Book contents
- Animals in the International Law of Armed Conflict
- Animals in the International Law of Armed Conflict
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Contributors
- Forewords
- Acknowledgements
- Abbreviations
- Part I The Need for Protecting Animals in Wartime
- Part II The Protection of Animals in International and Non-international Armed Conflicts
- 5 Animals as Property and as Objects
- 6 Animals as Specially Protected Objects
- 7 Animals as Part of the Environment
- 8 Animals as Endangered Species
- 9 Animals as War Weapons
- 10 Animals as Combatants and as Prisoners of War?
- 11 Animals as Means of Medical Transportation, Search and Rescue
- 12 Veterinary Personnel
- Part III The Protection of Animals in Specific Situations
- Part IV Enforcement Regimes for the Protection of Animals in Wartime
- Part V Towards Better Protection of Animals in Wartime
- Index
- References
10 - Animals as Combatants and as Prisoners of War?
from Part II - The Protection of Animals in International and Non-international Armed Conflicts
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 06 October 2022
- Animals in the International Law of Armed Conflict
- Animals in the International Law of Armed Conflict
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Contributors
- Forewords
- Acknowledgements
- Abbreviations
- Part I The Need for Protecting Animals in Wartime
- Part II The Protection of Animals in International and Non-international Armed Conflicts
- 5 Animals as Property and as Objects
- 6 Animals as Specially Protected Objects
- 7 Animals as Part of the Environment
- 8 Animals as Endangered Species
- 9 Animals as War Weapons
- 10 Animals as Combatants and as Prisoners of War?
- 11 Animals as Means of Medical Transportation, Search and Rescue
- 12 Veterinary Personnel
- Part III The Protection of Animals in Specific Situations
- Part IV Enforcement Regimes for the Protection of Animals in Wartime
- Part V Towards Better Protection of Animals in Wartime
- Index
- References
Summary
This chapter examines to what extent ‘animal soldiers’ could obtain two related legal status in light of their contribution to the war effort. They could be combatants when involved in hostilities and prisoners of war after falling into enemy hands. In consequence, they would be protected by Geneva Convention III and Additional Protocol I. While these status have not been envisaged to apply to animals, elements of the protection provided by the said instruments could inspire the analogous design of a protective regime for ‘animal soldiers’. This regime would be based on the following principles: no military involvement in hostilities, subsidiarity, humane treatment and animal dignity.
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- Animals in the International Law of Armed Conflict , pp. 171 - 183Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2022