Trench-digging by civilian detainees

Notion(s)	Filing	Case
Cruel treatment \| Trench-digging by civilian detainees	Appeal Judgement - 29.07.2004	BLAŠKIĆ Tihomir (IT-95-14-A)
593. The first issue for the Appeals Chamber to determine is whether international law criminalises the use of detainees to dig trenches of a military character per se because it necessarily constitutes cruel treatment. As regards the employment of civilians for such purposes, Article 51 of Geneva Convention IV, governing the treatment of civilians,[1] precludes the ‘Occupying Power’ from compelling ‘protected persons’ to serve in its armed or auxiliary forces.[2] The Occupying Power may in fact compel protected persons to work if they are over eighteen years of age, and subject to certain other conditions.[3] ‘Protected persons’ may not, however, be compelled to undertake any work which would involve them in the obligation to take part in military operations, and in no case shall the requisition of labour lead to a mobilization of workers “in an organisation of a military or semi-military character.”[4] 597. The Appeals Chamber has noted that the use of forced labour is not always unlawful.[5] Nevertheless, the treatment of non-combatant detainees may be considered cruel where, together with the other requisite elements, that treatment causes serious mental or physical suffering or injury or constitutes a serious attack on human dignity. The Appeals Chamber notes that Geneva Conventions III and IV require that when non-combatants are used for forced labour, their labour may not be connected with war operations[6] or have a military character or purpose.[7] The Appeals Chamber finds that the use of persons taking no active part in hostilities to prepare military fortifications for use in operations and against the forces with whom those persons identify or sympathise is a serious attack on human dignity and causes serious mental (and depending on the circumstances physical) suffering or injury. Any order to compel protected persons to dig trenches or to prepare other forms of military installations, in particular when such persons are ordered to do so against their own forces in an armed conflict, constitutes cruel treatment. The Appeals Chamber accordingly finds that a reasonable trier of fact could have come to the conclusion that the Appellant has violated the laws or customs of war under Article 3 of the Statute, and common Article 3(1)(a) of the Geneva Conventions, and is guilty under Count 16 for ordering the use of detainees to dig trenches. show footnotes [1] Found by the Trial Chamber to be applicable in this case; see Trial Judgement, paras. 133, 143, and 147. [2] Article 51 of Geneva Convention IV reads as follows: “The Occupying Power may not compel protected persons to serve in its armed or auxiliary forces. No pressure or propaganda which aims at securing voluntary enlistment is permitted. The Occupying Power may not compel protected persons to work unless they are over eighteen years of age, and then only on work which is necessary either for the needs of the army of occupation, or for the public utility services, or for the feeding, sheltering, clothing, transportation or health of the population of the occupied country. Protected persons may not be compelled to undertake any work which would involve them in the obligation of taking part in military operations. The Occupying Power may not compel protected persons to employ forcible means to ensure the security of the installations where they are performing compulsory labour. The work shall be carried out only in the occupied territory where the persons whose services have been requisitioned are. Every such person shall, so far as possible, be kept in his usual place of employment. Workers shall be paid a fair wage and the work shall be proportionate to their physical and intellectual capacities. The legislation in force in the occupied country concerning working conditions, and safeguards as regards, in particular, such matters as wages, hours of work, equipment, preliminary training and compensation for occupational accidents and diseases, shall be applicable to the protected persons assigned to the work referred to in this Article. In no case shall requisition of labour lead to a mobilization of workers in an organization of a military or semi-military character.” [3] Ibid. [4] Ibid. [5] Indeed, Article 49 of Geneva Convention III begins: “The Detaining Power may utilize the labour of prisoners of war”. Geneva Convention IV (Article 51) specifies what labour is prohibited – there is no blanket prohibition against the use of protected persons for labour. [6] Commentary to Geneva Convention III, [Commentary, III Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War (1949), International Committee of the Red Cross, Geneva, 1960] p. 266, and Article 51 of Geneva Convention IV. [7] Commentary to Geneva Convention III, p. 267. Commentary to Geneva Convention IV [Commentary, IV Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War (1949), International Committee of the Red Cross, Geneva, 1958], p. 294: “it is generally agreed that the inhabitants of the occupied territory cannot be requisitioned for such work as the construction of fortifications, trenches or aerial bases”. Download full document		Other instruments Geneva Convention III: Article 49. Geneva Convention IV: Article 3(1)(a), 51.