GENEVA CONVENTION PROVISIONS

A summary of some terms of the 1949 Geneva Conventions covering the protection of prisoners of war and the wounded: * Prisoners of war must at all times be humanely treated. Any unlawful act or omission by the detaining power causing death or seriously endangering the health of a prisoner of war in its custody is prohibited, and will be regarded as a serious breach of the convention. Prisoners of war must at all times be protected particularly against acts of violence or intimidation and against insults and public curiosity.

* Members of the armed forces and others who are wounded or sick will be treated humanely and cared for by the party to the conflict in whose power they may be, without any adverse distinction founded on sex, race, nationality, religion, political opinions, or any other similar criteria. Any attempts on their lives, or violence to their persons, shall be strictly prohibited.

* Women shall be especially protected against any attack on their honor, in particular against rape, enforced prostitution, or any form of indecent assault.

* Army or civilian hospitals and mobile medical units may in no circumstances be attacked, but shall at all times be respected and protected.

In 1977, a diplomatic conference adopted an additional protocol to the convention that deals in part with the protection of civilian populations during international conflicts. This, however, has not been ratified by many signatories, including Iraq, the United States, Britain and France. Italy and Saudi Arabia ratified it with unspecified reservations. Kuwait did so without reservations.