The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) with the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) and the University of the Philippines College of Law held the First Invitational International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Debates last June 2, 2009 at the Bocobo Hall, UP Diliman.
The PNRC requested for the assistance of the UPRCY to volunteer as staff for the debates. Along with two Red Crossers from New Era University and Fatima University, the youth volunteers manned the registration booth, helped in setting the venues and ushering guests and participants, and served as bell and timekeepers for the debates.
Many different debating teams composed of law students from different universties took part in the competition, such as Ateneo de Manila, Ateneo de Davao, Arellano University, and the University of the Philippines - Diliman. However, other invited debating teams such as that from the University of Sto. Tomas failed to confirm attendance or take part in the debates. The debating team from Ateneo de Davao bested UP Law and had emerged as the first chamion of the IHL Debates and represented the Philippines in the international IHL debates in Malaysia the following week. The ICRC, PNRC, UP Law administrators, participating debate teams, guest speakers, youth volunteers, as well as QC Red Cross staff invited from the QC Red Cross Chapter delighted themselves with a generous buffet by the organizers after the awarding ceremony.
The UPRCY, following its duties as part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, has, as one of its functions as stated in its constitution, the responsibility of promulgating awareness of the Internatonal Humanitarian Law or The Law of Armed Conflict. Volunteering in the said debates served to fulfill this responsibility since the event aimed to promote knowledge and advocacy for the IHL among law students. Though the tasks were humble, the organization takes pride in ensuring the success of the debates and in promoting the said humanitarian law.
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