Grave Breaches of the 1949 Geneva Conventions

<img src="http://www.eccc.gov.kh/sites/default/files/imagecache/node-gallery-disp…; alt="" align="none"><div><br></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">Grave breaches of Geneva Conventions is a category of crimes under international law and applied to cases before the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia.&nbsp;</p><p class="MsoNormal">The Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 (the Geneva Conventions) contain rules designed to protect certain categories of persons and property during an armed conflict. Civilians and prisoners of war are examples of persons protected under the Conventions. Grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions fall within one of the categories of crimes often described as “war crimes”.<br></p><p class="MsoNormal">In accordance with Article 6 of the ECCC Law, the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia can prosecute alleged grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions committed during the period from 17 April 1975 to 6 January 1979 under the regime of Democratic Kampuchea.<br></p><p class="MsoNormal">The following facts against persons or property protected under the Geneva Conventions may constitute grave breaches under the ECCC Law:<br></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><ul><li>wilful killing;&nbsp;<br></li><li>torture or inhumane treatment;&nbsp;<br></li><li>wilfully causing great suffering or serious injury to body or health;&nbsp;<br></li><li>destruction and serious damage to property, not justified by military necessity<br></li><li>and carried out unlawfully and wantonly;&nbsp;<br></li><li>compelling a prisoner of war or a civilian to serve in the forces of a hostile<br></li><li>power;&nbsp;<br></li><li>wilfully depriving a prisoner of war or civilian the rights of fair and regular<br></li><li>trial;&nbsp;<br></li><li>unlawful deportation or transfer or unlawful confinement of a civilian;&nbsp;<br></li><li>taking civilians as hostages.</li></ul></div>