The Jean-Pictet Competition is a week long training event on international humanitarian law (IHL) intended for students of law and political science, students at military academies, etc., at undergraduate level or above. It consists of “taking law out of the books,” through simulations and role plays, allowing the jury of the Competition to evaluate teams’ theoretical knowledge and practical understanding of IHL.

Throughout history, human beings have built fortifications to protect themselves from “barbarians”. Coldly designed on the basis of military maps, these eight modern walls illustrate a specific geopolitical divide. The exhibition, based upon the book “Walls Between People” by Alexandra Novosseloff and Frank Neisse, presents them in a unique way by the artist Robert Ireland. Throughout the exhibition visitors become familiar with photographs and testimonials, whilst physically experiencing the presence of the walls.

The Paul Reuter Prize is generally awarded every three years for a major work in the sphere of international humanitarian law. The Prize will be awarded for the ninth time in spring 2009. Authors may send their applications no later than 15 December 2008.

Surgeons and other surgery professionals from around the world are taking part in the event, whose presenters include ICRC specialists on the treatment and management of war-wounded.

The Centre of Hydrogeology of the University of Neuchâtel (CHYN) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC - Wathab Service), with the privileged participation of the Graduate Institute of Development Studies (IUED), propose the course on water and sanitation engineering with the aim to enable the participants to acquire the basic technical skills required to conduct their activities as water and sanitation engineers (Watsan).

Many of those held in prisons around the world do not receive adequate medical care. To improve their access to quality health services, the ICRC has participated in a World Medical Association project to produce an internet-based course for doctors working in prisons.

Following the success of the Senior Workshop on International Rules Governing Military Operations (SWIRMO) in August 2007, the ICRC has decided to make the workshop an annual event to be held one year in Switzerland and the following year in another country. The SWIRMO 2008 will again take in some 60 officers from around the world to explore principles and problems related to the law of armed conflict for two weeks.

Symposium examining the reporting of civilians affected by conflict in the British media