CYIL vol. 10 (2019)

CYIL 10 ȍ2019Ȏ THE CENTRE FOR INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN AND OPERATIONAL LAW … THE CENTRE FOR INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN AND OPERATIONAL LAW (CIHOL) ESTABLISHED AT THE PALACKÝ UNIVERSITY IN OLOMOUC Petr Stejskal * / Martin Faix ** TheFacultyof Lawof thePalackýUniversity inOlomoucproudly announced establishment of the Centre for International Humanitarian and Operational Law (CIHOL) 1 . The Centre was established jointly by the Palacký University Faculty of Law and the Czech Armed Forces as a result of a longstanding and fruitful cooperation between the two institutions in the area of international humanitarian law (IHL) and related fields of international law. The opening ceremony of the CIHOL took place on Thursday, 20 June 2019. The Centre is founded under the auspices of Department of International and European law of the Faculty of Law. The interconnection between IHL focused academia and practice makes the Centre unique in the Central European context. The opening of the Centre demonstrates the increasing interest of academia and the army in mutual cooperation, which is beneficial not only to the institutions involved, but also to the public interest and rule of law in general. The core team of the Centre consists of resident scholars from the Palacký University Faculty of Law and legal professionals of the Czech Armed Forces, however, the CIHOL involves other academics, legal professionals, doctoral and Master’s students (resident or visiting), visiting scholars, external experts, and visitors, all of whom have a strong interest in IHL, operational law, and related fields of international law in common and are committed to excellence in teaching and research. The Centre was established to provide an institutional framework for the further development of existing teaching and research activities in the area of international humanitarian and operational law at the Palacký University. At the same time, it shall serve as a hub for developing innovative and unique ideas, approaches, and activities. The Centre should also promote and spread knowledge of IHL in the Czech Republic and Central Europe, concentrate on research and teaching activities in field of IHL and operational law and other connected areas of international law and domestic law (constitutional law, administrative law). Finally, it should enhance and explore the potential for cooperation between academia and relevant public institutions operating in the field of security and use of force, especially the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic. One of the already established joint activities of the Faculty and the Czech Armed Forces is the live-training simulation Camp Peira, which is a proof of the firm cooperation between the Faculty of Law and the Czech Armed Forces. From a broader perspective, this is also an example of an activity that has a beneficial effect for society as it involves, next to students who acquire valuable skills and knowledge, relevant stakeholders, * Mgr. Petr Stejskal, LL.M ., is a Ph.D. student in the European and International Law doctoral study program at the Faculty of Law, Palacky University in Olomouc. ** JUDr. Martin Faix, PhD., MJI , is a senior lecturer in International Law at Palacký University in Olomouc, Faculty of Law, and at Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Law, and Director of the Centre for International Humanitarian and Operational Law. 1 More information is available at the website of the Centre: www.pf.upol.cz/cihol.

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