The Education Project is a modular human rights education programme which explores the question of boundaries in the context of the war on terror, through a focused consideration of the issue of torture. It reflects an approach to human rights education which is contextualised and multi-disciplinary, acknowledging the complexity and confusion surrounding rights and wrongs in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as well as in the global war on terror, and encouraging young people to engage and wrestle with difficult questions.
The question of boundaries lies at the heart of any consideration of human rights and democracy, insofar as the preservation of human rights is aimed at placing a protective boundary around the individual against the potential power of the State in a democratic society. In Israeli society, the question of boundaries is intensified by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The ongoing state of conflict and the fear and reality of terrorist attacks have contributed to an atmosphere which has challenged the moral boundaries, psychological boundaries, and physical boundaries of Israeli society and individuals. For young people in particular, who have grown up with the current Intifada and are approaching their army service, these questions around boundaries are even more intense, and all the more personal.
The issue of torture is central in this context. Torture is something which we instinctively perceive as being beyond any reasonable boundary - of pain for the victim, of morality for the perpetrator, of humanity and democracy for the society in which it takes place. The word conjures up images of horror and callousness from a previous era, a distant place, a tyrannical society. In international law, the prohibition on torture is absolute, meaning that no circumstances whatsoever justify torture, including war or threat to national security. This is not the case with many other major human rights, which are only fully protected under international law during peacetime.
Yet in Israel in the context of its fight against terrorism, and in the broader democratic world post-September 11th 2001, boundaries have become hazy and the definition and illegitimacy of torture are unclear. Amongst the dilemmas which currently confront Israeli society, the dilemma around the use of torture to obtain information from terrorist suspects reflects an ultimate moral question for our time which is of primary importance for the preservation of Israeli democracy: where is the boundary around that which can be done for the sake of national security? This is the central question which this programme challenges young people to address.
Aims of the Programme
* To raise the question of the setting of boundaries in the relation to National Security concerns, in the context of a war on terror
* To engage young people in the debate on torture, which is currently a major international issue, as a critical case through which to examine the broader question of boundaries
* To expose participants to a broad base of information on the issue of torture and various positions in the debate regarding its legitimacy
* To encourage participants to engage with the issue of torture both emotionally and rationally
* To provide participants with tools with which to form informed, independent opinions on the issue
Target participants
This programme is aimed at young people aged 15 - 18, and can be adapted either for a formal school environment or for a youth movement context. Because of the sensitivity of the subject matter, it is not recommended for people younger than 15.
Structure of the Programme
The programme contains six sections: an introductory session, four 'Tracks', and a concluding session. Each section contains material for one hour and a half long activity, including background material for the facilitator, guidance for further reading, and a detailed activity plan.
For an in-depth engagement with the programme, it should be run as a course of six consecutive sessions. However, it is also possible to run the programme as a day activity in which all participants will attend the introductory and the concluding sessions, but will be split into four smaller groups for the Tracks - with each group participating in one Track only. If time is extremely limited, the introductory session can be run on its own. However, it is recommended to follow up on the introductory session since it primarily serves as a trigger and leaves open many questions which are addressed in the Tracks.
Content of the Programme
The programme is framed around four 'justifications' for the use of torture, each of which is a typical question or statement posed by the public in relation to the legitimacy of applying torture to gain information from terrorist suspects. These justifications correspond to legal-definitional, ethical-philosophical, and socio-psychological aspects of the issue, and the programmes include theoretical material and concrete case studies through which the justification is further explored. Much of the material in the programme is specifically relevant to the State of Israel, however there are also various materials which relate to the international context, especially vis-?-vis global concerns pertaining to the post-September 11th era.
Throughout the programme a variety of methodologies are employed, in order to maximize participants' creative engagement with the issues presented. The programmes are non-didactic: the primary emphasis is on providing information, challenging participants to form their own opinions, and stimulating debate and discussion.
Programme Overview
Introductory Session
This section introduces the subject of torture in a general manner, providing a sense of the scope of the use of torture in Israel and the world, and encouraging an initial engagement with the 'justifications' around which the programme is framed.
TRACK 1 - The Definitional Boundary: What is Torture?
This section is concerned with the legal status and definition of torture in Israel and in international law, and is centred around key case studies from Israel in the past few decades which chart the course of the evolution of Israeli policy on the issue. Participants are encouraged to form their own opinions about the definitional boundary around torture in relation to the cases studied and the definition provided in international law.
TRACK 2 - The Moral Boundary: Can torture be used in order to save lives?
This section deals with the classic moral dilemma of the 'ticking bomb' scenario, in which an interrogator must decide whether to torture a suspect in order to potentially uncover vital information which may prevent a terrorist attack. Participants are presented with a parallel dilemma, and are asked to address it through the lens of various moral principles which are later applied to the ticking bomb dilemma. The material for this section draws upon classic philosophical arguments of both Western and Jewish sources.
TRACK 3 - The Boundary of Pain: What are the effects of torture?
This section is concerned with the long-term effects of torture on the tortured, the torturer, and the broader societies. Participants are encouraged to explore the physical and psychological dynamics of power, cruelty and victimhood, and to consider their own position within such dynamics.
TRACK 4 - The Democratic Boundary: In the era of the 'international war on terror', is it time to shift the boundaries?
This session presents the central events and debates relating to the use of torture by Western Democracies in the context of the international war on terror which has been carried out since the terrorist attacks of September 11th 2001. Participants are encouraged to engage with the goals and meaning of the international war on terror and consider whether it has forged a new global reality which requires a new perspective on the protection of human rights in general and the prohibition on torture in particular.
Concluding Session
The concluding session aims to connect the different elements of the issue which were explored in the Tracks, and provide a broader perspective within which to consider the central questions of the programme. Space is provided for participants to present to each other their perspectives and feelings on the issues discussed.
For additional information or to obtain the programme please contact us.
