Nearly 80% of American youth believe that that the U.S. should better educate young people before they can vote and enlist in the military, according to a 2011 survey by the American Red Cross. The national survey revealed that almost half of all American youth have never heard of the Geneva Conventions or international humanitarian law, which protects civilians in conflict zones, allows safe passage for the sick and wounded, and promotes humanitarian treatment of prisoners.
In many cases, a surprising number of youth are actually inclined to support illegal actions in times of war.
Nearly 59% of youth believe there are times when it is acceptable to torture the enemy, more than 41% believe there are times when it is acceptable for the enemy to torture American prisoners, and more than half (56%) believe that there are times when it is acceptable to kill enemy prisoners in retaliation, if the enemy has been killing American prisoners.
These results demonstrate the need for further education, especially since nearly 7 in 10 youth say they have a relative or close friend who is a veteran of the armed forces, and these rules of conduct protect their loved ones in times of war.
To address this need, The Red Cross has developed the "Exploring Humanitarian Law" curriculum, which can be incorporated into social studies and history classes. More than 1,200 schools in all 50 states already use these resources.
"The American Red Cross curriculum on humanitarian law can tie the history of the Civil War with conflicts occurring today across the world, and show the importance of basic rules through time that protect the rights of combatants and citizens," said Elisabeth Vasquez Hein. Vasquez is international services programs manager for the American Red Cross Serving King & Kitsap Counties. "The Red Cross urges teachers in schools throughout our community and our state to include this curriculum as part of their history and social studies courses."
With multiple conflicts around the world, and civil wars in places like North Africa, humanitarian laws are just as relevant today as they were at their inception. If you're interested in further information about International Humanitarian Law, check out these higher education resources from the Red Cross.
