Civilian

A civilian is a person who is not a member of a military. Under the Fourth Geneva Convention it is a war crime to deliberately attack a non-combatant civilian or wantonly and unnecessarily destroy or take the property of a civilian.

Related Topics:
Military - Fourth Geneva Convention - War crime - Non-combatant - Property

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However, civilian property may be destroyed in pursuit of a military objective; civilian property may be seized for military use; and collateral damage is an accepted part of war.

Related Topics:
Military - Collateral damage - War

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In practice, the neat division between combatants and non-combatants implicit in such treaties can be very unclear, particularly in guerilla warfare where the guerillas receive the support of the local population. It is sometimes argued that the division between civilian and military and the abhorrence towards attacks on civilians is a reflection of Western attitudes to war, and that other societies do not make such distinctions but find other aspects of Western-style warfare abhorrent (such as strategic bombing).

Related Topics:
Guerilla warfare - Western - Strategic bombing

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The possible cultural perception notwithstanding, 188 states are party to the applicable Geneva Convention (as at 31 December 1996) including such non-Western countries that have been in conflict since the 12 August 1949 date of the Convention as Afghanistan, Cambodia, China, Congo, India, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, both Koreas, Kuwait, Laos, Rwanda, Syria and Vietnam. http://www.icrc.org/Web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/iwpList160/D89499AA0F2E88C0C1256B66005A784B

Related Topics:
State - 31 December - 1996 - 12 August - 1949 - Afghanistan - Cambodia - China - Congo - India - Iran - Iraq - Jordan - Korea - Kuwait - Laos - Rwanda - Syria - Vietnam

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See also: Laws of war, Law of land warfare, combatant. illegal combatant.

Related Topics:
Laws of war - Law of land warfare - Combatant - Illegal combatant

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