Law of Occupation vs. Ius Post Bellum. Significance of Provincial Reconstruction Teams in Afghanistan .......... 249

Authors

Piotr Łubiński
Jagiellonian University, Krakow (Poland)

Synopsis

The establishment of the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) by the Coalition forces in Afghanistan has blurred the lines between military and civilian targets and has affected the principle of distinction. This paper argues the legality of PRT’s activity in Af-ghanistan and raises general questions addressing legal challenges resulting out of modern armed conflict. This issue is particularly important especially taking into consideration that modern armed conflict overlaps with responsibility to rebuild of the country where the conflict takes place. 

The paper was divided into five substantial parts: Humanitarian law vs. modern con-flict – which addresses the law applicable during conflicts of our times; modern coun-terinsurgency – which describes a new approach toward asymmetric conflicts; Provincial Reconstruction Team – which addresses a notion of a vital element of a counterinsurgency effort; Law of occupation from the perspective of modern conflicts – which discuss that law of occupation is not longer as relevant as it was at the time of its creation; Is there a need for a new law? – which argues that above mentioned concepts leads to necessity to critically approach some element of humanitarian law. 

Author Biography

Piotr Łubiński, Jagiellonian University, Krakow (Poland)

Piotr Łubiński obtained his Master’s degree from the Faculty of Law and Administration of the Jagiellonian University in Krakow (Poland) in 2004. He worked for the Jagiellonian University Human Rights Centre as a researcher until 2006. In 2007 he practiced law – as a judge assistant – working on behalf of the Criminal Court in Krakow, International Affairs Section. In 2008, he joined the Polish Military Forces Contingent in Afghanistan as a Legal Adviser, serving two tours. Later on, he was granted a scholarship by the Law and Criminology Department, University of Wales in Aberystwyth. Additionally to his researcher obligation, he was working there as a part-time tutor. He successfully defended his doctoral thesis on “Practical and Theoretical Aspects of Internationalized Tribunals” at the Jagiellonian University in 2012. Currently, he holds position of lecturer at the Department of Security Affairs and Civic Education at the Pedagogical University in Krakow. He is a member of Humanitarian Law Dissemination Commission at the Polish Red Cross. He was honoured several times with international and Polish awards in recognition of his service in Afghanistan and International Humanitarian Law dissemination achievements.

Forthcoming

23 July 2013

Series

How to Cite

Łubiński, P. (2013) “Law of Occupation vs. Ius Post Bellum. Significance of Provincial Reconstruction Teams in Afghanistan . 249”, in Mazur, K. and Musiewicz, P. (eds.) Promoting Changes in Times of Transition and Crisis: Reflections on Human Rights Education. Poland: Księgarnia Akademicka Publishing (Societas), pp. 249–262. doi:10.12797/9788376383651.17.