On November 20, 2025, the Department of “International Law and Public Law Disciplines” of the University of World Economy and Diplomacy (UWED) held a master class entitled “Contemporary Challenges to International Humanitarian Law” as part of the course International Humanitarian Law.

The event was organized under the leadership of Associate Professor Sh.M. Khamdamova and featured one of the leading researchers in international law in Central Asia — Sergey Vyacheslavovich Sayapin, Professor at the School of Law of KIMEP University (Kazakhstan).

During the master class, Professor Sayapin addressed actual issues in the development of international humanitarian law in the context of modern armed conflicts, with particular emphasis on challenges related to hybrid warfare, the digitalization of armed conflict, and the transformation of traditional mechanisms of international accountability. Special attention was given to the application of IHL norms in the use of autonomous weapon systems and unmanned aerial vehicles, as well as legal responsibility for their deployment.

The following topics generated particular interest among students:

·  adaptation of international humanitarian law to autonomous weapon systems and UAVs;

·  the potential crisis in the effectiveness of international accountability mechanisms for war crimes;

·  specific features of the regional approach of post-Soviet states to the application of IHL norms;

·  the effectiveness of international judicial institutions in holding perpetrators accountable for violations of international humanitarian law.

The master class was conducted in an interactive format and sparked lively discussion, contributing to the enhancement of students’ academic awareness and critical understanding of contemporary trends in international humanitarian law.

Such initiatives play an important role in strengthening academic cooperation and fostering the scientific potential of UWED students in the field of international law.