HUMANITARIAN LAW Principles common to the four Geneva Conventions and the two additional Protocols ● Humanitarian law applies in all situations of armed conflict ● Principles of humanity must be safeguarded in all situations ● Non-combatants and persons put out of action by injury, sickness, capture or any other cause must be respected and protected ● Persons suffering from the effects of war must be aided and cared for without discrimination ● Acts prohibited in all circumstances include: - murder torture corporal punishment mutilation outrages upon personal dignity hostage-taking collective punishment executions without regular trial cruel and degrading treatment OHCHR Police Trainer’s Guide Session 9 (Armed Conflict)/1 126