Applicability of human rights and humanitarian law Situation Applicable law International armed conflict Including wars between States and against colonial domination, alien occupation, racist regimes, in exercise of right to self-determination Four Geneva Conventions of 1949: (1) Wounded and sick in the field (2) Shipwrecked (3) Prisoners of war (4) Civilian persons Additional Protocol I Other human rights provisions according to the local situation, as described below, and with no violation of non-derogable rights Non-international armed conflict Common article 3 of the Geneva Conventions (applies to government and opposition forces) Additional Protocol II Other human rights provisions, with no violation of non-derogable rights (see below) Internal tensions: Disturbances; riots; isolated and sporadic acts of violence: public emergency which threatens the life of the nation, where measures normally compatible with constitution and laws in force are plainly inadequate to address the situation: State of emergency declared All human rights, with the following exceptions: Derogations from certain rights may be permissible to the extent strictly required by the exigencies of the situation and only if not inconsistent with other requirements under international law. Such measures must not discriminate solely on the basis of race, colour, sex, language, religion or social origin. No derogation is permissible with regard to the right to life; the prohibition of torture; slavery; or imprisonment for failure to fulfil a contractual obligation Internal tensions: Disturbances; riots; isolated and sporadic acts of violence; No state of emergency declared All human rights without exception, subject only to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society Normal situations All human rights without exception, subject only to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society OHCHR Police Trainer’s Guide Session 9 (Armed Conflict)/hand-out 131