulating international relations.
- Differentiate between international treaties, customary international law, general principles of law, and subsidiary means for determining rules of law.
- Identify the principal subjects of international law and explain the roles of states and international organizations.
- Interpret fundamental principles of sovereignty, legal equality among states, and compliance with international obligations.
- Identify the primary mechanisms for the peaceful settlement of international disputes.
- Prepare a concise legal brief on an international case using a structured methodology.
- Deliver a short presentation explaining an international rule and its potential application to a specific scenario.
- Participate in group discussions concerning peaceful legal solutions to hypothetical disputes.
- Utilize authoritative primary sources, such as official treaty texts and formal documentation, as starting points for legal research.
Career prospects
- This workshop serves as an educational entry point for individuals seeking an orientation to international law prior to enrolling in advanced programs. The competencies acquired may benefit professionals or those seeking development in international relations, entry-level academic research, administrative positions in institutions dealing with international affairs, international cooperation portfolios, and civil society initiatives addressing legal and rights-based issues.
- It can also assist students of law, political science, and international relations in establishing a conceptual baseline to support their university studies, while providing institutional staff with an introductory understanding of legal terminology found in international documents and treaties.
- The workshop on its own does not qualify a participant for specialized international legal employment or the practice of a regulated legal profession. Ultimate career progression depends on prior qualifications, practical experience, and the formal regulatory requirements of each specific profession.
Curriculum
Module One: Introduction to Public International Law 1 credit hours · MOD-01Module Two: Sources of International Law and Means for Determining Legal Rules 1 credit hours · MOD-02Module Three: Subjects of International Law and Fundamental Principles 1 credit hours · MOD-03Module Four: International Responsibility and Settlement of Disputes 1 credit hours · MOD-04Module Five: Applied Legal Analysis and Final Assessment 1 credit hours · MOD-05
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a degree in law to enroll in the workshop?
No. The program is foundational and tailored for beginners and those interested in international law. However, an academic background in law, political science, or international relations may accelerate the comprehension of certain concepts.
What is the duration of the workshop?
It does not exceed two weeks. The organizing institution determines the number and distribution of sessions to ensure comprehensive coverage of core modules, completion of activities, and final assessments.
Does the workshop cover Public International Law or International Humanitarian Law?
The workshop centers on the fundamentals of Public International Law while introducing the broader context of selected specialized branches. In-depth study of International Humanitarian Law, International Human Rights Law, or International Criminal Law requires dedicated specialized programs.
Does the workshop include practical exercises?
Yes. It includes reviewing selected international documents, analyzing instructional case studies, discussing legal issues, and completing a simplified capstone exercise.
Can I pursue further studies after completing the workshop?
Yes. The workshop serves as a suitable stepping stone to a training certificate in international law applications, followed by more advanced diploma and specialized programs, subject to the admission criteria of each program.
Does the workshop grant the title of International Legal Expert or Consultant?
No. It is a short foundational workshop that does not confer a professional title or legal license. Specialized qualification requires comprehensive academic study, professional experience, and compliance with regulatory bodies governing the profession.
How are participants evaluated?
Evaluation is conducted through session engagement, comprehension of core concepts, analysis of a practical case study, and the submission of a structured response grounded in facts and relevant legal rules.
What type of certificate is awarded to participants?
A certificate of workshop completion may be awarded upon fulfilling attendance and evaluation requirements, in accordance with the policies of the organizing entity. The certificate reflects the nature and actual duration of the workshop without implying the conferral of an academic degree.
Admission requirements
- Academic Qualification: No specific university major is required for admission. An educational background sufficient for textual comprehension and analytical reading is preferred.
- Legal Background: Prior study of law is not required, as the program begins with foundational concepts.
- Language Proficiency: The ability to follow instructional content in the designated medium of instruction, utilizing available translations and explanatory notes as needed.
- Core Skills: A readiness for reading, discussion, textual comprehension, and drafting brief summaries.
- Attendance and Commitment: Active attendance during sessions and engagement in required activities and exercises.
- Final Assessment: Completion of the final practical exercise and fulfillment of the specified assessment criteria.
- Registration Documentation: Completion of the registration form and any administrative documentation required by the organizing entity.
