Editing Non-combatant (section)

=== Hague Conventions ===
The [[Hague Conventions of 1899 and 1907]] were one of the first multi-country [[Treaty|treaties]] to agree on rights for non-combatants. These meetings occurred in 1899 and 1907. Three treaties were signed and put into effect in 1899, including the treatment of [[prisoner of war|prisoners of war]] and the protection of [[hospital ship]]s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.loc.gov/rr/frd/Military_Law/pdf/Hague-Peace-Conference_1899.pdf|title=Hague Peace Conference 1899|publisher=Oxford University Press|access-date=30 April 2019}}</ref> In 1907 thirteen additional treaties were signed. These cover regulations concerning the war on land, the [[declaration of war]], the rights and responsibilities of [[neutral country|neutral countries]], and rights and restrictions during [[Naval warfare|naval war]].<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|url=http://avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/hague04.asp|title=The Avalon Project - Laws of War : Laws and Customs of War on Land (Hague IV); October 18, 1907|website=avalon.law.yale.edu|access-date=2019-04-30}}</ref>

Treaty II, Article 3 of the 1899 Convention maintains that surrendering [[belligerent]] fighters are to be treated as prisoners of war unless they are out of proper uniforms (i.e. [[espionage|spies]]). Article 13 of the same section declares that any other non-combatant or civilian affiliated with but not part of the belligerent military, such as reporters and contractors, have the same right to be treated as a prisoner of war.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":6">{{Cite web|url=http://avalon.law.yale.edu/19th_century/hague02.asp|title=The Avalon Project - Laws of War : Laws and Customs of War on Land (Hague II); July 29, 1899|work=avalon.law.yale.edu|access-date=2019-05-03}}</ref>

Article 25 of Treaty II states that undefended communities are protected from any form of attack. In addition to the above, Article 27 states that if any sieges do occur, places devoted to religion, charity or hospitals should be avoided if possible, as long as they have no strategic affiliations.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":6" />

Article 28 states that even when a village is captured through war, pillaging is not allowed by any party. That is repeated in Article 47, Section III. The articles above were reaffirmed by Convention IV of the 1907 Convention.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":6" />

Many nations signed, including delegates from the [[United Kingdom]], [[United States|the United States]], [[Russia]], and [[Japan]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.loc.gov/law/help/us-treaties/bevans/m-ust000001-0631.pdf|title=Laws and Customs of War on Land}}</ref> Despite many nations signing at the Hague Conventions of 1899 and 1907, a number of the agreements were broken during [[World War I]], including sections from Treaty IV involving poisons and the attacking of undefended towns and villages.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://codoh.com/library/document/2806/|title=Codoh.com {{!}} Killing Noncombatants|website=codoh.com|access-date=2019-04-30}}</ref>

While some [[Geneva Conventions]] occurred before the Hague Conventions, none touched on the rights of [[Protected persons|protected]] non-combatants in the heat of [[combat]]. The Geneva Conventions recognize and expand on many of the treaties signed at the Hague Conventions, particularly those involving the treatment of non-combatants.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ihl-databases.icrc.org/applic/ihl/ihl.nsf/Treaty.xsp?documentId=AE2D398352C5B028C12563CD002D6B5C&action=openDocument|title=Treaties, States parties, and Commentaries - Geneva Convention (IV) on Civilians, 1949|website=ihl-databases.icrc.org|access-date=2019-04-30}}</ref> As a result, the regulations are still in effect today.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ihl-databases.icrc.org/ihl/INTRO/195|title=Treaties, States parties, and Commentaries - Hague Convention (IV) on War on Land and its Annexed Regulations, 1907|website=ihl-databases.icrc.org|access-date=2019-04-30}}</ref>