Prisoners of War in Contemporary Conflict

The International Committee of the Red Cross released its Commentary on the 1949 Geneva Convention Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War (POWs) in 2021, updating the 1960 Pictet Commentary. This book is a collection of capital selecta identified by the contributors as meriting further examination, focusing on qualification for POW status, treatment to which POWs are entitled, and the historical relevance of the international law governing POWs. The aim of the law is to mitigate the rigours of war and alleviate the condition of prisoners of war.

Format: Hardback
Length: 464 pages
Publication date: 27 April 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

In 2021, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) released its Commentary on the 1949 Geneva Convention Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War (POWs). This important document marked a significant update to the 1960 Pictet Commentary, drawing attention back to the designation and treatment of prisoners during armed conflicts. To further explore this topic, the Lieber Institute for Law and Warfare at West Point initiated a project, resulting in the publication of this book. Regrettably, the events of our time have made this examination especially pertinent. Unlike the ICRC's updated Commentary, this book does not aim to provide a comprehensive treatment of the international law relating to POWs. Instead, it serves as a collection of selected capital selecta identified by the contributors as deserving further examination. These capital selecta are unsettled, inadequately addressed in the literature, or operationally problematic. The work is organized into three parts. Part I delves into the criteria for qualifying as a POW, while Part II examines the rights and treatment accorded to POWs. Part III concludes with a consideration of the historical relevance and perspectives on the international law governing POWs. As the drafters of the Third Geneva Convention emphasized over seventy years ago, the primary objective of the law is to mitigate the inevitable hardships of war and alleviate the conditions of prisoners of war. It is through this lens that scholars and practitioners should approach the rules governing POWs and this book. By studying and understanding these principles, we can strive to improve the treatment and well-being of individuals who find themselves in the custody of opposing forces during armed conflicts.

Weight: 812g
Dimension: 164 x 244 x 39 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780197663288