General Assembly Resolution # 18
The Prisoners of War Accord
A resolution to improve worldwide human and civil rights.
REALISING that conflict is ongoing & unavoidable
BELIEVING that personnel of an enemys armed forces captured during hostilities should be treated with respect and not be subject to human rights violations
DEFINES a "Prisoner of War", henceforth PoW, as a member of a belligerent armed force, excluding diplomats, found in uniform or where there is other good reason to believe he or she belongs to an opposing armed force, who has been apprehended by an opposing nation
DEFINES a "civilian internee" as a civilian national of a belligerent nation present and held in an opposing belligerent nation at the outbreak of hostilities against whom no reasonable suspicion of espionage, sabotage, subversion or other criminal charges exists. The right to intern or not such persons remains the privilege of the nation in question
DEFINES a "military internee" as a member of a belligerent armed force of either hostile powers found present and held in a neutral or non-belligerent nation. This excludes escaped PoWs who have made their way to non-belligerent nations
MANDATES that all PoWs and civilian and military internees, be they held in camps or otherwise, are to be supplied, free of charge, with the following, without unreasonable discrimination:
a) Shelter, fully nutritional food, washing facilities, water, & competent medical attention
b) Replacement uniforms and/or clothing. In the case of PoWs, such uniform is to reasonably resemble the uniform with relevant insignia he is entitled to in his own force, and bear no markings to distinguish the wearer as a PoW
c) Methods by which they may contact and be contacted by relatives & friends in their homeland, although the detaining nation may censor such correspondence if desired;
d) Protection against intimidation, humiliation, insults & physical attack
e) Other facilities as a nation may deemed necessary or desirable.
PROHIBITS PoWs, and civilian & military internees, from being subject to physical or mental interrogation, coercion, medical procedures not required to ensure such person's health, killed (including the killing of unapprehended hostile troops who have surrendered), and other such violations of human rights
a) Force may be used only in cases where the person in question is resisting apprehension, following reasonable warnings that such force is to be used. Detaining nation's forces are further permitted to search and remove any weapons and other contraband
b) PoWs may be questioned to establish their name, rank, number (be it regimental, unit, service or commissioning), and pertinent medical and religious information not of military importance. Such information is to be freely given by PoWs
c) Detaining nations are permitted to use PoWs as a labour force. Such labour cannot, however, be used in industries involved either directly or indirectly in the furthering of the detaining nation's war aims. Detaining nations may not use commissioned PoWs for manual labour. Internees are not to be used as a labour force without their consent
PERMITS nations to engage in repatriation of civilian internees, PoW exchanges, or conditional repatriation of either
a) Civilian and military internees may be left at liberty, military internees under the condition that they do not attempt to leave the country in which they are currently present
b) Escaped PoWs of any belligerent force who make their way to a non belligerent nation are to repatriated
Passed: |
For: | 5,561 | 69.0% |
Against: | 2,500 | 31.0% |