Syllabus

Short Course Description

The course will introduce the ethical and legal principles, and tools for policy and decision making that have been applied in the last decades in an effort to confront natural disasters, public health breakouts and man-made conflicts. Theoretical ethical framework for resolving dilemmas and domestic and international laws will be analyzed to expose the students to their strengths and weaknesses. The role of local, state and federal governments in an emergency or disaster response will be examined in light of the laws and regulations which have been instated by national or international bodies. Issues covered will include ethical and legal preparedness, mitigation and response for natural disasters and humanitarian crises, law and ethics in management of epidemics, ethical and legal aspects of safety and well-being of civilian populations under crises, management of refugees and preservation of human rights even under emergency situations, humanitarian crises and armed conflicts.