thshumanrightschile08

Country: Chile Topic: Rights of POW's Commitee: Human Rights Name: Matthew Tran Period: 3

__**I.** **BACKGROUND OF THE TOPIC:**__

POW's (a.k.a. prisoners of war) are people(soldiers, civilians ect.) that have been captured by the enemy. Prisoners of war have dated back all the way to ancient times and still used in modern times. While a person may be taken into custody by the enemy, the person may not receive the prisoner of war status for the person must qualify to be one. The qualifications are “a combatant must have conducted military operations according to the laws and customs of war, be part of a chain of command, wear a "fixed distinctive marking, visible from a distance" and bear arms openly.” If one does not qualify to be given the prisoner of war status then the person may experience decapitation, torture, shooting squad, electrocution, drowning, water torture, hanging, starvation, beatings, forced labor, death marches, imprisonment ect. The person’s life is in the hands of the country because the country decides what to do with the people who don’t qualify to be a prisoner of war. However those who are qualified to be a prisoner cannot be subject to punishment.

__**II.** **UN INVOLVEMENT:**__

The UN debate about the rights of prisoners of war started in 1906 which was the first Geneva Convention. The Geneva Conventions were held to place the principles for international law for humanitarian concerns. The Geneva Conventions have stated the duties of captives and their rights. It has also confirmed detaining power’s obligation to prisoners of war. However, some countries such Japan ignored the articles made by the First Geneva Convention. After World War II, the UN decided to have the Second Geneva Convention in the expectation of unprincipled conduct against prisoners of war.

__**III.** **COUNTY** **POLICY** **AND INVOLVEMENT:**__

Chile has signed the 3rd Geneva Convention in 1929. However, Chile has clearly violated the 3rd Geneva Convention’s rules. Some examples are: “**Both men and women are** ** given electric shocks in the ** **genitals. This** **happens on a metal bed to which the** **naked victim is bound with his/her arms and legs** **spread apart. This torture is called "roasting".**” And “**Iron objects are inserted into the victim's anus**” and “**Women** ** detainees are forced to have sexual intercourse ** **with dogs.** ” Although Chile signed the 3rd Geneva Convention, Pinochet, the Supreme Chief of Chile, subjects all prisoners to this punishment.


 * __IV.__ ** __**SOLUTIONS:**__

As the representative of the country of Chile, Chile thinks that the human rights of prisoners of war should be aggressive and brutal as Chile's policy stands. Torture, however people may think of it, has its advantages. One of them is information. Torture will most of the time get information out of the prisoners. Another is to set an example for others so that they may know what will happen if the prisoners disobey. Another one of its advantages is control. The prison will gain total domination of over the prisoners so that they will obey. Another is pleasure. One person, to many he is inhumane and cruel, but the one person who is torturing will have pleasure doing so. One can enjoy the electrocution or the witnessing torture called "roasting". The person or persons may enjoy watching or doing public torture. To spread the pros of cruel behavior to POWs, the country of Chile would like to hold the 1st Santiago Convention. This convention will spread the advantages of torture and why the use torture is absolutely needed. It will outline the rights of prisoners of war. The rights of prisoners of war will be cruel and aggressive. __**V.** **BIBLIOGRAPHY:**__

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/POWs

http://docs.google.com/View?docid=dfwfvj8r_74t2hfg9dp

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combatants

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geneva_Conventions

http://www.rrojasdatabank.org/crime2.htm http://209.85.173.104/search?q=cache:NpKwQiQkEcgJ:www.historyonthenet.com/WW2/geneva_convention.htm+prisoners+of+war+rights+in+chile%2Bthird+geniva+convention&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us&client=firefox-a