The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Delegation to the EU, NATO and the Kingdom of Belgium in Brussels together with the College of Europe organize the Bruges Colloquium on International Humanitarian Law (IHL), which is an annual gathering for IHL experts and practitioners since its inception in 2000.

The 25th edition of the Bruges Colloquium will focus on the pressing need to re-center international attention on the systematic and good-faith application of IHL. It will be held in English in person only on the premises of the College of Europe in Bruges, Belgium on 13-14 November 2025.

While IHL has helped save millions of lives, ongoing conflicts are marked by significant gaps in compliance and increasingly permissive interpretations of IHL that erode the law’s protective force, resulting in devastating harm to civilians. Under the theme “Standing Up for IHL: Building a Common Understanding Around the Law That Protects in War,” the Colloquium will foster discussions to create a shared understanding of key IHL rules and principles. This aligns with the Global Initiative to Galvanize Political Commitment to IHL, launched in 2024 by the ICRC together with six states (Brazil, China, France, Jordan, Kazakhstan, and South Africa), aiming to mobilize leaders across the globe to make IHL a political priority, and to generate concrete and actionable recommendations to strengthen respect for IHL. During the Colloquium, expert panels will delve into a range of IHL topics and their practical implications, demonstrating how promoting a common understanding helps reinforce the foundational framework that has long underpinned humanitarian protection. Discussions will cover, among other topics, the protection of civilian infrastructure, the protection of medical facilities, the application of IHL to information and communication technologies (ICTs), naval warfare, and the intersection of IHL and peace. The Colloquium will also emphasize the significance of political commitment and provide insights to ensure that IHL remains effective in safeguarding humanity in both current and future conflicts.

More information on the programme coming soon.

We are pleased to confirm that the participation in the Colloquium is free of charge. Registration is required via the registration link below. Please fill in the registration form as soon as possible and at the latest by 23 October 2025.

Please note however that the participation in the Bruges Colloquium is subject to the approval of the organizers and depends on the available places.