page_title: Laws of war
hierarchical_section_title: Laws of war
caption_attribution_description: English: The First International Peace Conference, the Hague, May - June 1899 Delegates to the Conference which was called by the Tsar of Russia to discuss world disarmament. The Tsar hoped to spare his country the financial burden of having to match the arms expenditure of Germany and Austria. In this respect the Conference did not succeed. However it did define and codify some of the rules of war in a series of Conventions. It also established an international court of arbitration. These achievements would significantly influence the conduct of the two world wars.
context_page_description: The Laws of war are some simple rules or international law which most people accept about fighting out of humanitarianism. Many people think that because there is fighting, there should be no rules. This is called "total war". However, laws of war have been made so that wars do not get worse than they need to be.
  Anything marked as a hospital, an ambulance, a doctor, or a first aid person are not to be attacked. Those places, vehicles, and people should not have weapons.
  Anyone who is a member of a neutral power is not to be a target of violence unless the said person is committing or intending to commit a hostile act.
  Anyone fighting in the war has to wear a uniform. They can only wear the uniform of their side. Also they have to carry their weapons out in the open where they can be seen.
  Anyone carrying or waving a plain white flag or piece of cloth must not be attacked. That person should also not attack anyone. They may want to surrender, or just talk about ways to solve the problem without more fighting.
  Any enemy soldier captured must be treated fairly as a prisoner of war.
  Religious buildings such as churches, mosques, and temples are to be protected at all costs.
context_section_description: The Laws of war are some simple rules or international law which most people accept about fighting out of humanitarianism. Many people think that because there is fighting, there should be no rules. This is called "total war". However, laws of war have been made so that wars do not get worse than they need to be.
  Anything marked as a hospital, an ambulance, a doctor, or a first aid person are not to be attacked. Those places, vehicles, and people should not have weapons.
  Anyone who is a member of a neutral power is not to be a target of violence unless the said person is committing or intending to commit a hostile act.
  Anyone fighting in the war has to wear a uniform. They can only wear the uniform of their side. Also they have to carry their weapons out in the open where they can be seen.
  Anyone carrying or waving a plain white flag or piece of cloth must not be attacked. That person should also not attack anyone. They may want to surrender, or just talk about ways to solve the problem without more fighting.
  Any enemy soldier captured must be treated fairly as a prisoner of war.
  Religious buildings such as churches, mosques, and temples are to be protected at all costs.
  Occupied territory should be governed fairly and not looted or devastated.
caption: The first Hague convetion, of 1899 defined some of the now generally accepted rules of war.
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