Sample Syllabus: International Humanitarian Law

SAMPLE SYLLABUS: INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW

(includes proposed discussion questions, suggested homework & research projects)

Week 1: Introduction & The Humanitarian Perspective

Introductory Exploration: Images and Perceptions

Resource[i]:

Introductory Discussion: Armed conflict and attempts to limit it (i, pgs. 4-6)
Extension Activity: Why not outlaw war? (i, pgs. 4-6)

Module 1: The Humanitarian Perspective

Resource:

What can bystanders do? (1A, pgs. 4-23)
Looking at humanitarian acts (1B, pgs.24-28)

Homework:

Read background information/case studies & be prepared to discuss (1A. pgs.12-23)

(Suggested case studies: Aftermath of a Battle, Step by Step, Villagers Ease Pain in Camps)

Crimes of War [ii], pgs. 227-230; 245-247

Research a current event story about a bystander (Be prepared to discuss your findings in class)

Week 2: Limits in Armed Conflict

Module 2: Limits of Armed Conflict

Resource:

Limiting the devastation of war (includes human rights) (2A, pgs. 4-20)
Origins and development of the Geneva Conventions (review & discuss reading)
Codes and traditions over time (2B, pgs.21-33)

Proposed Discussion Questions:

What world events do you think influenced the formation of the four Geneva Conventions?

What are some recent conventions on the laws of war? (Think about chemical/biological warfare, landmines, torture, etc.)

Reading/Homework:

Fact Sheet: Summary of the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and Their Additional Protocols

Fact Sheet: The Development of IHL (Be prepared to discuss this in class)

Extension Activity: Media link (2A, p.8)

Week 3: Limits in Armed Conflict (Continued)

Resource:

Review of IHL—Who does it protect and when does it apply?
Focus on child soldiers (2C, pgs.34-47)
Extension Activity: Children and gangs (2C, p.39)

Film: “I don’t want to go back”

Proposed Discussion Question:

What difficulties might a child soldier face when reintegrating into society?

Reading/Homework:

Crimes of War, pgs. 95-99

Extension Activity: Current events/youth action (2C, p.40)

Week 4: Limits in Armed Conflict (Continued)

Resource:

Focus on weapons (2D, pgs.48-69)
Widespread availability of weapons (2E, pgs.70-83)

Film: “Landmines keep killing”

Proposed Discussion Questions:

How has science and technology changed warfare? Has it had a positive or negative affect?

Can you think of conflicts (local and international) that have been greatly affected by changes in weaponry and their widespread availability?

Readings/Homework:

Crimes of War, pgs. 62-63; 93-94; 304-306; 324-327

American Red Cross Fact Sheet: Landmines

Extension Activity: Science (2D, p. 55) (site examples from the news)

Week 5: The Law in Action

Module 3: The Law in Action

Resource:

Identifying violations of IHL (3A, pgs. 4-14)
Extension Activity: Chains of consequences (3A: p.7)
From the perspective of combatants(3B, pgs.15-27)
Extension Activity (Discussion): History of civilian warfare (3B, p.19): How have changes in military strategy and technological advances affected the status of civilians and the distinction that is drawn between civilians and combatants?

Readings/Homework:

Crimes of War, pgs. 103; 104-106; 119-120; 205; 218-219; 341; 390-391; 403; 415-416

Research a current event that is an example of an IHL violation

Week 6: The Law in Action (Continued)

Resource:

Who is responsible for respecting IHL?(3C, pgs.28-32)
Begin case study: My Lai (3D, pgs.33-57)

Proposed discussion Questions:

Why is it in an army or government’s best interest to respect IHL?

If a soldier is instructedby his commander to do something that would break IHL, who should be punished—the soldier, his/her commander or both? Discuss examples from the news.

