Human Rights Education
Treated humanely with respect for their persons and
their honor.
Enabled to inform their next of kin and the Central
Prisoners of War Agency (ICRC, the International Red Cross) of their capture.
Allowed to correspond regularly with relatives and
to receive relief parcels.
Allowed to keep their clothes, feeding utensils and
personal effects.
Supplied with adequate food and clothing.
Provided with quarters not inferior to those of their
captor's troops.
Given the medical care their state of health demands.
Paid for any work they do.
Repatriated if certified seriously ill or wounded,
(but they must not resume active military duties afterwards).
Quickly released and repatriated when hostilities cease.
Prisoners of war must NOT be:
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Compelled to give any information other than their name,
age, rank and service number.
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Deprived of money or valuables without a receipt (and
these must be returned at the time of release).
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Given individual privileges other than for reasons
of health, sex, age, military rank or professional qualifications.
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Held in close confinement except for breaches of the
law, although their liberty can be restricted for security reasons.
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Compelled to do military work, nor work which is dangerous,
unhealthy or degrading.
The fourth Geneva Convention ("Relative to the Protection of Civilian
Persons in Time of War") covers all individuals "who do not belong
to the armed forces, take no part in the hostilities and find themselves in
the hands of the Enemy or an Occupying Power".
Protected civilians MUST be:
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Treated humanely at all times and protected against
acts or threats of violence, insults and public curiosity.
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Entitled to respect for their honor, family rights,
religious convictions and practices, and their manners and customs.
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Specially protected, for example in safety zones, if
wounded, sick, old, children under 15, expectant mothers or mothers of children
under 7.
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Enabled to exchange family news of a personal kind.
- Helped to secure news of family members dispersed by the conflict
-
Allowed to practice their religion with ministers of
their own faith. Civilians who are interned have the same rights as prisoners
of war. They may also ask to have their children interned with them, and
wherever possible families should be housed together and provided with the
facilities to continue normal family life. Wounded or sick civilians, civilian
hospitals and staff, and hospital transport by land, sea or air must be
specially respected and may be placed under protection of the red cross/crescent
emblem.
Protected civilians must NOT be:
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Discriminated against because of race, religion or
political opinion.
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Forced to give information.
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Used to shield military operations or make an area
immune from military operations.
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Punished for an offence he or she has not personally
committed. - Women must not be indecently assaulted, raped, or forced into
prostitution.