LOAC and Code of Conduct Flashcards
What is the Law of Armed Conflict?
The law governing the conduct when engaged in armed conflict?
Jus ad bellum
Initiating armed conflict
Jus in bello
Engaging in armed conflict
Sources of LOAC
Hague Conventions on the Laws and Customs of War on Land; Geneva Conventions; Chemical Weapons Convention
Geneva Conventions protecting persons
Sick and wounded in the field; shipwrecked; prisoners of war; civilians
Hague Convention forbidden means of injuring the enemy
- Employ poisonous weapons 2. Kill or wound an enemy who has surrendered 3. Employ arms, projectiles, or materials to cause unnecessary suffering 4. To make improper use of distinctive symbols 5. To compel service members to fight against their own country
LOAC Four Basic Principles
- Military necessity 2. Prohibit unnecessary suffering 3. Proportionality 4. Discrimination
What is military necessity?
Necessary force and target to complete a legitimate objective
What does it mean to prohibit unnecessary suffering?
Minimize injury, destruction of property, and collateral damage
What is proportionality?
Force cannot be excessive to the achieved military objective
What is discrimination?
Separate combatants form noncombatant
What are the three types of individuals in an operational environment?
Combatants, Noncombatants, and Civilians
Unlawful Targets
Protected property and Noncombatants
Types of Protected Property
Civilian property, cultural property, medical property
Types on noncombatants
Chaplains, civilians, journalists, medical personnel, parachutists, prisoners of war, wounded and sick
Protected Medical Transports and Facilities
Ambulances, hospitals, hospital ships, MEDEVAC helicopters, medical aircraft
Perfidy and Treachery
Injuring an enemy as a result of their adherence to LOAC
Violations of the Hague Convention
Misuse cultural property; misuse enemy uniforms, flags, national emblems or insignia; misuse Flag of Truce; misuse of the Red Cross; pretending to be a civilian, pretending to surrender, pretending to be a UN Peacekeeper, pretending to be wounded
Prisoner of War Rights
Receive food, shelter, adequate clothing to stay in good health, medical care; send and receive mail; keep personal property, retain military ID card; provide copy of Geneva Conventions in their native language; right to complain to camp commander about camp conditions; practice their religion; due process if tried for any offenses
Prisoner of War Obligations
Inform captors of their name, rank, service number, and DOB; obey all lawful rules; perform labor consistent with one’s rank, but should not support the war effort