Homework: Crimes of War, pgs. 117-118

Extension Activity: An Essay (3C, p.31)

Week 7: The Law in Action (Continued)

Resource:

Continue case study on My Lai (3D, pgs. 33-57)
Extension Activity (Debate): Who is guilty? (3D, p.38)

Film: “What we did at My Lai”

Homework: Extension Activity: Research (3D, p. 38)

Week 8: Dealing with Violations

Module 4: Dealing with Violations

Resource:

Rationales and options for dealing with IHL violations (4A, pgs. 4-18)
Judicial options (4B, pgs.19-41)

Proposed Discussion Questions:

Can you think of recent incidents where the U.S. may have violated IHL? If so, how should the violation be addressed?

Reading/Homework:
Crimes of War:, Pgs.135-136; 196-197; 315-321; 420-422

Fact Sheet: Prosecution of Violations of IHL

Fact Sheet: International Criminal Court

Extension Activity(Debate): What’s the difference? (p.10)

Week 9: Dealing with Violations (Continued)

Resource:

Continue Judicial Options (4B, pgs.19-41)
Non-judicial options (4C, pgs. 42-59)
Extension Activity: A torturer confronts his misdeeds (4C, p.46)

Proposed Discussion Question:

What are some of the limitations of the International Criminal Court?

Reading/Homework: (an overview of transitional justice)

Research and then compare and contrast two countries that addressed IHL violations in two very different ways. Be prepared to discuss your findings in class.

Week 10: Responding to the Consequences of Armed Conflict

Module 5: Responding to the Consequences of Armed Conflict

Resource:

Needs that arise from the devastation of war (5A, pgs.4-13)
Extension Activity: The experience of fleeing (5A, p.8)
Who is a refugee and how are they protected by IHL? (Discuss readings)
Planning a refugee camp (5B, pgs. 14-25)
Restoring family links (5D, pgs. 42-51)

Film: “Forced From Home”

Reading/Homework:

Crimes of War: pgs. 242-244; 354-356

Extension Activity: People who have been forced to flee their homes (p.9)

Week 11: Responding to the Consequences of Armed Conflict (Continued)

Resource:

Prisoners of war (5C, pgs.26-41)
Extension Activity: The difficulties faced by a prisoner after being released (p.31)
Suggested class discussion: Detention, torture, and the rights of POW
Suggested class discussion: Case study: Rasul vs. Bush

Film: “Light in the Darkness”

Proposed Discussion Questions:

What difficulties might a prisoner of war face after being released?

In the case of Rasul vs. Bush, did the United States Government violate IHL? If so, how should the violation be addressed?

How has the “Global War on Terror” affected IHL?

Reading:

Crimes of War, pgs. 159-164; 328-332; 400-401

Case study:

Week 12: Responding to the Consequences of Armed Conflict (Continued)

Resource:

Overview of humanitarian organizations: Their work & guiding principles

Ethics of humanitarian action (5E, p.52-60)

Homework: Research the work & mission of an international humanitarian organization.

Research a current ethical dilemma faced by an NGO. Imagine that you are the executive director. What would you do?

Week 13: Career Week

Guest speakers from NGOs
Discussion of careers in humanitarian assistance

Homework:

Research a career with a humanitarian organization. What skills are required?

Week 14: Conclusion

Where do we go from here? How can awareness and compliance with IHL be improved?

Semester Research Projects:

Compare and contrast two countries that addressed IHL violations in two very different ways. What is the situation today in each country?
Examine a recent situation where there was a violation of IHL. If you were an international leader, what would you suggest to help the country move forward?
Research a current ethical dilemma faced by an NGO. If you were the executive director, how would you resolve the problem?
Examine a current war or humanitarian crisis. Pretend that you are the executive director of an NGO of your choice. How would you respond to the needs of the victims?
Design an NGO that helps either former child soldiers or prisoners of war. How would you address their needs and help them reintegrate into society?

[i] All instructional materials were taken from the American Red Cross’ Exploring Humanitarian Law: A Resource Pack for Teachers, available online at:

[ii] Dworkin, Anthony, Roy Gutman, and David Rieff. Crimes of War. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2007.

June 2011

Note: We welcome feedback from educators on this syllabus. Please contact Laurie Fisher, American Red Cross International Humanitarian Law Education Program, at .