The George Washington University Law School's International and Comparative Law (ICL) Program hosted the Brand-Manatt Lecture on November 12th, 2025. The keynote speaker was Dr. Jean-Marie Henckaerts, Head of the International Committee of the Red Cross’ Unit updating the Commentaries to the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is a humanitarian organization that works tirelessly to protect the victims of armed conflicts and to promote international humanitarian law. GW Law Dean Dayna Bowen Matthew offered welcome remarks and Professor Sean D. Murphy moderated a fireside chat with Dr. Henckaerts.
Dr. Henckaerts focused his conversation with Professor Murphy on the updated commentaries to the Geneva Conventions, treaties which constitute the cornerstone of modern international humanitarian law regulating the conduct of armed conflict. He also launched the updated ICRC commentary to the Fourth Geneva Convention, which focuses on the protection of civilians in armed conflict situations and during times of occupation. Dr. Henckaerts discussed the importance of the ICRC Commentaries as a key resource for legal practitioners offering guidance on the content of the Geneva Conventions and how to interpret and implement them in modern armed conflicts and hostilities.
The fireside chat was followed by a panel including remarks from Dr. Beth Van Schaack, a Distinguished Fellow at the Center for Human Rights and International Justice at Stanford University and formerly Ambassador-at-Large for Global Criminal Justice at the U.S. State Department; Dr. Tess Bridgeman, Co-Editor-in-Chief of Just Security and Senior Fellow, New York University School of Law Reiss Center on Law and Security; and Eric Young, retired U.S. Army Colonel and former judge advocate. This panel was moderated by Associate Dean Rosa Celorio. The speakers discussed the current relevance of the Fourth Geneva Convention and its protection of civilians, in the present state of global affairs and a challenging time for international law and armed conflicts in general. The speakers also reflected on how international human rights law and international criminal law can inform the interpretation of the Fourth Geneva Convention; how U.S. interpretations of the Fourth Geneva Convention have changed over time and their current implications; and what the United States can do to comply with its obligations under this important treaty.
The Brand-Manatt lecture was established by Joseph L. Brand, JD ’63 and Ambassador Charles T. Manatt, JD ’62 to bring leading figures and scholars to the law school to discuss contemporary matters of law and policy.
According to Professor Murphy, the Brand-Manatt Lecture “Brings our community together to advance international law. GW Law School is currently reflecting among our faculty and our students on the role of lawyers to address and find solutions to armed conflicts and ongoing international humanitarian law violations, as well as other critical issues.”
Professor Murphy also added that “Dr. Henckaerts is an SJD alum of our law school, having been supervised by Professor Louis Sohn. He also served as research assistant for Professor Thomas Buergenthal. Professors Buergenthal and Sohn were both leading scholars, professors, and highly influential figures in international law. We are delighted to see Dr. Henckaerts follow in their footsteps in shaping and advancing international law in the most difficult contexts, such as armed conflicts and the conduct of hostilities.”
According to Rosa Celorio, Associate Dean for International and Comparative Legal Studies, “The ICL program takes seriously its role in promoting the implementation of international law. International law treaties – such as the Geneva Conventions – are living instruments, that need to be interpreted considering modern times and realities to stay relevant. This is why the ICRC’s work on these updated commentaries is so incredibly useful. GW Law School was honored to welcome numerous officials who are working daily to update these commentaries and to advance the ICRC’s critical goals and mandate.” She also added “We greatly thank all of those who attended the lectures, as well as its co-sponsors, including the International Committee of the Red Cross, the American Society of International Law, and the Law Schools’ International Law Society.”
