Robert Heinsch
Associate Professor
- Name
- Dr. R.W. Heinsch LLM
- Telephone
- +31 71 527 7581
- r.w.heinsch@law.leidenuniv.nl
- ORCID iD
- 0000-0003-1240-4400
Dr. Robert Heinsch has been a staff member of the Grotius Centre since 1 March 2009. First as an Assistant Professor, and since April 2013 as an Associate Professor of International Law.
Dr. Robert Heinsch, LL.M. (London), is an Associate Professor of Public International Law at the Grotius Centre for International Legal Studies of Leiden University, and the Director of its regular LL.M. Programme in Public International Law. He is also the Director of the Kalshoven-Gieskes Forum on International Humanitarian Law at Leiden University and its IHL clinic, and has been appointed as Rapporteur of the ILA study group on the “The Conduct of Hostilities under International Humanitarian Law – Challenges from 21st Century Warfare”. Furthermore, he is member of the German National IHL Committee, and held the position of Federal Dissemination Officer for International Humanitarian Law of the German Red Cross from 2011 to 2014. Previously, he has worked as a Legal Advisor in the International Humanitarian Law Department of the Red Cross Headquarters in Berlin, and as a Legal Officer in the Trial Chamber of the International Criminal Court in The Hague. In addition, he has worked as a Senior Research Fellow at the Chair for International Law and European Law, Cologne University, and a as Visiting Lecturer at Bochum University, respectively.
He has published various articles in the field of international criminal law and international humanitarian law, including a monograph on the jurisprudence of the Yugoslavia and Rwanda War Crimes Tribunals and its impact on the development of IHL, and he gives regularly presentations and lectures in these fields. He is associated with the Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict (IFHV) at Bochum University; Former Managing Editor of the Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law (YIHL); Member of the Editorial Board of the German Journal of Peace and Armed Conflict (JILPAC); Former Senior Editor of the Leiden Journal of International Law (LJIL); Member of the German Working Group for International Criminal Law; Former Member of the United Nations Association (UNA); Member of the International Law Association (ILA); and Advisor of the International Criminal Court Case Matrix Network (CMN). He holds a Dr. jur. (Ph.D in Law) Degree from the University of Cologne, an LL.M. Degree from University College London, and the First and Second German Legal State Examination.
Associate Professor
- Faculteit Rechtsgeleerdheid
- Instituut voor Publiekrecht
- Grotius Centre for Intern Legal Studies
- Heinsch R.W. (2024), Zum Einsatz digitaler Beweismittel in internationalen Strafverfahren: Die „Leiden Guidelines on Digitally Derived Evidence (DDE)“ [On the use of digital evidence in international criminal proceedings: the "Leiden Guidelines on Digitally Derived Evidence (DDE)"], Zeitschrift für Internationale Strafrechtswissenschaft 3(1): 2-10.
- Rose C.E., Blokker N.M., Dam-de Jong D.A., Driest S. van den, Heinsch R.W., Koppe E. & Schrijver N.J. (2022), An introduction to public international law. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
- Irving E., Heinsch R.W. & Rewald S. (23 August 2022), Using the Leiden Guidelines to address key issues in digitally derived evidence. OpinioJuris. [blog entry].
- Heinsch R.W., Irving E. & Rewald S. (31 March 2022), Leiden guidelines on the use of digitally derived evidence in international criminal courts and tribunals. Leiden (Kalshoven-Gieskes Forum/Grotius Centre). [web article].
- Heinsch R.W. (2022), Chapter 12: International humanitarian law. In: Rose C.E., Blokker N.M., Dam-de Jong D.A., Driest S. van den, Heinsch R.W., Koppe E. & Schrijver N.J. (Eds.), An Introduction to Public International Law. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 230-252.
- Fremuth M.L., Griebel J. & Heinsch R.W. (Eds.) (2021), Natural Resources and International Law – Developments and Challenges: A Liber Amicorum in Honour of Stephan Hobe. Baden-Baden: Nomos / Hart.
- Heinsch R.W. (2021), The Role of Customary International Law as a Tool for the Progressive Development of International Criminal Law: Undermining the Sovereignty of States for the Sake of Humanity?. In: Blokker N.M., Dam-de Jong D. & Prislan V. (Eds.), Furthering the Frontiers of International Law: Sovereignty, Human Rights, Sustainable Development. Leiden: Brill. 113-124.
- Heinsch R.W. (2021), Methodological Challenges in Ascertaining Customary International Humanitarian Law: Can Customary International Law Respond to Changing Circumstances in Warfare?. In: Krieger H. & Püschmann J. (Eds.), Law-Making and Legitimacy in International Humanitarian Law. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar. 170-194.
- Heinsch R. & Pinzauti G. (2020), To Be (a State) or Not to Be? The Relevance of the Law of Belligerent Occupation with regard to Palestine’s Statehood before the ICC, Journal of International Criminal Justice 18(4): 927-945.
