Introduce the Red Cross organisation and find out what the group already know:
- What does the Red Cross do?
- Where is its headquarters?
- When was it formed?
Students draft letters to the US Secretary of Defense which include personal opinions on:
- The mission of the Red Cross to Cuba.
- The likelihood of the prisoners being treated humanely.
- How long the prisoners should be kept.
Students read out their letters to rest of the class. Their peers comment on the opinions expressed.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC):
- It is an impartial, neutral and independent organisation.
- It has humanitarian mission aims.
- It protects the lives and dignity of victims of war and internal violence.
- It provides the victims with assistance.
- The ICRC was established in 1863.
- Its headquarters are in Geneva
International humanitarian law obliges the conflicting parties to respect the red cross and red crescent emblems and to take all the precautions needed to avoid harming civilians.
What the Red Cross does:
- It makes visits to people deprived of their freedom.
- Protects the civilian population.
- Promotes health and relief.
- Provides dissemination and preventive action.
- Organises training courses.
- Uses humanitarian diplomacy
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