New Delhi, April 13 (IndianMuslims.info newsdesk) The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has launched a new website for teachers of its Exploring Humanitarian Law (EHL) programme, which is designed to introduce secondary-school students to the basic rules and principles of international humanitarian law. The fast-growing programme is already being implemented in over 60 countries worldwide and has outstripped existing capacity for teacher training – hence the creation of the new website, the EHL Virtual Campus.

"The website was set up in response to a growing demand by teachers for help in bringing the law of war into the secondary school classroom," said Nicole Martins-Maag, who is in charge of the EHL Virtual Campus project at the ICRC. "We hope that international humanitarian law will eventually be included in secondary school curricula around the world and become part of the basic education given to teenagers. Education authorities must become closely involved in bringing EHL to young people."

The EHL programme is currently undergoing a Pilot Study in about 20 English-medium government schools in the state of J&K. Almost 40 teachers from these schools have participated in two teacher training programmes during 2006. The programme is being undertaken by the Ministry of Education (J&K) with the support of the ICRC. During February 2007, Peerzada Sayeed, Education Minister of J&K, indicated that the EHL programme would shortly be introduced in all the schools across the state. On 7 and 8 April 2007, a coordination meeting between the stakeholders is being organised in J&K to ensure proper monitoring and evaluation of the program.

Vincent Nicod, head of ICRC's Regional Delegation in New Delhi is very optimistic about the programme's progress in India, "During 2007, the capacity of teachers would be doubled in J&K and the ICRC would also evaluate possibilities to introduce the programme in other parts of India."

The EHL programme comprises 30 hours of interactive classroom activities that explore a wide array of ethical and humanitarian issues relating to armed conflict – from child soldiers and war crimes to prisoners of war and missing persons. One of the aims of the programme is to foster in students an awareness of the need for humanitarian norms and an interest and responsible involvement in local and international events.

The English-language EHL Virtual Campus offers a range of teaching resources, including learning modules, workshops, training videos and an online discussion forum.

Link:

The EHL Virtual Campus