[hr-education] Teaching IHL in Serbia

Dear Colleagues,

My name is Mrs. Vesna Banjeglav. I am working as a professor of Police
Ethics in the School of Internal Affairs, Sremska Kamenica, Serbia. I have
successfully passed the training of international programme Exploring
Humanitarian Law (the author and financier of Exploring Humanitarian Law
is the International Committee of the Red Cross, ICRC). Also, according to
my moral and professional principles, as a volunteer with large enthusiasm
I have implemented Exploring Humanitarian Law in the school. It was highly
responsible work but very useful for my 41 cadets and all of them have
successfully passed the programme, according to the ICRC standards.

Some quotes from my students:

"It brings people closer, not apart, by placing a human being at the
centre."

"If only one of the IHL rules were always respected, it would save
millions of lives."

For more information see: http://aristokle.on.neobee.net

Exploring Humanitarian Law (EHL) is an educational programme designed to
introduce adolescents (age 13 ­ 18) to the basic rules and principles of
international humanitarian law (IHL) and related issues. EHL offers thirty
hours of classroom activities making use of affective learning methods and
participatory pedagogy. It is transnational in scope, cutting across
political, social, religious and cultural contexts, and can be adapted to
diverse educational settings. EHL versions exist in English, Arabic,
Spanish and French and 11 other languages. By the end of 2004, it is
expected that 9 more language versions will be completed.

The primary learning goal of EHL is to help young people embrace the
principles of humanity in their daily lives and in the way they assess
events at home and abroad. IHL aims to protect life and human dignity
during armed conflict and to reduce and prevent the suffering and
destruction that result from war. Developing knowledge and understanding
of IHL and related humanitarian issues through school-based education is
an attempt to prevent and limit violations of IHL and to promote
observance of the hard core of human rights. EHL was developed by the
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in close association with
the Educational Development Center Inc. (EDC) and the active participation
of twenty countries from all parts of the world. Since its launch in 2001,
71 countries have initiated the implementation of EHL. It is expected that
by the end of 2004, 90 countries will have done so.

The idea of the World Programme for Human Rights Education is excellent,
but you should know some very important facts. Principles of volunteer and
enthusiasm cannot be applied in low standard countries, as Serbia, for
example. Highly responsible work such as implementing World Programme for
Human Rights Education or EHL programme suggests that you have to pay for
it. I have given 70 lessons in this school year, during the implementing
of EHL and I have not been paid.  Ideals of enthusiasm and volunteer can
not be applied in low standard countries; highly responsible work requires
adequate compensation.

I hope that my experience and the experience of my colleagues in Belgrade
that did this highly responsible job as volunteers will help you to
formulate your programme better.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Vesna Banjeglav
Tolstojeva 10, Novi Sad, Serbia & Montenegro
Phone - + 381 21 47 46 072



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