20. Conflicts not of an international character.

In the case of armed conflict¹ not of an international character (such as a civil war) each party to the conflict must treat humanely persons who take no active part in the hostilities, including members of the armed forces who have laid down their arms or are rendered unable to take part by reason of sickness, wounds, detention or other cause, without distinction founded on race, colour, religion or faith, sex, birth or wealth or any other similar criteria². Violence to life and person, including murder, mutilation, cruel treatment or torture, the taking of hostages, outrages upon personal dignity, in particular humiliating and degrading treatment, and the passing of sentences and carrying out of executions without previous judgment by a regularly constituted court, is prohibited³.