- Heinsch R.W. & Poulopoulou S. (25 October 2020), Establishing and Directing an IHL Clinic: Lessons Learned from the Practice of the IHL Clinic at Leiden University. Opinio Juris: Opinio Juris & International Commission of Jurists. [blog entry].
- Heinsch R.W., annotation: ICC 3 October 2011, no. ICC-02/11, P.T. Ch. III, Annotated Leading Cases of International Criminal Tribunals 2020(57): 260-270 (Commentary on “Decision Pursuant to Article 15 of the Rome Statute on the Authorisation of an Investigation into the Situation the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire”).
- Heinsch R.W. & Pinzauti G. (2020), Submissions Pursuant to Rule 103 (Robert Heinsch & Giulia Pinzauti) [Situation in the State of Palestine] (International Criminal Court). [other].
- Heinsch R.W. (2018), The Future of the International Humanitarian Fact-Finding Commission: A Possibility to Overcome the Weakness of IHL Compliance Mechanisms?. In: Djukić D. & Pons N. (Eds.), The Companion to International Humanitarian Law. International humanitarian law series no. 55. Leiden-Boston: Brill | Nijhoff. 79-97.
- Heinsch R.W. (2018), Conduct of Hostilities. In: Djukić D. & Pons N. (Eds.), The Companion to International Humanitarian Law. International humanitarian law series no. 55. Leiden-Boston: Brill | Nijhoff. 379-383.
- Heinsch R.W. (2018), Indiscriminate Attacks. In: Djukić D. & Pons N. (Eds.), The Companion to International Humanitarian Law. International humanitarian law series no. 55. Leiden-Boston: Brill | Nijhoff. 408-412.
- Heinsch R.W. (2018), Principle of Distinction. In: Djukić D. & Pons N. (Eds.), The Companion to International Humanitarian Law. International humanitarian law series no. 55. Leiden-Boston: Brill | Nijhoff. 306-308.
- Heinsch R.W. & Chevalier L. (2018), The Educational Value of International Humanitarian Law Clinics - The Leiden and Bochum Example, Humanitäres Völkerrecht: Journal of International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict 1(3-4): 225-240.
- D'Alessandra F. & Heinsch R.W. (2018), Rethinking the Relationship between Jus in Bello and Jus ad Bellum: A Dialogue Between Authors. In: Sadat L.N. (Ed.), Seeking Accountability For The Unlawful Use Of Force. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 453-492.
- Heinsch R.W. (2018), In memoriam Professor Frits Kalshoven: Some Personal words on the passing of one of the most respected International Humanitarian Law experts of the last century, Leiden Journal of International Law 31(1): 1-7.
- Heinsch R.W. (2017), The International Committee of the Red Cross and the Geneva Conventions of 1949. In: Geiss R., Zimmermann A. & Haumer S. (Eds.), Humanizing the laws of war - the Red Cross and the development of international humanitarian law. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 27-56.
- Bartels R., Heinsch R.W. & Boogaard J. van den (11 September 2017), In Memoriam: Frits Kalshoven. EJIL: Talk!: European Society of International Law. [blog entry].
- Heinsch R.W. & Poulopoulou S. (2017), Difficulties in Prosecuting Drone Strikes as a War Crime under International Criminal Law: An International Humanitarian Law Pespective. In: Schüller A. & Nelson F. (Eds.), Litigating Drone Strikes: Challenging the Global Network of Remote Killing. Berlin: European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights. 58-84.
- Heinsch R.W. (2017), Modern drone warfare and the geographical scope of application of IHL: pushing the limits of territorial boundaries?. In: Ohlin J.D. (Ed.), Research Handbook on Remote Warfare. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing. 79-109.
- Heinsch R.W. (2017), Commentary on Rule 84 “Individual Criminal Responsibility for War Crimes”. In: Schmitt M. (Ed.), Tallinn Manual 2.0 on the International Law Applicable to Cyber Warfare: Cambridge University Press. 391-396.
- Gill T., Geiss R. & Heinsch R.W. (2017), The Conduct of Hostilities and International Humanitarian Law: Challenges of 21st Century Warfare - Final Report of the International Law Association Study Group on the Conduct of Hostilities in the 21st Century. International Law Studies no. 93. Newport, Rhode Island: U.S. Naval War College, Stockton Center for the Study of International Law.
- Heinsch R.W. (2016), Schriftliche Stellungnahme zu "Keine Straflosigkeit bei Kriegsverbrechen – Völkerstrafprozesse in Deutschland voranbringen" (BT-Drucksache 18/6341) (Bundestag). [position paper].
- Heinsch R.W. (2016), Foreign Fighters and International Criminal Law. In: Guttry A. de, Capone F. & Paulussen C. (Eds.), Foreign Fighters under International Law and Beyond. The Hague: T.M.C. Asser Press. 161-185.
- Heinsch R.W. & Fontein T. (2015), Legal Maxims: Summaries and Extracts from selected case law [of the International Criminal Court]. In: Ziccardi Capaldo G. (Ed.), The Global Community Yearbook of International Law and Jurisprudence 2014: Volume I. The Global Community Yearbook of International Law and Jurisprudence. New York: Oxford University Press. 387-426.
