General Assembly

The General Assembly,

RECOGNIZING that armed conflict causes immense and unnecessary suffering among civilians;

AFFIRMING that humane conduct in warfare and the protection of civilians are vital principles of international law;

ACKNOWLEDGING that serious violations of moral and humanitarian norms during armed conflict should be recognized as war crimes;

SEEKING to establish standards for the protection of civilians, protected persons, medical operations, and evidence relating to such crimes;

Hereby establishes the following standards regarding war crimes and the conduct of warfare:

1. Defines “civilian” as any individual who is not a member of armed forces or otherwise directly participating in hostilities;

2. Civilians are not legitimate military targets unless directly participating in hostilities, and combatants must distinguish between civilians and military objectives while taking reasonable precautions to minimize civilian harm when engaging lawful military targets;

3. Actions intended to terrorize civilian populations are prohibited, including attacks, threats, demonstrations of violence, or military operations intended to spread fear, intimidation, or severe physical harm among civilians;

4. Defines “civilian infrastructure” as facilities primarily supporting civilian life, including housing, humanitarian shelters, medical facilities, water, electrical, food, and sanitation systems;

5. Targeting civilian infrastructure is prohibited unless it directly and substantially contributes to military operations and its destruction, capture, or neutralization would provide a definite military advantage;

6. Medical facilities retain special protection unless used for hostile military-related purposes beyond their humanitarian function;

7. The deliberate use of civilians, the wounded and sick, or protected civilian infrastructure to shield military objectives from attack is prohibited, including placing military forces or material among them for that purpose;

8. The starvation of civilian populations as a method of warfare is prohibited, including deliberate deprivation or destruction of resources vital for civilian survival and wellbeing;

9. Individuals captured or detained during armed conflict must be treated humanely, including:

   1. protection from torture, cruel treatment, or degrading treatment;

   2. access to food, water, shelter, and medical care sufficient to preserve basic health and survival, to the greatest extent reasonably practicable and without adverse distinction;

   3. protection from execution or punishment solely on the basis of nationality, civilian status, or lawful service in an opposing armed force, except following lawful judicial process and conviction for a specific criminal offense;

   4. protection from being taken or held as hostages;
      

10. Military officials, civilian authorities, or other persons exercising effective authority over combatants or military operations shall be held responsible for war crimes committed by subordinates where they knew, or reasonably should have known, that such crimes were being committed or likely to be committed, and failed to take reasonable measures within their authority to prevent, stop, report, or punish such acts;

11. The wounded and sick, meaning individuals rendered incapable of fighting by wounds or sickness, whether military or civilian, must not be attacked, denied protection, or deprived of adequate medical care except by legitimate medical priority;

12. Medical personnel, medical transport, and exclusively humanitarian medical operations must not be targeted or obstructed unless used beyond their humanitarian function for hostile military-related purposes;

13. Member states shall take reasonable and feasible measures to preserve evidence in their possession or control relating to credible allegations of war crimes, including documentation of civilian harm, preservation of relevant battlefield evidence, and cooperation with investigations;

14. Establishes the World Assembly War Crimes Documentation Commission, tasked with collecting and maintaining records of alleged war crimes reported by member states, assisting with documentation and evidence preservation, and publishing periodic reports summarizing international news and trends relating to violations of this Convention.