prisonerofwar

Prisoner of war (POW) is a person who has fallen into the hands of the enemy during an armed conflict and is afforded specific protections under international humanitarian law. POWs typically include members of the armed forces of a belligerent party, as well as members of militias or volunteer corps that are considered part of the armed forces, or other organized combatant groups that act under responsible command. Civilians who are captured during armed conflict are generally protected under separate provisions and do not acquire POW status.

The principal legal framework is the Third Geneva Convention of 1949, which governs the treatment of POWs, supplemented by Additional Protocols for broader types of conflicts. Under the convention, POW status applies to qualifying combatants who have fallen into enemy hands; civilians and other noncombatants are protected by the Fourth Geneva Convention. The conventions require humane treatment in all circumstances and prohibit torture, coercion, or acts of violence against POWs.

POWs must be provided with adequate food, shelter, clothing, medical care, and hygiene, and must be allowed to observe their religious practices and to communicate with relatives. Interrogation may occur but must avoid coercion and be limited to identifying information and safeguarding health and safety. POWs may be employed in labor only under conditions that do not threaten their health, dignity, or the war effort, and they must be paid fairly.

At the conclusion of hostilities, POWs must be released and repatriated as soon as practicable, though exchanges or administrative delays can occur under specific arrangements between parties. The status of POWs is distinct from that of civilian detainees, who rely on protections under the Fourth Geneva Convention.