War Crimes Investigation Training Course

War Crimes Investigation Training Course

Introduction

In today’s conflict-ridden global environment, the investigation and prosecution of war crimes have become a vital component of international justice and human rights enforcement. War Crimes Investigation Training Course equips professionals with the practical, legal, and ethical tools needed to identify, document, and prosecute grave breaches of international humanitarian law. Through cutting-edge methodologies, real-world case studies, and actionable skills training, participants will gain in-depth knowledge of forensic investigation, legal frameworks, and victim-centered approaches in addressing war crimes.

Whether operating in conflict zones or post-conflict societies, the role of war crimes investigators is crucial in ensuring accountability, supporting transitional justice, and restoring public confidence. This course emphasizes war crimes documentation, evidence preservation, international criminal law, and the application of digital forensics in human rights, giving participants an advantage in high-stakes global justice environments. The program integrates case-based learning and modern investigative strategies aligned with international legal standards.

Course Objectives

1. Understand the fundamentals of international humanitarian law and its application in war crimes.
2. Identify types of war crimes under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
3. Conduct crime scene investigation using forensic documentation techniques.
4. Apply evidence chain-of-custody procedures in field operations.
5. Analyze open-source intelligence (OSINT) in war crimes investigation.
6. Utilize digital forensics and geo-mapping technologies to track violations.
7. Conduct trauma-informed victim and witness interviews.
8. Collaborate with transitional justice mechanisms and NGOs.
9. Navigate challenges of international cooperation in cross-border crimes.
10. Integrate human rights reporting standards in investigation protocols.
11. Draft legally admissible investigative reports and indictments.
12. Address gender-based violence (GBV) in conflict zones.
13. Evaluate and present case files to international courts and tribunals.

Target Audience

1. Human Rights Investigators – #HumanRightsMonitoring
2. Legal Professionals and Prosecutors – #InternationalLaw
3. Military Legal Advisors – #MilitaryJustice
4. Forensic Experts – #ForensicAnalysis
5. Journalists and War Correspondents – #ConflictReporting
6. Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) – #TransitionalJustice
7. Academics and Students in Law and Human Rights – #LegalEducation
8. Security and Intelligence Analysts – #GlobalSecurity

Course Duration: 5 days

Course Modules

Module 1: Introduction to War Crimes and Legal Frameworks

• Definition and classification of war crimes
• Overview of international humanitarian law
• Understanding the Geneva Conventions and Additional Protocols
• Role of the ICC and other international tribunals
• Application of the Rome Statute in field investigations
• Case Study: Prosecuting atrocities in the former Yugoslavia (ICTY)

Module 2: Crime Scene Management and Forensic Evidence Collection

• Planning and securing conflict crime scenes
• Collection and preservation of physical evidence
• Forensic photography and sketching techniques
• Biological and chemical hazard management
• Chain-of-custody documentation in war zones
• Case Study: Evidence recovery in the Rwandan Genocide

Module 3: Interviewing Survivors and Witnesses of War Crimes

• Trauma-informed interviewing approaches
• Techniques for building rapport and ensuring safety
• Protecting vulnerable populations (women, children)
• Language, translation, and cultural sensitivity
• Documenting testimonies for legal admissibility
• Case Study: Testimonies from Yazidi survivors in Iraq

Module 4: Digital Forensics and Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT)

• Use of digital tools in war crime documentation
• Satellite imagery and geo-location tracking
• Social media and video verification
• Metadata analysis and authenticity checks
• Chain of digital evidence in courts
• Case Study: OSINT in documenting attacks in Ukraine

Module 5: Gender-Based Violence in Armed Conflicts

• Understanding GBV as a war crime
• Legal frameworks and protection standards
• Investigating sexual violence in conflict
• Survivor-centered evidence gathering
• Reporting and referral mechanisms for survivors
• Case Study: Documentation of sexual violence in the DRC

Module 6: Building a Legal Case and Drafting Reports

• Structuring investigation reports for legal submission
• Linking evidence to perpetrators
• Role of expert testimony and affidavits
• Writing indictments for tribunals
• Legal standards of proof and burden of evidence
• Case Study: Case-building in the Charles Taylor trial

Module 7: Cooperation with International and Regional Justice Mechanisms

• Role of international organizations (UN, EU, AU)
• Bilateral and multilateral cooperation frameworks
• Mutual legal assistance treaties (MLATs)
• Extradition and arrest warrant processes
• Sharing intelligence across jurisdictions
• Case Study: Multinational effort in the prosecution of Hissène Habré

Module 8: Ethical Considerations and Investigator Safety

• Ethics of investigation in conflict environments
• Risk assessment and field security protocols
• Vicarious trauma and investigator mental health
• Neutrality and non-interference principles
• Protecting confidentiality and sensitive data
• Case Study: Human Rights Watch protocols in Syria

Training Methodology

• Case-based learning from real war crime prosecutions
• Hands-on practical sessions in evidence collection
• Simulated field investigation and courtroom procedures
• Role-playing for survivor interviewing techniques
• Guided group discussions and expert-led webinars
• Interactive digital labs for OSINT and forensics

Register as a group from 3 participants for a Discount

Send us an email: info@datastatresearch.org or call +254724527104 

Certification

Upon successful completion of this training, participants will be issued with a globally- recognized certificate.

Tailor-Made Course

 We also offer tailor-made courses based on your needs.

Key Notes

a. The participant must be conversant with English.

b. Upon completion of training the participant will be issued with an Authorized Training Certificate

c. Course duration is flexible and the contents can be modified to fit any number of days.

d. The course fee includes facilitation training materials, 2 coffee breaks, buffet lunch and A Certificate upon successful completion of Training.

e. One-year post-training support Consultation and Coaching provided after the course.

f. Payment should be done at least a week before commence of the training, to DATASTAT CONSULTANCY LTD account, as indicated in the invoice so as to enable us prepare better for you.