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Who qualifies as a prisoner of war? For the most part, POWs are members of the armed forces who have fallen into enemy hands. For a comprehensive list of who is entitled to POW status and treatment, click here. POW status is only legally recognized for international armed conflicts—conflicts fought between States.
The Geneva Convention on Prisoners of War was signed at Geneva, July 27, 1929. [1] [2] Its official name is the Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War. It entered into force 19 June 1931. [3] It is this version of the Geneva Conventions which covered the treatment of prisoners of war during World War II.
Question: Which are the rights and duties of prisoners of war? Prisoners of war (POWs) are combatants in an international armed conflict who have fallen into the hands of the enemy.
The Third Geneva Convention protects prisoners of war. It defines their rights and sets out detailed rules for their treatment and release. International humanitarian law also protects other people deprived of their liberty in connection with armed conflict.
A prisoner of war (POW) is a person who is held captive by a belligerent power during or immediately after an armed conflict. The earliest recorded usage of the phrase "prisoner of war" dates back to 1610. [a]
Prisoners of war must at all times be humanely treated. Any unlawful act or omission by the Detaining Power causing death or seriously endangering the health of a prisoner of war in its custody is prohibited, and will be regarded as a serious breach of the present Convention.
The third Geneva Convention provides a wide range of protection for prisoners of war. It defines their rights and sets down detailed rules for their treatment and eventual release. International humanitarian law (IHL) also protects other persons deprived of liberty as a result of armed conflict.
