Red Cross runs war law workshop for students

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Thirty-four greater Wellington region year 12 and 13 school students attended a workshop on the laws of war recently.
Students came from Sacred Heart College, Raphael House Rudolph Steiner School, Onslow College, Wellington College, Chilton St James School, Wellington Girls’ College, Samuel Marsden Collegiate, Queen Margaret College, Porirua College and Bishop Viard College.
The workshop, held at NZ Red Cross, offered them the chance to learn about the relevance of the Geneva Conventions (the laws of war) in contemporary contexts. Speakers included NZ Red Cross aid worker Marianne Whittington who has had a 17-year nursing career in Iraq, Sudan, Afghanistan, Angola, Kenya, Thailand and the former Yugoslavia.
During the day, students were confronted by real life legal and ethical dilemmas. “It was good to put yourself in a situation where you had to make a decision and it was good to hear other people’s opinions too,” one said. 
Dr Rod Alley, Victoria University, Centre for Strategic Studies and Chair of the national International Humanitarian Law Committee discussed the issues and implications of international humanitarian law.
“International humanitarian law is one of the most powerful tools the international community has at its disposal to ensure the safety and dignity of people in times of war. It seeks to preserve a measure of humanity, with the guiding principle that even in war there are limits,” he said.
NZ Army mine action expert Lieutenant Colonel Martin Donoghue discussed land mines, unexploded ordnance and cluster munitions, in an interactive classroom exercise, followed by guiding the students through a mock outdoor mine field, allowing them to practice the skills required to clear a mine field.
The workshop was hosted by NZ Red Cross in partnership with the Centre for Strategic Studies at Victoria University. It was an opportunity for students intending to study law, journalism, political science, international relations and humanities or students wishing to pursue careers with NZ Defence Force, NZ Police, diplomacy, foreign reporting or international aid work.