The ICMM Center of Reference for Education on IHL and Ethics in cooperation with the Medical Services Directorate of the Swiss Armed Forces and the ZH Center for Military Medical Ethics at Zurich University convene their joint
14th Workshop on Military Medical Ethics
19-21 June 2025 | Hybrid Workshop
Hotel du Léman, Jongny (Switzerland)
Protection, Precaution, Proportionality.
Is respect for ethics in conflict in decline?
Topic & Call for Papers
The field of military healthcare operates in a morally charged space, where the principles of medical ethics often clash with the imperatives of warfare. From the protection of medical personnel and facilities to the use of the Red Cross/Red Crescent emblems, ethical dilemmas arise under the pressures of armed conflict. Issues of proportionality in the conduct of hostilities further complicate the role of healthcare providers, who must balance their humanitarian duties with the realities of military operations.
For our 2025 workshop we invite philosophical scholars, military professionals, legal experts, and healthcare practitioners to explore the ethical principles governing military healthcare, examining challenges related to the protection of medical units, the misuse of protected emblems, and the ethics of proportionality in both attacks and defense during conflicts.
We welcome submissions addressing a broad range of topics, including but not limited to:
- Protection of Medical Personnel and Facilities in Armed Conflict:
Exploring the ethical and legal obligations to safeguard healthcare providers, hospitals, and ambulances during warfare. How can medical neutrality be ensured in increasingly complex combat environments? - Emblems of Protection – Ethical and Legal Considerations:
Examining the use and misuse of protective emblems such as the Red Cross, Red Crescent, and Red Crystal. What are the ethical implications of violating these emblems, and how can international law be enforced to prevent misuse? - Proportionality and Military Healthcare:
Investigating the ethical challenges of proportionality in attacks that may impact medical facilities and personnel. How can military operations justify actions that may unintentionally harm healthcare services, and what limits should be imposed to minimize such risks? - Attacks on Healthcare in Modern Warfare:
Analyzing the increasing frequency of deliberate or incidental attacks on healthcare infrastructure. What are the long-term consequences of such actions, and what strategies can be employed to prevent the targeting of healthcare services? - Military Medical Ethics vs. Battlefield Realities:
The tension between ethical duties to provide care and the operational demands of the military. How can military healthcare professionals reconcile their ethical obligations with the command structure and rules of engagement? - Ethical Dilemmas in Treating Combatants and Civilians:
Discussing the ethical issues that arise when military healthcare providers are required to treat both combatants and civilians, including potential conflicts of interest, prioritization of care, and impartiality. - International Humanitarian Law and Medical Ethics in War :
Examining the intersection of international humanitarian law (IHL) with medical ethics. How do the Geneva Conventions and other legal frameworks inform ethical decision-making for military healthcare providers? - Mental Health and Moral Injury in Military Healthcare Personnel:
Exploring the psychological impact of delivering care in war zones, including the concepts of moral injury and burnout among military healthcare workers. What support structures are needed to address these challenges? What can be done to support the resilience of health workers? - Technological Advances and Ethical Implications in Military Healthcare:
Assessing how emerging technologies, such as telemedicine, drones, and AI, impact military healthcare. What new ethical questions arise from the use of these technologies in conflict zones?
We encourage interdisciplinary approaches to these pressing ethical issues and look forward to your insightful contributions as we seek to enhance the protection and ethical considerations of military healthcare in conflict zones.
We equally encourage field reports (e.g., case studies, experience briefings, policy analyses) as well as philosophical papers and legal background analyses. In line with the tradition of the workshop series, we invite presentations that take the perspectives of both military and humanitarian health care providers.
Instructions for Submissions
To submit a proposal, please prepare
- an abstract of your presentation (max 300 words)
- a short biography/ CV (max 150 words)
and hand it in it via the online submission form on https://melac.ch/apply/cfp-2025
→ Deadline for submissions: January 15, 2025
→ We will notify all applicants by February 15, 2025 at the latest whether their proposals have been selected. For all selected speakers, we cover conference fee, hotel, and travel expenses (economy class).
For any questions with regard to the call for papers or the process of submitting please contact Daniel Messelken (
Program
Will be published in February/March 2025.
Accreditation
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For the the MME workshop 2025, we will again seek the accreditation by the Swiss Institute for Postgraduate and Further Education in Medicine (SIWF / ISFM). Participants will receive a certificate and can check with their national institutions if the credit points are accepted by them. |
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Participation & registration
Please be aware that places at the workshop are limited as we want to keep the format of the workshop as close as possible to the previous years, which includes time and opportunity for discussions. These are only possible in a smaller group and we can therefore not accomodate more than 50/60 people in total (including the speakers and faculty members). Participants will be selected with the aim of putting together a well-balanced group of speakers and participants to allow for productive discussions.
Participation is possible on-site in Jongny (~ 30 persons in total) and online via zoom videoconference.
- Registration will open in late 2024/ early 2025.
- For questions regarding the registration please contact
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Workshop fee
Workshop Fee for on-site participants: 856 CHF (to be paid directly to the hotel)
Includes the following:
- Participation at all workshop sessions
- 3 Hotel nights (single room) and all meals during the workshop
- Icebreaker on June 18th, and Host nation dinner on June 20, 2025
- Transport to and from/to Geneva airport (GVA). No shuttle provided from/to Zurich airport (ZRH)!
- Pickup at train station Vevey equally possible.
Deadline for applications: 15.04.2025 (first come first served)
Application for the online participation via zoom
Workshop Fee for online participants: free of charge, short motivation letter required. Participants will be admitted based on:
- The motivation and previous knowledge/ expertise/ experience of applicants
- The function and institutional role of applicants
Deadline for applications (online participation): 31 May 2025
Online workshop – Technical information
- The workshop will be held via videoconferencing software.
- Participants are responsible that the internet connection and technical requirements are met.
- The number of participants will be restricted as we want to encourage a similar engagement with the audience.
Workshop venue
The workshop will take place at the Hotel Léman in Jongny s/ Vevey at the shores of Lake Geneva. It offers both conference rooms with views over Lake Geneva as well as accommodation for all participants.
Workshop organisation
Scientific Coordination
- Zurich Center for Military Medical Ethics
Dr. phil. Daniel Messelken -This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - ICMM Center of Reference for Education on IHL and Ethics
Col David Winkler, MD, PhD -This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Organisation & Logistics
- Swiss Armed Forces, Medical Services Directorate
Pauline Dénervaud -This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.