Mount Kigali University (MKU), through its School of Law, has hosted the 6th International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Youth Dialogue, bringing together law students and humanitarian practitioners for an engaging discussion on the principles, application and contemporary relevance of International Humanitarian Law.
The dialogue was jointly organised by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the Rwanda Red Cross Society (RRCS), and the MKU School of Law, as part of a wider series of IHL Youth Dialogues being held with law students across Rwanda. The initiative seeks to strengthen young people’s awareness, understanding and ownership of International Humanitarian Law and their role in promoting its effective implementation. For MKU, the engagement provided an important platform for students to connect classroom learning with real-world humanitarian and legal practice, while engaging directly with professionals working in the field.
The dialogue featured discussions on the mandate and work of the ICRC and Rwanda Red Cross Society, followed by an introduction to International Humanitarian Law, its applicability and contemporary challenges. Students also explored the role of academic circles in the national development and implementation of IHL. An interactive question-and-answer session gave students an opportunity to ask questions, exchange perspectives and engage directly with IHL practitioners and lecturers.
The engagement reflects the growing importance of preparing future legal professionals not only with strong theoretical knowledge, but also with the awareness and professional competencies required to contribute meaningfully to society. The ICRC Rwanda has emphasised the important role of young people in advancing respect for International Humanitarian Law, noting that today’s law students will become tomorrow’s humanitarian actors, policymakers and decision-makers.
For MKU’s School of Law, such engagements complement academic instruction by creating opportunities for students to interrogate contemporary legal and humanitarian issues, engage practitioners and appreciate the practical implications of the law. The initiative also reinforces the University’s commitment to partnerships that enrich the student experience and expose learners to perspectives and expertise beyond the traditional classroom.
The IHL Youth Dialogue is part of a broader series of engagements between the ICRC, Rwanda Red Cross Society and Schools of Law across Rwanda. The 2026 programme has engaged students at several institutions, with MKU hosting the sixth dialogue. Through partnerships such as this, MKU continues to position its students at the centre of meaningful conversations on law, leadership, humanitarian action and national development.
The University believes that legal education must go beyond knowing the law, it must equip future professionals to understand its purpose, application and impact on society. The IHL Youth Dialogue therefore represents more than an academic engagement; it is an investment in a generation of legal professionals who can contribute to strengthening respect for humanitarian principles and the rule of law.