Humanitarian Law

7. What do these
images show?

8. Think of what has
to happen before
this occurs?

9. How can these
situations be
prevented?

10. Have you ever heard of these terms?
• Crimes against humanity
• Collateral damage
• Genocide
• Combatants
• War crimes

11. Humanitarian law
• Seeks to limit the effects of armed
conflict, particularly those who are
not participating in war (ICRC, 2004)
It is also called the law of armed
conflict.

12. History
• Henri Dunant, founder of The Red
Cross, helped to draft the first
version of this law in the 1850s
(HREA, 2002)
• Many treaties have been signed
since then as war methods evolved.

13. Where in the world do we see armed
conflict taking place?
• Syria, Israel/Palestine (Gaza)
• Nigeria, Kenya, Somalia, Egypt etc. (Africa)
• Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Philippines, etc.
(Asia)
• Chechnya, Greece, Northern Ireland, etc.
(Europe)
• Colombia, Mexico, etc. (Americas)

14. What has the world done to ensure
the protection of the vulnerable?
• ICC – the International Criminal Court
located in Geneva prosecutes leaders
who disobey humanitarian laws – Former
President and Prime Minister, A.N.R
Robinson, has played a large role in the
establishment of this court.

15. Other groups/organizations
• Amnesty International
• The United Nations
• The Red Cross/Red Crescent
What role do these organizations play in helping
victims of war?

16. Why is it important to know about
humanitarian law?
• We all share this planet and it is becoming more
inter-connected everyday
• Recently we saw how closely affected we are
through the unfortunate events in Venezuela
• We often have to travel to different parts of the
world for work and recreation
• It is hoped that as future leaders, we learn the
value of human life and understand our role in
helping humanity achieve an end to all armed
conflicts.

17. Let’s see what you know!
True or False
• Humanitarian law is about equal rights for
women – T or F?
• Humanitarian law is enforced in countries that
have peace – T or F?
• Henri Dunant helped to establish this law – T
or F?

18. Questions cont’d
• There are no armed conflicts in the USA
presently? –T or F?
• The ICC prosecutes people accused of war
crimes. – T of F?
• Trinidad has never been affected by war in
other places. – Tor F?
• Amnesty International is involved in seeking
the rights of those affected by war. T or F?

19. Assignment
Try to find out more about :
• Amnesty International
• The United Nations
• The Red Cross
• The International Criminal Court
Like them on Facebook and follow them twitter if
they have an account and know that you can make
a difference.