public service:
In addition to its educational and research functions, the Institute has the important task to inform the larger public and to advise governmental and non-governmental organizations. The Institute’s public service function is closely connected to the Institute’s position in society, its expertise and reputation.
Since its inauguration, the Institute has organized (often in collaboration with other organizations in the field of humanitarian action) a variety of activities such as public lectures, workshops and seminars for a diverse and broad audience including policy-makers (at home and abroad), junior lawyers, and NGO staff-members.
In addition to these specific activities, the Institute maintains a small but focused library, which is open to the larger public, in its role as a provider of information to society at large. The publication and distribution of the so-called Bo(chumer) Faxe is another example of the engagement of the Institute to disseminate as much information to an as large as possible audience.
Last but certainly not least, the Institute sees it as an important task to advise organizations and institutions on questions related to humanitarian law and humanitarian action. Through its staff-members, education, research and public service activities the Institute has played an active role in studying and disseminating international humanitarian law. In fulfillment of this task members of the Institute have been involved in the formulation of declarations, policies and analysis of which the ICRC customary law investigation was one of the more important ones.
The Institute’s public service function is supported by various grants and projects as well as in kind contributions by the members of the Institute.
