Click to play videoJammu: What should one do when confronted by a terrorist? That's what children in Jammu and Kashmir, who have long been living in the shadow of terror, are learning these days.
They are being taught about various dimensions of conflict and how to handle them with a humanitarian perspective.
The State Education Department in collaboration with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has introduced a subject named Exploring Humanitarian Law (EHL) at the secondary school level - the first such project in South East Asia.
Says ICRC delegate team leader, Frederique Baudry, "The aim of EHL is to introduce adolescents to the basic principles of International Humanitarian law and allow them to embrace the basics of human life."
The programme includes lessons like the need to regulate armed conflict; focus on child soldiers; on anti-personnel landmines; role of bystanders in conflict; and the dilemmas of combatants.
Says a class 9 student Mohit Anand, "We have learned that in a conflict situation we have to protect the injured. With this programme we are developing our mental capabilities."
Adds another student Taqnaz Ahmad, "We have to end wars and usher in peace."
The project, already running in 60 other countries, has been initiated in 18 schools in the state and will be later included in the state curriculum.
"Children here have lost their confidence to deal with violence and EHL is coming to the rescue. We will help them deal with both internal and external disturbances," says a lecturer and trainer at EHL, Manmeet Bali.
For years now, the children in Jammu and Kashmir have observed violence at a close distance but now they are learning the humanitarian side of it and classrooms are finally talking peace.
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