Tuition & fees
Application fee$95.00
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Apply to this programModule One: Introduction to Public International Law
MOD-01 1 credit hours Beginner
This module provides a conceptual introduction to public international law regarding its definition, legal nature, scope, and functions in regulating the international community. It covers the emergence and evolution of the international legal order, transitioning from traditional state-centric frameworks to a contemporary system encompassing international organizations, individuals, and other entities within the boundaries of applicable legal norms. It also clarifies the distinction between public international law and private international law, delineates the relationship between international law and domestic law, and introduces key issues of national sovereignty and international obligations. Participants explore the nature of international legal rules, methods for identifying their existence and scope of application, and the distinctions separating legal obligations, political positions, and diplomatic comity. The module concludes with a structured discussion of a simplified case study requiring participants to identify the core legal issue and isolate it from surrounding political and media discourse.
Module Two: Sources of International Law and Means for Determining Legal Rules
MOD-02 1 credit hours Beginner
This module examines the primary sources of international law and the methods used to identify and determine the substantive content of international legal norms. It addresses international treaties regarding their definition, parties, formation of treaty obligations, interpretation, entry into force, and reservations, alongside the general principles governing treaty performance under international law. It also analyzes customary international law and its essential constituent elements—specifically state practice and opinio juris (acceptance as law)—while clarifying the function of general principles of law within international legal reasoning. Additionally, the module explores judicial decisions and scholarly doctrine as subsidiary means for the determination of rules of law, distinguishing their function from formal sources of legal obligation. Participants engage in practical exercises reading selected treaty excerpts, identifying the parties, subject matter, and substantive obligations, and verifying textual authenticity via official repositories. They also examine the foundational distinction between non-binding political instruments and legally binding international agreements.
Module Three: Subjects of International Law and Fundamental Principles
MOD-03 1 credit hours Beginner
This module explores the subjects of international law, examining their legal status and capacity to acquire international rights and bear international duties. It begins with the study of the state as the primary subject of the international legal order, reviewing the essential criteria of statehood, the recognition of states and governments, the principle of sovereign equality, and the legal parameters of non-intervention in internal affairs. The module then examines international organizations, addressing their establishment via constituent instruments, legal personality, competence, and jurisdictional boundaries. It further introduces the legal status of individuals within contemporary international law, detailing the specific frameworks under which individuals derive rights or incur direct international responsibilities. The curriculum covers foundational principles including good faith, pacta sunt servanda (fulfillment of international obligations), international cooperation, and the prohibition of the threat or use of force pursuant to the UN Charter, accounting for recognized legal exceptions. Participants apply these principles to hypothetical scenarios to evaluate how conflicting legal doctrines interact during inter-state disputes.
Module Four: International Responsibility and Settlement of Disputes
MOD-04 1 credit hours Beginner
This module introduces the core tenets of international responsibility, focusing on the law of state responsibility for internationally wrongful acts, the criteria for attributing conduct to a state, the breach of an international obligation, and resulting legal consequences. It examines the forms of reparation—specifically restitution, compensation, and satisfaction—relative to the factual circumstances and applicable rules. It establishes a clear legal distinction between the international responsibility of the state and individual criminal responsibility, guarding against conflating the two frameworks. The module transitions to examining peaceful means of dispute settlement under international law, including negotiation, mediation, good offices, inquiry, conciliation, arbitration, and judicial settlement. It outlines the role and jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), emphasizing the consensual foundations of international judicial jurisdiction rather than assuming mandatory authority over all disputes. The module concludes with a practical exercise requiring participants to propose and justify an appropriate dispute settlement mechanism for a hypothetical scenario, detailing the legal constraints of the suggested mechanism.
Module Five: Applied Legal Analysis and Final Assessment
MOD-05 1 credit hours Beginner
This module translates the substantive knowledge acquired across prior modules into practical competency in structured international legal analysis. It introduces the methodological steps for drafting a legal memorandum: identifying material facts, framing precise legal issues, locating the applicable legal rule, validating its formal source, applying the rule to the factual record, and formulating a reasoned conclusion that outlines both settled determinations and unresolved evidentiary gaps. Utilizing declassified documents and select case studies, participants are tasked with differentiating unsubstantiated claims from established facts, statutory or treaty text from legal interpretation, and political rhetoric from formal legal characterization. The training incorporates the drafting of a concise case brief, structured group discussions, and oral presentations of findings. The program concludes with a comprehensive assessment combining foundational conceptual inquiries and an applied case study, supplemented by structured feedback to identify key analytical strengths and areas for development prior to advancing to specialized legal studies.