Participation Report: Kırımlı Dr. Aziz Bey IHL Competition & Advanced Summer in Turkey

B3 Taisho Ito

From September 14 to 19, 2025, I visited Istanbul, Turkey, to participate in the Kırımlı Dr. Aziz Bey International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Competition & Advanced Summer.

This program, established in 2020, offers participants the opportunity to study IHL both theoretically and practically, with a different theme each year. The theme for 2025 was “The Fundamental Principles of IHL.”

Turkey, located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, has its capital in Ankara and its largest city in Istanbul. The local people were so kind and friendly toward Japanese visitors—some even greeted me with “Konnichiwa” in Japanese. The country’s unique blend of European and Asian cultures was deeply fascinating. Before the summer school began, I had the chance to visit Cappadocia and take an air balloon ride at sunrise, which remains one of the most memorable experiences of my life.

On September 14, I traveled by ferry to Heybeliada Island, where the summer school was held. During the first three days, lectures were delivered by distinguished scholars and practitioners, focusing on the fundamental principles of IHL. From the afternoon of the third day, the competition began in a role-play format. Participants were randomly grouped into teams of three and assigned roles such as representatives of conflict parties justifying military operations, or representatives of weapon companies explaining compliance with IHL.

The most memorable experience for me was participating in a role-play exercise where I took on the role of a representative of a weapons company and presented our product’s compliance with and effectiveness under IHL to the parties to the conflict.

It was a truly refreshing experience to consider IHL compliance not from the perspective of the ICRC or a party to the conflict, but from that of a third party.

Furthermore, being able to immediately apply the fundamental principles of IHL that we had studied during the first half of the summer school to our arguments in the role-play was a highly meaningful experience, as it allowed me to put my knowledge into practical use and demonstrate it as my own strength. All discussions were conducted in English, requiring strong teamwork, analytical skills, and legal reasoning—making it an invaluable practical learning experience.

Many participants were PhD students from around the world, and engaging in discussions with them was intellectually stimulating and inspiring. Outside of lectures, we strengthened our friendships through activities such as table tennis, volleyball, and exploring the city together. Through both academic debates and casual interactions, I gained lifelong friends and invaluable experiences. I am certain that I could not have completed this program without their encouragement and support.

Motivated by such friends, I fully committed myself to every aspect of the five-day program. As a result, I was honored to receive the “Prize for Dedication to Improve” from the organizers, recognizing my continuous effort and positive learning attitude. This award has become a great source of encouragement for my future academic pursuits.

This experience at the Kırımlı Dr. Aziz Bey IHL Competition & Advanced Summer has truly become a milestone in my life. This program also served as an opportunity to reaffirm our desire for compliance with IHL in armed conflicts around the world. On November 1, I am participating in the role play competition organized by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Japan, to be held at the University of Tokyo. I hope to apply the knowledge and insights gained in Turkey to contribute to my team.

I will continue deepening my understanding of international law and armed conflict and remain committed to further challenges in the field of IHL.

Lastly, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Dr. Onur Dur and all the organizers for their warm support throughout my stay, as well as to all the wonderful people I met during this unforgettable program.