Geneva, Switzerland

Global Health Law

Today, there exists a field of global health law which stands on its own in international law, with devoted institutions, legal norms, control and monitoring mechanisms and area of application. International law, as a central instrument in the toolbox of the international community to address global health challenges, must be taught, critically discussed, implemented, improved, and developed. Students and young professionals active in the broad field of global health should be well aware of the international legal environment applicable to global health issues.

This course will provide an advanced overview of global health law: the fundamental principles applicable, the actors involved, the legal norms already in place and their implementation, and the ongoing negotiations regarding new legal instruments. Special attention will be given to the WHO pandemic instrument that is currently being negotiated and that will still be in negotiation in summer 2023 at the time of the summer school – as well as to the role played by global institutions more particularly involved in these discussions and other global health diplomacy debates.

Students will learn through a combination of lectures, seminars, class discussions, practical exercises and a field visit to WHO (including meetings with WHO experts from diverse Departments). The approach will be guided by the in-depth examination of specific global health challenges and the analysis provided by scholars as well as by practitioners involved in the resolution of these issues.

Course leader

Prof. Stéphanie Dagron
University of Geneva

Credits info

3 EC
Equivalence of ECTS

Fee info

CHF 1000: Professionals fee
CHF 800: Students fee