(Oklahoma City, Okla., August 19, 2020)-In the spirit of World Humanitarian Day, honoring the work of life-saving humanitarian aid workers, the American Red Cross has established a youth education program designed to help raise awareness about what is commonly referred to as the rules of war.
World Humanitarian Day is was created by the United Nations in 2009 to commemorate the August 19, 2003, bombing of the UN headquarters in Iraq which killed 22 people, including the UN’s High Commissioner for Human Rights. The Red Cross’s International Humanitarian Law Youth Action Campaign encourages young people, ages 13-24, to learn about international humanitarian law. The focus during the coming academic year is “Education in War,” how educational systems can be damaged by armed conflict and how the law protects them.
“Through this effort, young people can start the conversation in their own communities about the role international humanitarian law plays in preserving compassion and humanity during global crises and conflicts,” said Kayla Martinez, the IHL-YAC coordinator for the American Red Cross of Kansas and Oklahoma. “In addition to spreading the humanitarian impulse to others, this is also a great opportunity for young people to develop their leadership, communication and project management skills.”
“International Humanitarian Law Youth Action Campaign is an effort nationwide to empower our younger generation and to spread awareness about some important international humanitarian law facts,” said William Xu, a Red Cross IHL-YAC volunteer. “This year, specifically, it is about the evolution of technology used in warfare, specifically autonomous weapons.”
In IHL-YAC, participants receive an overview of international humanitarian law and the skills to build an effective awareness campaign. “The program doesn’t have a political agenda,” said Kendall Bell, the Red Cross IHL-YAC action coordinator. “We just are encouraging people to talk about the issue and to become informed.”
“Youth today are already at the forefront of a lot of discourse,” said Esme Aston, national program officer for the IHL-YAC. “They are the ones whose voices are really being heard and they’re the ones I think many adults turn to.”
Anyone interested in learning more about the Red Cross’s International Humanitarian Law-Youth Action Campaign should contact Kayla Martinez at Kayla. martinez2@redcross.org. The mission of the American Red Cross is to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross. org or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.