Scouts explore international humanitarian law

Geneva (ICRC), 17 September 2004 -- To mark the 48th World Baden-Powell Fellowship Event in Geneva, from 16 to 18 September, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the French and Belgium Red Cross societies, the World Scout Foundation and the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) are presenting a non-competitive outdoor game called Raid Cross to help scouts actively explore the principles and rules of international humanitarian law.

After years of fruitful cooperation with leading humanitarian organizations such as the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and Handicap International, the WOSM has begun working with the Red Cross. Over the past few years, the French and Belgian Red Cross societies have developed and tested an activity for young people to promote understanding of issues of humanitarian concern and the basic principles and rules of international humanitarian law (also called the law of armed conflict). The game’s rules require respect, under stress, for other human beings. In other words, the adversary must be treated fairly and humanely – precisely the purpose of humanitarian law. Raid Cross simulates seven situations, five of which will be presented at the 48th World Baden-Powell Fellowship Event: (1) treatment of prisoners of war, (2) humanitarian aid, (3) living in a war zone, (4) lawful and unlawful targets, and (5) caring for wounded soldiers. Each activity is followed by a short debriefing session in which the supervising scout leaders compare the participants’ actual conduct with the respective rules of international law.

The aim of the cooperation between the WOSM and the Red Cross is to promote and make Raid Cross available for Scouts worldwide. Raid Cross corresponds to the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement’s strategy of promoting respect for the law specifically among adolescents, who are potential future leaders in their communities. The ultimate goal is to prompt greater recognition and practical application in armed conflict and internal violence of the values and principles enshrined in international humanitarian law.