The Exploring Humanitarian Law (EHL) program offers high-quality materials to help teachers connect real-world events to the classroom. The program offers interesting and flexible resources that fit into existing lesson plans.

A Critical Subject for Today’s Students

Students are affected by conflicts around the world. They need the analytical skills to understand the rules governing war and their impact on human life and dignity.

The American Red Cross Exploring Humanitarian Law (EHL) curriculum is a flexible toolkit of resources that gives teachers easy-to-use materials to help students understand how conflicts—at home and abroad—intersect with the rights and protections of those impacted.

With more than 30 hours of activities that teachers can use as a whole or mixed and matched into their lessons, EHL helps students connect current events and real-life questions to the classroom. Through high-quality primary source materials, including news accounts, photos and letters, students explore different perspectives on the rules of conflict while grappling with their effect on human life and dignity.

Aligned with Standards

Aligned with the National Council for the Social Studies’ ten thematic strands for secondary education, Exploring Humanitarian Law challenges students to investigate real situations and discuss some of the most important humanitarian questions facing us today. From the treatment of prisoners of war during the Revolutionary War to the establishment of international courts at Nuremburg to the use of child soldiers in conflicts around the world, Exploring Humanitarian Law is designed to fit seamlessly into a wide variety of courses,
including social studies, history, law, literature, civics and gifted programs.

Exploring Humanitarian Law

For more information, please visit www.redcross.org/international.