Singapore, 27 July 2015 – Senior finalists from Raffles Junior College and Victoria Junior College, and junior finalists from Raffles Institution and Hwa Chong Institution, today pitted their wits against one another over controversial topics on warfare and terrorism at the grand finals of the International Humanitarian Law Debate Championship 2015. Organised by the Singapore Red Cross, the debate finals was graced by Ms Chia Yong Yong, Nominated Member of Parliament.

“While our nation is safe and peaceful, incidents such as the recent arrest of a radicalised Singaporean teen warn us on the need to be vigilant and against being complacent. Furthermore, the increasingly globalised and interconnected world mean that none of us is really spared from the effects of conflicts and acts of terrorism, either directly or indirectly. It is therefore, important that our young people understand and appreciate the relevance of International Humanitarian Law,” said Mr Benjamin William, Secretary General / CEO of Singapore Red Cross. “These debates bring alive many of the issues related to the operation of IHL in a complex and often violent global environment.”

Close to 200 students from 34 secondary schools, junior colleges, and polytechnics took part in the International Humanitarian Law Debate 2015, which commenced on 18 July 2015. Singapore Red Cross has been organising the Debate since 2005.

“I learnt about the legal analysis of things we consider morally right or wrong and how it can be applied. We all know that civilians specifically should not be killed or that chemical weapons shouldn’t be used but we don’t dig very deep into the reasoning. I thought that this was a really good opportunity for us to understand the rationale behind these conventions”, said Dim Shuen, 16, Nanyang Girls’ High School.

At the finals, Hwa Chong Institution and Raffles Institution emerged the champions in the Junior and Senior categories respectively.

About “International Humanitarian Law (IHL)”

International humanitarian law is a set of rules which seek, for humanitarian reasons, to limit the effects of armed conflict. It protects persons who are not or are no longer participating in the hostilities and restricts the means and methods of warfare. International humanitarian law is also known as the law of war or the law of armed conflict.

International humanitarian law is part of international law, which is the body of rules governing relations between States. International law is contained in agreements between States – treaties or conventions, in customary rules, which consist of State practise considered by them as legally binding, and in general principles.

International humanitarian law applies to armed conflicts. It does not regulate whether a State may actually use force; this is governed by an important, but distinct, part of international law set out in the United Nations Charter.