Tsiviilisikuid

Tsiviilisikuid is the Estonian term used for civilians or civilian persons. In international humanitarian law, civilians are individuals who are not members of armed forces or organized armed groups and who do not take a direct part in hostilities. They include residents of conflict areas across ages and backgrounds, such as women, children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. Civilian status is distinct from that of combatants and is linked to protection from violence and coercion during armed conflicts.

The primary legal framework is the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their Additional Protocols. Common Article 3 provides minimum humane treatment for all persons not taking part in hostilities; the Fourth Geneva Convention extends protections to civilians in occupied territories. Additional Protocol I reaffirms the duties to distinguish between military objectives and civilian objects, and to apply proportionality and precautions in attacks. Direct participation in hostilities can temporarily remove civilian protection for the duration of such participation.

Protections for tsiviilisikud include prohibitions on intentional attacks against civilians and civilian objects, hostage-taking, and starvation as a method of warfare; there is also an obligation to provide or facilitate humanitarian aid and to allow relief access. Occupying powers have duties to ensure basic needs and services for the civilian population, while parties to a conflict should take feasible precautions to minimize civilian harm.

In national contexts, tsiviilisikud are protected under human rights law and domestic statutes, in addition to international obligations. Note: in Estonian, the nominative plural is tsiviilisikud; tsiviilisikuid is the genitive plural.