Human Rights Education
LESSON PLAN
CRISIS IN IRAQ: TIPS FOR TEACHERS
Action Piece
Amnesty International urges the President to abide by the United Nations Charter and other international laws as the administration considers US military intervention in Iraq. The UN Charter requires that the UN Security Council may authorize the use of military force only as the last resort and after all peaceful means are exhausted. As the most powerful individual member of the Security Council, the US has a particular responsibility to uphold this obligation. Unilateral military action, in the absence of UN Security Council authorization, is contrary to international rule of law. See the Iraq Country Page.
Tips for Teachers
Introduction
In this time of global conflict, educators should have at their disposal materials and techniques that can help them discuss these issues in the classroom setting. In focusing on Iraq and the potential conflict with the United States, the point is not to take one side or another. Rather, by presenting primary documents and discussion questions/techniques, the idea is to delve deeply into one of the most critical situations today, and let students form and voice opinions based on this knowledge. Many of the topics below are very controversial. A great wrap-up to these issues can be to hold debates!
Primary Source:
"Resort to military force is likely to lead to further devastating consequences for large numbers of the Iraqi population already crippled by severe violations by their government and the effect of economic sanctions. I urge the Security Council to carefully consider such consequences in its deliberations on any resort to force to ensure that every effort is made to resolve the situation through peaceful means."
-Irene Khan, Secretary General of Amnesty International
From a letter sent to the United Nations Security Council
September 24, 2002
Upon ascertaining students' knowledge of rights violations in Iraq, propose a research project focusing on the modern history of Iraq, dating from the Iran/Iraq War. Projects can focus on cultural and refugee rights of the Kurdish population, on systematic attacks on the Iraqi population, destruction of political and civil rights such as the right to vote and the right to free speech, etc. In continuation, students can ponder how war tends to affect a country (collateral damage, effects on families, basic and emergency services, economy, infrastructure, and further human rights violations, etc). Students can compare and contrast past violations with those that might be brought on by a military attack.
What are economic sanctions?Carry out a discussion on the concept of sanctions and incorporate some of the information found in the primary sources below. Questions that can be asked are:
- Why are they in place in Iraq?
- Who enforces them?
- Are there positive and negative effects of sanctions? If so, what are they in general and how does this apply in the case of Iraq?
Links:
What is the Security Council?
To gain a greater understanding of how the United Nations works as well as the significance of the Security Council, present the definitions found at the links below and carry out a discussion around these questions:
- What is the role of the Security Council?
- Why is it proving to be difficult to get the support of the Security Council for an attack against Iraq? Can you think of some reasons why there are differing opinions as to how to approach Iraq?
- In your opinion, what does Ms. Khan mean when she says that the Council should "ensure that every effort is made to resolve the situation through peaceful means"?