Tekstboks: Laws of armed conflict

Tekstboks: OSMTH - The Grand Priory of The Kingdom of Norway

Tekstboks: Ordo Supremus Militaris Templi Hierosolymitani The Sovereign Military Order of the Temple of Jerusalem

Tekstboks: The laws of armed conflict, also called International humanitarian law, is a special branch of law governing situations of armed conflict, war. The starting point of any discussion must be that the UN charter prohibits war. The UN charter does not, however, impair the right of a state to resort to force in the exercise of its right to self-defence.  The same applies for a third state that comes to the aid of a state being attacked. The UN may also order military action to restore peace. The laws of armed conflict, the Geneva Convention, does not however in itself prohibit war. It relates those matters to the UN charter. The laws of armed conflict are applicable whenever an armed conflict actually breaks out, no matter for what reason. The laws of armed conflict work in two ways. Firstly in that they limit the choice of means and methods of conducting military operations, and secondly in that they are obliged to spare people who do not, or no longer, participate in hostile action. One important issue is the difference between “Combatants” and “Non-Combatants”. The Combatants are a legitimate military target. It is forbidden to use force against Non-Combatants. Combatants are: · Soldiers. · Members of an armed and organised resistance movement, if they carry a recognition mark and carry their weapon, visible during battle. Non-Combatants are: · Civilians. · Wounded or sick soldiers, who no longer participate in the hostilities. · Military medical personnel. · Chaplains or priests, regardless of religion. All weapons that inflict unnecessary suffering or superfluous injury are banned by the laws of armed conflict. The laws of armed conflict also forbid indiscriminate attacks. That is, arms or ammunition that can not be accurately directed against military targets. The soldiers, NCOs or junior officers do not necessarily need to have detailed knowledge of conventions and treaties. The knowledge of a few simple applied rules, combined with common sense, is sufficient. The Swedish Armed Forces have, over a number of years, taught their military personnel the “Soldier's rules”: 1. Only engage enemy combatants and targets of military value. 2. Do not cause more suffering or bigger harm than necessary to resolve Your mission. 3. Do not fire upon an enemy who is wounded or sick. 4. Disarm prisoners and hand them over to Your Commanding Officer. 5. Treat wounded, sick, and disabled, alike, regardless of whether they are our forces, enemy forces or civilians. 6. Respect and protect the civilian population. Avoid, if possible, harm to civilian property. All looting is forbidden. 7. Respect personnel with special recognisable signs, such as the Red Cross or Red Crescent. 8. Act to stop any violations of these rules. Report it to Your Commanding Officer.   Links: Geneva conventions on ICRCs homepage   Books: International humanitarian law, an introduction. By Hans Haug, Henry Dunant Institute, ICRC, Geneva Folkrätt för totalförsvaret, en handbook. By Ove Bring/Anna Körlof. Försvarshögskolan/Norstedss juridik, Stockholm Krigets lagar, By försvarsdepartementet/Fritzes, Stockholm How does law protect in war? By Marco Sassòli and Antoine A Bouvier, ICRC, Geneva Svensk Soldat, Försvarsmakten        

Tekstboks: An NGO in Special Consultative Status with the United Nations