An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir July / August 2025 www.military.ie/magazine 14 | T he International Society for Military Law and the Law of War was founded in Strasbourg in 1956, and has been based in Brussels since 1988. Its stated aim is to study and disseminate international humanitarian law, military law and the law of peace operations. The Society has a current membership of around 700 members, including legal advisors (both civilian and military), judges and prosecutors. Further, it publishes a biannual peer reviewed journal, the Military Law and the Law of War Review. With this in mind, the Society organises various congresses, seminars and other educational events around the world, including seminars for military legal advisors. In 2023, the 13th Seminar for Legal Advisors of the Armed Forces was held at the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York. The 14th Seminar for Legal Advisors of the Armed Forces was held from the 20th to the 23rd of May 2025 by the Society and was organised with the support of the Irish Defence Forces. The Seminar was held at the Galway Bay Hotel in Galway, with Galway Bay looking especially scenic due to the week's fine weather. Over the course of the Seminar, participants heard from a variety of experts on a range of legal fields from artificial intelligence to the protection of peacekeepers. A key focus of the Seminar was on international humanitarian law. Also known as the Law of Armed Conflict, international humanitarian law is one of the oldest areas of international law, with the dual aim of both protecting non-combatants and restricting the methods of conducting hostilities available to combatants. It is vital for states to ensure adherence to its principles, particularly via dissemination. Further, the gathering of experts and practitioners from across the globe enhances the sharing of information and best practice to maximise the effectiveness and adherence to international humanitarian law. Adherence to international humanitarian law is vital in military decision making, given it enhances both operational effectiveness and prevents the alienation of local populations, while promoting the moral standing of the military personnel. The cornerstones of international humanitarian law are the four Geneva Conventions, which were drafted in the aftermath of World War II and are designed for inter-state conflict, paying little attention to civil wars or internal uprisings. Even in international armed conflict, international humanitarian law is currently facing issues, such as the atrocities being carried out in Ukraine and Gaza. Further, the development of 'grey zones' are especially concerning, 14TH SEMINAR FOR LEGAL ADVISORS BY THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR MILITARY LAW AND THE LAW OF WAR, GALWAY 2025 ARTICLE BY LT CIAN Ó MÓRÁIN PHOTOS PROVIDED BY COMDT JIM MURRAY

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