| Article
3, the text of which is repeated in all four Geneva Conventions, is
the only part of the conventions that applies explicitly to internal
armed conflicts. It has been called a "treaty in miniature,"
and sets forth the minimum protections and standards of conduct to
which the State and its armed opponents must adhere. The protections
it spells out are at the core of international humanitarian law. Additional
Protocol II of 1977 also covers internal armed conflicts, but it is
less widely accepted among States than the 1949 Conventions.
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.
2. The wounded and sick shall be collected and cared for.
An impartial humanitarian body, such as the International Committee
of the Red Cross, may offer its services to the Parties to the conflict.
The Parties to the conflict should further endeavour to bring into
force, by means of special agreements, all or part of the other
provisions of the present Convention.
The application of the preceding provisions shall not affect the
legal status of the Parties to the conflict.
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