Bierzanka Competition

We are extremely pleased to announce that the Jury of the 25th edition of the Scientific Works Contest named after Prof. Remigiusz Bierzanka has awarded prizes and distinctions.

In the category of bachelor's theses, the prize and distinctions were awarded to:
1st place - Justyna Sobstyl for the thesis „The humanitarian crisis in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela”.
Distinction - Emilia Kmieć for the thesis „The Activities of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement - a comparative study”.
Distinction - Julia Wierucka for the thesis „Implementation of tasks concerning the obligations of the Republic of Poland arising from international agreements on arms control and disarmament”.

In the category of master's theses, prizes and distinctions were awarded to:
1st place - Natalia Gajewska for the thesis „The humanitarian crisis at the eastern border of the European Union 
in the years 2021-2024. Selected issues”.
2nd place - Maria Urban for the thesis „Protection of cultural property in the jurisprudence of international criminal courts”.
3rd place - Maciej Walewski for the thesis „Demilitarization as an institution of international law – essence and significance”.
Distinction - Marcelina Musiejewska for the thesis „Protection of the rights of persons with disabilities 
in armed conflicts on the example of the conflict in Syria”.

Professor Remigiusz Bierzanek is an outstanding scholar, academic teacher, and an authentic advocate of humanitarian ideals. He has made significant contributions to the Red Cross, being highly valued in the Polish Red Cross and still enjoying great authority in the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

His interest in international humanitarian law in armed conflicts brought the Professor closer to the Red Cross movement. The Polish Red Cross, with which the Professor collaborated for many decades, owes its numerous national and international initiatives, especially in the field of international humanitarian law, to his vast knowledge and selfless social commitment.

Professor Bierzanek was a member of the Board of the Institute of Humanitarian Law in San Remo. In 1974, he participated in an international diplomatic conference that prepared two Additional Protocols to the 1949 Geneva Conventions on the protection of victims of war, adopted in 1977.

The Professor published numerous works dedicated to human rights, the protection of victims of armed conflicts, and the doctrine, history, and development of international humanitarian law. Among them are, among others, Human Rights in Armed Conflicts (1972) and War and International Law (1982).

Professor Remigiusz Bierzanek was an active co-organizer and lecturer at many national and international conferences dedicated to promoting humanitarian law. Particularly noteworthy is the Warsaw Summer School of International Humanitarian Law (IHL), which is still active and known worldwide, where young lawyers from various corners of the world come every year at the invitation of the Polish Red Cross and the International Committee of the Red Cross.

At the initiative of Professor Bierzanek and under his leadership, the Commission for the Promotion of International Humanitarian Law was established at the Headquarters of the Polish Red Cross. To this day, his former students continue the Professor's mission within it. Since 2002, the Commission has organized a competition for master's and doctoral theses officially named after Professor Remigiusz Bierzanek.

Professor Remigiusz Bierzanek was an eminent scholar and a person of great stature – modest, cheerful, and a great friend of people. At the same time, he remained devoted to the ideals to which he dedicated a significant part of his energy in both scientific activity and in working for the Red Cross movement.