What is one of the purposes of POW rights?

• A. To protect both combatants and non-combatants from unnecessary suffering; safeguard fundamental human rights; facilitate restoration of peace
• B. To maximize fighting effectiveness of captors
• C. To extend the duration of hostilities
• D. To permit indefinite detention of prisoners of war

Answer: (A)

One of the core goals of POW rights is to limit suffering by ensuring humane treatment of captured soldiers. This means providing basic needs like food, shelter, and medical care, and protecting individuals from torture, coercion, or degrading treatment. Framed by international humanitarian law, these protections uphold fundamental human rights even in war, helping maintain human dignity on all sides. When prisoners of war are treated with respect and humanity, it also supports the possibility of a peaceful resolution after conflict ends, aiding the restoration of peace. The other ideas—using detainees to boost the captor’s fighting power, extending the war, or detaining POWs indefinitely—conflict with these protections and with the ultimate aim of reducing suffering and facilitating a return to peace.