Prisoners of War

This theme examines the treatment and protection of prisoners of war under the Third Geneva Convention, focusing on legal interpretations, safeguarding dignity, and ensuring compliance with international humanitarian law in contemporary armed conflicts.

The transmission of information by the ICRC’s Central Tracing Agency in international armed conflicts

February 29, 2024 11 mins read Access / Analysis / Communications / Detention / Social Protection / Special Themes / The Geneva Conventions at 75 Natalie Klein-Kelly, Karen Loehner & Jelena Milosevic Lepotic

Two years ago, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Central Tracing Agency activated ...

Foghorns of war: IHL and information operations during armed conflict

October 12, 2023 11 mins read Analysis / Communications / Humanitarian Action / IHL / Technology in Humanitarian Action Tilman Rodenhäuser & Samit D’Cunha

“In war, truth is the first casualty” is perhaps one of the best known aphorisms ...

A safety net for prisoners of war: five key principles of the Third Geneva Convention

April 27, 2023 11 mins read Detention / GCIII Commentary / Humanitarian Action / Law and Conflict Yvette Issar

After the Second World War, countries came together to improve the legal protection available to ...

The status and protection of third-country nationals in international armed conflict

October 6, 2022 8 mins read Analysis / Humanitarian Action / Law and Conflict Ramin Mahnad

In international armed conflict, citizens of non-belligerent States can (and do) find their way onto the battlefield. Whether they arrive as volunteers, security ...

Prisoners of war in contemporary armed conflict: Interpreting the Third Geneva Convention 70+ years after its negotiation

August 11, 2022 18 mins read GCIII Commentary / Law and Conflict Ellen Policinski

Too often the term “prisoner of war” (PoW) conjures up black-and-white images of soldiers detained in the Second World War. Recent events have ...

On trial: the Third Geneva Convention and judicial guarantees for prisoners of war

June 23, 2022 13 mins read Analysis / GCIII Commentary / Generating Respect for IHL / Law and Conflict Yvette Issar

The first prisoners of war (POWs) in the international armed conflict in Ukraine have been ...

In the hands of belligerents: status and protection under the Geneva Conventions

May 19, 2022 10 mins read Analysis / Detention / GCIII Commentary / Humanitarian Action / Law and Conflict Ramin Mahnad

When international armed conflict breaks out and people find themselves in the power of belligerent ...

Armed conflict in Ukraine: a recap of basic IHL rules

March 17, 2022 11 mins read Generating Respect for IHL / Humanitarian Action / Humanitarian Principles / Law and Conflict Cordula Droege

For the past two weeks, the world has watched a humanitarian crisis unfold across Ukraine. ...

Sexual violence in armed conflict: the historical limits of humanitarian action and the ICRC in the 20th Century

December 2, 2021 13 mins read Analysis / Gender / Gender and conflict / History / Humanitarian Action / Sexual Violence Daniel Palmieri

Despite clear legal prohibitions, sexual violence remains widespread and prevalent during armed conflicts and other ...

GCIII Commentary: Common Article 1 and State responsibility

January 28, 2021 12 mins read Counterterrorism / Religion Lawrence Hill-Cawthorne

The extent to which States have legal responsibilities under international humanitarian law in relation to the conduct of others has long been contested. ...

GCIII Commentary: an Islamic perspective on the treatment of prisoners of war

January 26, 2021 7 mins read Analysis / GCIII Commentary / History / Islamic Law / Law and Conflict / Religion Ahmed Al-Dawoody

While ratification of the Geneva Conventions is a relatively recent phenomenon, warfare has always been ...

GCIII Commentary: a Buddhist perspective on the treatment of prisoners of war

January 19, 2021 7 mins read Analysis / Conduct of Hostilities / GCIII Commentary / Generating Respect for IHL / History / Humanitarian Action / Humanitarian Principles / Law and Conflict / Religion Asanga Tilakaratne, Peter Harvey, Sunil Kariyakarawana & Andrew Bartles-Smith

While ratification of the Geneva Conventions is a relatively recent phenomenon, warfare has always been ...