Bi-Weekly update of EHL connections to IHL stories from the field. June 10, 2016.
Image source: CC BY-NC-ND / ICRC / Adavize Baiye
Nigeria: As people flee violence, malnutrition and measles seen in children “The humanitarian needs remain critical in northeastern Nigeria, a region that remains volatile. In Damboa, 90 kilometres south of Maiduguri in Borno State, a crisis looms after violence in March forced more residents to flee there. The ICRC and the Nigerian Red Cross are expanding their humanitarian activities to bring help to those living in areas largely cut off from humanitarian aid. The Red Cross is among the few organizations that has been able to access those in need.” (ICRC) EHL Connection: Exploration 5A, Needs that Arise from the Devastation of War
Unpacking principles where values and pragmatism meet “The principles emphasize the value of human life, with a view to protecting people in times of perils and emergency. In their contemporary codified form, the principles find their source at the intersection between humanism, philanthropy and the practical necessity related to organizing a systematic and effective response to multiple humanitarian needs. They derive from field practice and lessons learned over more than a century as part of the development of modern humanitarian action.” (IRRC) EHL Connection: Exploration 5E: Ethics of Humanitarian Action
Image Source: ICRC via International Review of the Red Cross
Trauma and Testimony: Challenges of Child Soldier Witnesses in Future FARC Trials
Image source: ICRC For more on EHL network updates, curriculum connections and ideas for student engagement email ehl@redcross.ca
“On May 16, 2016 the Colombian government and Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) jointly announced, that as a component of their forthcoming peace agreement, the rebel group will discharge from its forces all child soldiers under the age of 15 and these children will not face prosecution for acts committed while under FARC control. This encouraging development will finally allow children, threatened with death if defecting from FARC, to return to their families and begin the long process of healing from the trauma imposed upon them..” (Humanity in War) EHL Connection: Exploration 4B: Judicial Options, Exploration 2C, Focus on Child Soldiers
Topic Focus: Join the Canadian Red Cross for our next Exploring Humanitarian Law 2 Day Educator Trainings August 23-24 in Toronto & October 21-22 in Ottawa Topic Focus: Humanity in War webinar: ISIL’s Rule of Law, Creating a Caliphate State and Laws of Armed Conflict. View it here. Topic Focus: Humanity in War webinar: Combating ISIL: Achieving Justice for Sexual & GenderBased Violence Crimes. View it here. Topic Focus: See UNICEF’s new animated films The Unfairy Tales, part of an #actofhumanity initiative emphasizing children’s rights wherever they come from. Topic Focus: The Humanity of HeART: Tom Jackson’s tribute to the humanitarian work of CRCS Topic Focus: PHAP special e-learning sessions on IHL (PHAP).