- Heinsch R.W. (2015), Judicial ‘Law-Making’ in the Jurisprudence of the ICTY and ICTR in Relation to Protecting Civilians from Mass Violence: How Can Judge-Made Law Be Brought into Coherence with the Doctrine of the Formal Sources of International Law. In: Ambach P., Bostedt F., Dawson G. & Kostas S. (Eds.), The Protection of Non-Combatants During Armed Conflict and Safeguarding the Rights of Victims in Post-Conflict Society. Leiden - Boston: Brill / Nijhoff. 297-330.
- Heinsch R.W., Annotated Leading Cases of International Criminal Tribunals 43: 290-302.
- Heinsch R.W. (2015), Modernizing International Humanitarian Law: The Necessity of Dealing with the Challenges of 21st Century Warfare. In: Voorhoeve J. (Ed.), The Third Hague Peace Conference. The Hague: The Hague University of Applied Sciences. 22-25.
- Heinsch R.W. (2015), Conflict Classification in Ukraine: The Return of the "Proxy War"?, International Law Studies 91: 323-360.
- Gill T.D., Geiß R., Heinsch R., McCormack T., Paulussen C. & Dorsey J. (Eds.) (2014), Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law 2012. Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law no. 15. The Hague: Asser Press (Springer).
- Gill T., Heinsch R.W. & Geiß R. (2014), Challenges of 21st Century Warfare - The Conduct of Hostilities and International Humanitarian Law: Interim Report. London: International Law Association.
- Heinsch R.W. & Schoeberl K.. HuV-I 27(3).
- Heinsch R.W. & Fontein T. 1: 433-492.
- Heinsch R.W. (2013), Methodology of Law-Making: Customary International Law and New Military Technologies. In: Saxon D. (Ed.), International Humanitarian Law and the Changing Technology of War. International humanitarian law series. Leiden - Boston: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers. 17-42.
- Heinsch R.W. (2012), Lieber Code. In: Hufford L. & Pugliese E. (Eds.), War Crimes: An Historical Encyclopedia, from 1850 to the present. Santa Barbara: ABC-Clio.
- Heinsch R.W. & Hollos R., The Global Community Yearbook of International Law and Jurisprudence 12: 389-448.
- Heinsch R.W. (2012), Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and the Scope of the ‘Combat Zone’: Some Thoughts on the Geographical scope of Application of International Humanitarian Law, Humanitäres Völkerrecht - Informationsschriften 25(4): 184-192.
- Heinsch R.W. (2010), Legal Maxims: Summaries and Extracts from selected case law of the International Criminal Court. In: Capaldo G. (Ed.), The Global Community Yearbook of International Law and Jurisprudence 2009. New York: Oxford University Press. 385-407.
- Heinsch R.W. & Schnegg A. (2010), Legal Maxims: Summaries and Extracts from selected case law of the International Criminal Court. In: Ziccardi Capaldo G. (Ed.), The Global Community Yearbook of International Law and Jurisprudence 2009: Volume I. The Global Community Yearbook of International Law and Jurisprudence. New York: Oxford University Press. 469-509.
- Heinsch R.W. (2010), The Crime of Aggression After Kampala: Success or Burden for the Future?, Goettingen Journal of International Law 2: 715-743.
- Heinsch R.W. (2010), Der Wandel des Kriegsbegriffs – Brauchen wir eine Revision des humanitären Völkerrechts?, Humanitäres Völkerrecht - Informationsschriften 23(3): 133-141.
- Heinsch R.W. (2009), How to achieve fair and expeditious trial proceedings before the ICC: Is it time for a more judge-dominated approach?. In: Stahn C. & Sluiter G. (Eds.), The Emerging Practice of the ICC: The Court at Five Years. Leiden; Boston: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers. 479-500.
- Heinsch R.W. (2009), The International Committee of the Red Cross in Today’s International and Non-International Armed Conflicts. In: Giegerich Th. (Ed.), A Wiser Century? – Judicial Dispute Settlement, Disarmament and the Laws of War 100 Years after the Second Hague Peace Conference. Berlin: Duncker & Humblot. 393-416.
- Heinsch R.W. (2007), Die Weiterentwicklung des humanitären Völkerrechts durch die Strafgerichtshöfe für das ehemalige Jugoslawien und Ruanda. Berlin: Berliner Wissenschaftsverlag.
- Heinsch R.W. & Peterke S. (2005), Overview on the International Criminal Court, Humanitäres Völkerrecht - Informationsschriften : .
- Heinsch R.W. (2004), Review of: , Hegemony or Stability: Alternatives to the Militarisation of Politics after September 11. Humanitäres Völkerrecht - Informationsschriften 17: 125-127.
- Heinsch R.W. (2003), Possibilities to Prosecute War Crimes Committed in Iraq, Humanitäres Völkerrecht - Informationsschriften 16: 132-138.
- Board member of the editorial board of the JILPAC/HUV