Camp Peira
CAMP PEIRA is a three-day specialized course organized by the Law Faculty of the Palacký University in cooperation with the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic. This course can be characterized as so-called live simulation role-play training. The focus on international humanitarian law and interdisciplinary approach make this training unique in the context of the Czech Republic and whole Europe.
The course has a strong interdisciplinary character. Great emphasis is placed on the interconnection between theory and practice namely in areas of the law of armed conflict, international refugee and migration law, but also on issues related to providing health care in situations of violence) and on linking participants from the civilian sphere (students, experts, academics) with military professionals.
CAMP PEIRA takes place in a real environment of the Czech Army´s military training area Březina/Vyškov.
In terms of the content, the course is conceived as a simulation of a situation of (non-international) armed conflict. Students are given roles (legal advisor of the camp commander, refugee, migrant, NGO worker, medical staff, detained person) in which they face situations proving relevancy and complexity of the application of relevant (international) legal rules during non-international armed conflict and provision of health care. Thanks to the cooperation with members of the Czech Army, students gain and enhance also other practical skills.
Our team
The core team of the Centre consists of resident scholars from the Palacký University Faculty of Law and legal professionals of the Czech Armed Forces. The CIHOL is however much more. It is a community of academics, legal professionals, members of armed forces, doctoral and Master´s students (resident or visiting), visiting scholars, external experts and visitors, all of whom have in common a strong interest in IHL, operational law and related fields of international law and are committed to excellence in teaching and research.
Our mission
The Centre was established to provide an institutional framework for further development of existing teaching and research activities in the area of international humanitarian and operational law at the Palacký University. At the same time it shall serve as a hub for developing innovative and unique ideas, approaches and activities (such as the live-training simulation Camp Peira), promote and spread knowledge of IHL in the Czech Republic and Central Europe, concentrate research and teaching activities in field of international humanitarian and operational law and other connected areas of international law and domestic law (constitutional law, administrative law), and finally, enhance and explore the potential of cooperation between the academia and relevant public institutions operating in the field of security and use of force, especially the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic.
CAMP PEIRA is a three-day specialized course organized by the Law Faculty of the Palacký University in cooperation with the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic. This course can be characterized as so-called live simulation role-play training. The focus on international humanitarian law and interdisciplinary approach make this training unique in the context of the Czech Republic and whole Europe.
The course has a strong interdisciplinary character. Great emphasis is placed on the interconnection between theory and practice namely in areas of the law of armed conflict, international refugee and migration law, but also on issues related to providing health care in situations of violence) and on linking participants from the civilian sphere (students, experts, academics) with military professionals.
CAMP PEIRA takes place in a real environment of the Czech Army´s military training area Březina/Vyškov.
In terms of the content, the course is conceived as a simulation of a situation of (non-international) armed conflict. Students are given roles (legal advisor of the camp commander, refugee, migrant, NGO worker, medical staff, detained person) in which they face situations proving relevancy and complexity of the application of relevant (international) legal rules during non-international armed conflict and provision of health care. Thanks to the cooperation with members of the Czech Army, students gain and enhance also other practical skills.
You can explore photos from previous years of Camp Peira here. You can also watch short videos from Camp Peira 2023 or 2024
Camp Peira 2026
The 7th edition of Camp Peira will take place in October 2026. Registration will be open until 29th September 2026.
In case of questions, please contact Dr Martin Faix (martin.faix@upol.cz).