5.3 OVERVIEW OF RULES FOR THE PROTECTION OF CIVILIANS The protection of civilians10 against the harmful effects of hostilities is one of the main purposes of the law of war.11 Many of the rules for the protection of civilians are derived from the principles of distinction and proportionality.12 Specific rules for the protection of civilians may be grouped into two categories: (1) essentially negative duties to respect civilians and to refrain from directing military operations against them; (2) affirmative duties to take feasible precautions to protect civilians and other protected persons and objects.

The above definition would seem to apply to most of the US population. There are further definitions, however, such as:

5.10 PERSONS PLACED HORS DE COMBAT Persons, including combatants, placed hors de combat may not be made the object of attack. Persons placed hors de combat include the following categories of persons, provided they abstain from any hostile act and do not attempt to escape: • persons in the power of an adverse party; • persons not yet in custody, who have surrendered; • persons who have been rendered unconscious or otherwise incapacitated by wounds, sickness, or shipwreck; and • persons parachuting from aircraft in distress.

5.3 OVERVIEW OF RULES FOR THE PROTECTION OF CIVILIANS The protection of civilians10 against the harmful effects of hostilities is one of the main purposes of the law of war.11 Many of the rules for the protection of civilians are derived from the principles of distinction and proportionality.12 Specific rules for the protection of civilians may be grouped into two categories: (1) essentially negative duties to respect civilians and to refrain from directing military operations against them; (2) affirmative duties to take feasible precautions to protect civilians and other protected persons and objects.