Answer to Question #100419 in History for Poindexter

Question

What did the work of Lieber in the U.S. and Dunant in Europe culminate in? What are the major rules in these documents and are they still applicable today?Explain how the War on Terror has undermined the Geneva Convention and the Torture Convention.

Answer 1

The work of Lieber in the U.S. and Dunant in Europe culminated to peace by creation of laws which limits war. Major rules which are contained in the document are:Persons hors de combat and those who do not take a direct part in hostilities are entitled to respect for their

lives and their moral and physical integrity. They shall in all circumstances be protected and treated humanely without any adverse distinction. It is forbidden to kill or injure an enemy who surrenders or who is hors de combat .The wounded and sick shall be collected and cared for by the party to the conflict which has them in its power.

Protection also covers medical personnel, establishments, transports and equipment. The emblem of the red

cross or the red crescent is the sign of such protection and must be respected. Captured combatants and civilians under the authority of an adverse party are entitled to respect for their lives,dignity, personal rights and convictions. They shall be protected against all acts of violence and reprisals. They shall have the right to correspond with their families and to receive relief.Everyone shall be entitled to benefit from fundamental judicial guarantees. No one shall be held responsible for an act he has not committed. No one shall be subjected to physical or mental torture, corporal punishment or cruel or degrading treatment.Parties to a conflict and members of their armed forces do not have an unlimited choice of methods and means of warfare. It is prohibited to employ weapons or methods of warfare of a nature to cause unnecessary losses or excessive suffering.These rules are applicable to date. Geneva Conventions provide explicit protections to all persons captured in an international armed conflict.