International Humanitarian Law encompasses the entire body of historical frameworks, rationales, and public debates leading to the principal international treaties of the world, including the international and national consequences for breaches of international law such as special tribunals established by the United Nations and the International Criminal Court.
The subject matter of International Humanitarian Law encompasses warfare among nations, genocide, war crimes, effects of war on civilian populations, the forced enlistment of children as soldiers, the treatment of prisoners, the abuse of women, and a variety of related issues, many of which are the subjects of current events in the world. However, International Humanitarian law also encompasses such subjects (either directly or tangentially) as the following:
The Historical and Present Day Role of the American Red Cross and International Committee of the Red Cross in preventing wars and in protecting civilian populations, crops, prisoners of war, and vulnerable groups caught in the reality of war.
Increasingly, the issue of Human Rights has become a part of International Humanitarian Law, which rights are incorporated into international treaties, customary law from the nations of the world, and national codified law. Human Rights Law is not restricted to the United States Constitution, but is recognized internationally with fundamental rights of human beings to food, clean water, self-expression and affiliation free from prejudice and discrimination.
International humanitarian law is founded on the principles of humanity, impartiality and neutrality. While its roots are ancient, the development of modern international humanitarian law can be credited to the efforts of a 19th Century Swiss businessman, Henry Dunant. In 1859, he witnessed the aftermath of a bloody battle among French and Austrian armies in Solferino, Italy. The departing armies left a battlefield littered with wounded and dying men. Despite Dunant's valiant efforts to mobilize aid for the soldiers, thousands died.
In A Memory of Solferino, his book about the experience, Dunant proposed that volunteer relief groups be granted protection during war in order to care for the wounded. From this idea, the International Committee of the Red Cross was born in 1863. Several months later, diplomats from 16 nations, assisted by representatives of military and medical services and humanitarian societies, negotiated a treaty. Known as the Geneva Convention, this agreement became the foundation of modern internal humanitarian law.
The Inland Northwest Red Cross has a variety of social aids and teaching assists available to the Spokane Public Schools in order to facilitate education in International Humanitarian Law.
Level 1 Programs
This level of activity involves a significant commitment by both the School District and individual teachers opting for training to integrate Humanitarian Law principles and information into course curricula.
At this level, High School Teachers Grade 9 through 12 are provided a complete portfolio with instructor’s manual, video clips and teaching aids produced by the International Committee of the Red Cross and aimed at suggesting to individual teachers ways the subject of International Humanitarian Law can be integrated into standard course curricula. The introduction to this material involves a four hour (1/2 day) seminar held either at a District School or the American Red Cross Office, for which teachers may earn ongoing professional teaching credits. The American Red Cross will provide individual teachers opting for the training with a set of materials and information on continuing resources. The day and place for one or more seminars will be set with input from the School District.
Level 2 Programs
This is an opportunity to rely on the American Red Cross to be the primary mover in the integration of International Humanitarian Law into High School curricula through invitations by individual teachers to provide essay and poster contests, videos, student materials, programs and guest speakers in the classroom at various times during the year. The Inland Northwest Chapter may also be available to address school assemblies or individual classes concerning International Humanitarian Law around special occasions such as December 9 (World Genocide Awareness Day) or May 8 (World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day).
Level 3 Programs
At this level, there is support to the schools desiring to heighten student interest in community and world involvement as well as passive resource-oriented support to teachers whose particular disciplines may prove not susceptible to easy incorporation of International Humanitarian Law principles into their curricula. Examples of this level of Red Cross support include posters for hallways (available in several languages) and access to a small Chapter library dedicated to books, articles, films, DVD’s and other materials concerning International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights:
To learn more about the Exploring Humanitarian Law program and available resources, contact John Caskey at caskeyj@spokaneredcross.org or 509-326-3330 x 202.
