UAE students to be taught about humanitarian law

ABU DHABI // The UAE aims to spread the understanding of international humanitarian law among young people by introducing the subject into the curriculums at schools, colleges and universities.

The UAE National Commission for International Humanitarian Law announced the programmes as part of its action plan for 2017 and 2018.

Field visits to schools and seminars in universities aimed at familiarising pupils and students with the law will be conducted in coordination with the Ministry of Education, UAE University, the University of Sharjah, the Institute of Training and Judicial Studies and the International Committee of the Red Cross.

“Every human being should have a concept of what these laws are and how they humanise laws,” said Abdul Rahim Yousuf Al Awadi, head of the national commission and Assistant Foreign Minister for Legal Affairs.

Introducing this to pupils as early as secondary school would better prepare them for university, said Dr Al Awadi.

Having received training, certificates and worked with other organisations in Geneva, UAE’s national committee has shared its knowledge to over 200 students in Abu Dhabi.

Military and police college students would also continue to receive training in the field.

Measures in the action plan would ensure the public understood the difference between humanitarian and human rights laws as they were often confused, said Dr Al Awadi.

The former is a branch of international laws that seeks to protect persons not participating in hostilities during an armed conflict.

Also included in the action plan was the intention sign UAE up to more international humanitarian law treaties.