Reference: International Treaties concerning Warfare

[Bob Hubbard]

I found this link...very interesting. We've often heard of the 'Geneva Convention' in reference to things like treatment of prisoners, but there is so much more that these things cover.

Lots of different documents here.

http://fletcher.tufts.edu/multi/warfare.html

 

[Flatlander]

From: GENEVA CONVENTION
RELATIVE TO THE TREATMENT OF PRISONERS OF WAR
OF AUGUST 12, 1949 (GENEVA CONVENTION III)

ARTICLE 3

In the case of armed conflict not of an international character occurring
in the territory of one of the High Contracting Parties, each Party to
the conflict shall be bound to apply, as a minimum, the following
provisions:

(1) Persons taking no active part in the hostilities, including members
of armed forces who have laid down their arms and those placed hors
de combat by sickness, wounds, detention, or any other cause, shall
in all circumstances be treated humanely, without any adverse
distinction founded on race, colour, religion or faith, sex, birth
or wealth, or any other similar criteria.
To this end the following acts are and shall remain prohibited at
any time and in any place whatsoever with respect to the
above-mentioned persons:

(a) violence to life and person, in particular murder of all
kinds, mutilation, cruel treatment and torture;
(b) taking of hostages;
(c) outrages upon personal dignity, in particular, humiliating
and degrading treatment;
(d) the passing of sentences and the carrying out of executions
without previous judgment pronounced by a regularly
constituted court affording all the judicial guarantees which
are recognized as indispensable by civilized peoples.

My question is, do the commanding officers have to read this stuff, as part of their educations in order to earn their commission? At what military rank is the knowledge of the Geneva Convention necessary or mandated?

 

[loki09789]

From: GENEVA CONVENTION
RELATIVE TO THE TREATMENT OF PRISONERS OF WAR
OF AUGUST 12, 1949 (GENEVA CONVENTION III)


My question is, do the commanding officers have to read this stuff, as part of their educations in order to earn their commission? At what military rank is the knowledge of the Geneva Convention necessary or mandated?

The relevant parts are usually standard topics based on rank/mos/mission.

The big thing is that US military operations try as much as possible to uphold these standards even when engaged with countries that do not recognize the Geneva Convention.

Even to the point that we charge and sentence our troops if they violate the "Laws of Land warfare" UCMJ or operational guidelines.

The UCMJ and other guiding documents that the US military uses (that are in keeping with the Geneva Convention charters) are designed to promote a professional, moral military operation. There are times when the choice to be 'moral' actually puts American lives at more risk, but the idea is that the principles are very important. Violators are to be held accountable.