The idea is that after two school hours, the students know the importance of IHL. In addition, with different activities we show them the basic rules of IHL that are applicable in armed conflict and of course encourage further research on this important issue.

The most important thing of this project, which I am responsible for, is the use of a methodological tool developed by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and is known and implemented by the Norwegian Red Cross. The tool is called “Exploring Humanitarian Law” (EHL); the Norwegian version is called “Når Krigen Raser”. EHL is an education programme that introduces young people between 13 and 18 years of age to the basic rules and principles of international humanitarian law. The teaching methods used in EHL require students to play an active role in the process of learning. This enables them to develop a practical ‘humanitarian’ perspective and to understand a subject as seemingly dry, and complex, as IHL.

John Freddy gives his lecture.

I’m participating in an exchange program between Norwegian Red Cross and Colombian Red Cross as part of the Red Cross Youth program call “Internasjonal Ungdomsutveksling”. And one of my tasks here in Nordland is to support this project, which I do with some support from volunteers which are instructors in IHL.

The Red Cross Youth should use this tool to further strengthen the “Rules of War” program in Red Cross Youth, and that would give us the opportunity to be closer to youngsters in Norway, also strengthen the work of our instructors and, moreover, would strengthen the group in general, since it could be used as a bridge to reach the total of our programs to a large number of youngsters in our districts.