The fast-growing programme is already being implemented in over 60 countries worldwide and has outstripped existing capacity for teacher training – hence the creation of the new website, the EHL Virtual Campus.

"The website was set up in response to a growing demand by teachers for help in bringing the law of war into the secondary school classroom," said Nicole Martins-Maag, who is in charge of the EHL Virtual Campus project at the ICRC. "We hope that international humanitarian law will eventually be included in secondary school curricula around the world and become part of the basic education given to teenagers. Education authorities must become closely involved in bringing EHL to young people."

The EHL programme comprises 30 hours of interactive classroom activities that explore a wide array of ethical and humanitarian issues relating to armed conflict – from child soldiers and war crimes to prisoners of war and missing persons. One of the aims of the programme is to foster in students an awareness of the need for humanitarian norms and an interest and responsible involvement in local and international events.

The English-language EHL Virtual Campus offers a range of teaching resources, including learning modules, workshops, training videos and an online discussion forum. Teaching materials can be downloaded in English, French, Russian and Spanish. The EHL Virtual Campus can be accessed at www.ehl.icrc.org