Exploring Humanitarian Law

“It is essential to understand and respect the rule of law because that defines what we are about as a nation and the leader of the free world. When others do not respect or follow the law, it is even more important that we remember who we are and what we stand for as a country. The American Red Cross EHL program helps young people understand not only what is legal, but also what is right.” --Brigadier General Patrick Finnegan, Dean of the Academic Board, US Military Academy at West Point

The American Red Cross of Greater Grand Rapids is pleased to bring the Exploring Humanitarian Law program to our community.

Created by the International Committee of the Red Cross, the EHL curriculum is a comprehensive, adaptable toolkit of resources that gives teachers easy-to-use materials to help students understand the rules governing war and their impact on human life and dignity. The Exploring Humanitarian Law toolkit provides 30 hours of activities that teachers can use as a whole or by mixing and matching into their lessons – helping students connect current events and important issues to the classroom. High-quality materials, including news accounts, photos, letters, videos, case studies and interactive projects bring real events and people to life, helping teachers connect lessons of the past with events of today.

Aligned with Standards
Aligned with the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) ten thematic strands for secondary education, Exploring Humanitarian Law challenges students to investigate real situations and discuss some of the most important humanitarian questions facing us today. From the treatment of prisoners of war during the Revolutionary War, to the establishment of international courts at Nuremburg, to the use of child soldiers in conflicts around the world, Exploring Humanitarian Law is designed to fit seamlessly into a wide variety of courses, including social studies, history, law, literature, civics and gifted programs.

The learning materials, based both on historical and contemporary situations, show how the laws of war aim to protect life and human dignity during armed conflict and reduce and prevent the suffering and destruction that result from war.
EHL aims to foster in students an awareness of the necessity of humanitarian norms, an understanding of different perspectives, and an interest and responsible involvement in local and international events.

Learn More
Visit www.redcross.org/ehl to hear what others are saying about EHL, see classroom videos, explore all of the resources for yourself and download all of the materials for free!

Get Involved
Our International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Committee is looking for individuals who are passionate about young people, education, and humanitarian law to join our team!

Chip Kragt
Director of Emergency Services
(616) 456-8661 ext. 3301
ckragt@ggr.redcross.org