Under international law, what status do combatants receive when captured?

When combatants are captured during armed conflict, they are granted Prisoner of War (POW) status under international law, specifically the Third Geneva Convention. This status provides specific protections and rights to individuals who have been engaged in hostilities. POWs are entitled to humane treatment, protection against violence and intimidation, and certain rights regarding their detention, including the right to communicate with their families and access to medical care.

The legal framework established by the Geneva Conventions ensures that combatants, when captured, cannot be mistreated or subjected to unfair trials based solely on their status as combatants. This is crucial for maintaining humanitarian standards in conflict situations. Unlike enemy combatants, which implies that they are still part of an active conflict, POWs are recognized as having specific rights and protections once captured.

The other statuses presented do not provide the same level of legal protections under international law. Civilian status applies to non-combatants who are not engaged in hostilities, while neutral status pertains to individuals or entities that are not participating in the conflict. Therefore, recognizing captured combatants as POWs is important to uphold the principles of international humanitarian law.