Chapter

Recueil

La protección de las víctimas de los conflictos armados : Los prisioneros de guerra

Claude Pilloud

Las dimensiones internacionales del derecho humanitario

[Paris] : UNESCO : UNESCO;Dordrecht [etc.] : M. Nijhoff, 1990

p. 172-189

Spanish

This article provides an overview of IHL provisions relating to the treatment of prisoners of war (POWs). The author outlines the development of rules pertaining to POWs and explores the basic protections afforded to POWs as well as the rules pertaining to POWs during each stage of their internment. The objective of captivity is not to punish POWs, but simply render them incapable of doing harm and re-engaging in hostilities. As provided for in Geneva III, a Detaining Power is required to treat POWs humanely by respecting their physical integrity as well as their dignity and mental well-being. At a minimum this requires that the Detaining Power refrain from physically harming POWs, and ensure POWs receive the necessities of life. Moreover, it also requires that the Detaining Power provide facilities and services to ensure a minimum level of comfort and well-being. Other key rules include: a prohibition on POWs voluntarily renouncing their status, or having their status revoked by their country of origin; rules facilitating the flow of information back to the families of POWs and their government regarding the POW’s status and health; and, ultimately, terms requiring the repatriation of POWs at the end of hostilities. [Summary by students at the University of Toronto, Faculty of Law (IHRP)]

• Las dimensiones internacionales del derecho humanitario / INSTITUT HENRY-DUNANT, UNESCO ; [pref. por Alexandre Hay]