Emberlon
11-12-2003, 05:00
What is the UN's policy on treatment of prisoners during interrogation?
Well, from the Universal Bill of Human Rights...
Article 5 -- All human beings must not be subjected to torture or to cruel or inhuman treatment or punishment.
...and the Wolfish Convention on POW...
Wolfish Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War
Article 1 The High Contracting Parties undertake to respect and to ensure respect for the present Convention in all circumstances.
Article 2 The present Convention shall apply to all cases of declared war or of any other armed conflict, even if the state of war is not recognized by one of them. The Convention shall also apply to all cases of occupation, even if the occupation meets with no armed resistance. The present Convention shall apply to the prisoners from the time they fall into the power of the enemy and until their final release and repatriation.
Article 3 The provisions of the present Convention constitute no obstacle to the humanitarian activities which impartial humanitarian organization may undertake for the protection of prisoners of war and for their relief.
Article 4 Prisoners of war are in the hands of the enemy Power, but not of the individuals or military units who have captured them. Irrespective of the individual responsibilities that may exist, the Detaining Power is responsible for the treatment given them.
Article 5 Prisoners of war must at all times be humanely treated. In particular, no prisoner of war may be subjected to physical mutilation or to medical or scientific experiments of any kind which are not justified by the medical, dental or hospital treatment of the prisoner concerned and carried out in his interest. Likewise, prisoners of war must at all times be protected, particularly against acts of violence or intimidation and against insults and public curiosity. Measures of reprisal against prisoners of war are prohibited.
Article 6 The Power detaining prisoners of war shall be bound to provide free of charge for their maintenance and for the medical attention required by their state of health.
Article 7 Taking into consideration the provisions of the present Convention relating to rank and sex, and subject to any privileged treatment which may be accorded to them by reason of their state of health, age or professional qualifications, all prisoners of war shall be treated alike by the Detaining Power, without any adverse distinction based on race, nationality, religious belief or political opinions, or any other distinction founded on similar criteria.
Article 8 Every prisoner of war, when questioned on the subject, is bound to give only his surname, first names and rank, date of birth, and army, regimental, personal or serial number, or failing this, equivalent information. No physical or mental torture, nor any other form of coercion, may be inflicted on prisoners of war to secure from them information of any kind whatever. The questioning of prisoners of war shall be carried out in a language which they understand.
Article 9 Prisoners of war shall be evacuated, as soon as possible after their capture, to camps situated in an area far enough from the combat zone for them to be out of danger. Prisoners of war shall not be unnecessarily exposed to danger while awaiting evacuation from a fighting zone.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, having deposited their respective full powers, have signed the present Convention.
And, of course, the current proposal at vote, but that's not official just yet.