POW Handling (p.190-193)
Rights as a Prisoner of War
- Third Geneva Convention provides special protections for you, if you become a POW
- Your ID card is your Geneva Convention card
- In combat? Don’t remove computer chip from CAC (Common Access Card/Military ID) ID
o Printed info is in electronic info
- The Convention States:
o You may be disarmed, searched & guarded, but must be humanely treated w/o distinction based on race, color, gender, religious belief, etc.
o You must not be humiliated or degraded
o You must be protected against all acts of violence, insults, public curiosity, & reprisals
o You must be treated alike
Privileges for poor health, advanced age, military rank, professional qualifications medical personnel & chaplains (not POWs, let them tend to other POWs)
Female POWs must be provided special care required by their gender
o Promptly, safely & humanely evacuated from battle area
o Questioned? Name, age, rank, & service #. Don’t need other info. May be questioned, not harmed, tortured, threatened
o ASAP, but NLT 1 wk after reaching POW camp, you must be allowed to send “Capture Card”
Geneva Convention postcard informs next-of-kin whereabouts & state of health
Doesn’t violate Code of Conduct
o POWs (except officers) may be forced to do work
Never military work or dangerous, unhealthy, or degrading work
Paid for work
Officers may volunteer & NCOs can only be required to perform supervisory work
- Complaints
o Geneva Convention text posted in camp in language that everyone understands
o Right to complain to Protecting Power (neutral State responsible for safeguarding your interests) or to International Committee of the Red Cross
- Discipline
o Salute high ranking enemy officers & camp commander, regardless of rank
o Uniform Code of Military Justice applies
o Obey senior US POW regardless of service
o Subject to the laws of the Detaining Power (enemy) for offenses during/before captivity BUT not for having fought against enemy BEFORE capture
Tried by Detaining Power? Must be given notice of charges, provided counsel/interpreter, allowed to call witnesses in your defense
Convicted? Retain your rights as a POW
- Medical personnel and chaplains
o Non-combatants & have status rights
o Card identifies them along with wearing a Geneva Convention armband
- The Code of Conduct
ONE PAGE SUMMARY