ILIGAN CITY (ICRC/05 March) — Students from the three campuses of Mindanao State University displayed their knowledge on the international humanitarian law (IHL) during the first inter-campus IHL debate at MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology today.
The half-day debate held by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Philippine Red Cross (PRC) and MSU-IIT produced lively discussions from the six teams fielded by the General Santos, Marawi and Iligan MSU campuses, during deliberations on the relevance of IHL or the law of armed conflict.
“These bright students will in time be the country’s decision makers. So at an early stage, we want them to understand and appreciate the IHL, which upholds the measure of humanity in the midst of armed conflict.[]
We want to bring the IHL closer to the youth,” said Julien Chalier, deputy head of the ICRC sub-delegation in Davao City.
Bringing the IHL to schools, added Chalier, would increase student awareness on the effects of armed conflicts; and impart the need to protect human dignity during war.[]