Peru
Practice Relating to Rule 87. Humane Treatment
In Peru’s Human Rights Charter of the Security Forces (1991), respect for the integrity of persons and their human dignity is one of the ten basic rules.
Peru’s IHL Manual (2004) states: “All persons placed
hors de combat or taking no direct part in the hostilities must be treated humanely. This means that they must be cared for and can never be attacked; they must be defended and assisted.”
The manual contains a similar provision with respect to situations of non-international armed conflict:
Persons taking no active part in the hostilities, including members of armed forces who have laid down their arms and those placed
hors de combat by sickness, wounds, detention or any other cause, shall in all circumstances be treated humanely.
Peru’s IHL and Human Rights Manual (2010) states: “Persons placed
hors de combat or taking no direct part in the hostilities must be treated humanely. This means that they must be cared for and can never be attacked; they must be defended and assisted.”
The manual contains a similar provision with respect to situations of non-international armed conflict: “Persons who are not directly participating in hostilities, including members of armed forces who have laid down their arms and those placed
hors de combat by sickness, wounds, detention or any other cause, shall in all circumstances be treated humanely”.
In a section on the relationship between IHL and human rights law, the manual states:
There are … principles common to the [1949] Geneva Conventions and human rights law which represent a minimum level of protection to which every human person is entitled … [including] [r]espect for life, physical and mental integrity … [and] each individual’s right to security of the person.
…
Regarding these fundamental guarantees, there is no exception whatsoever and they are binding both in times of peace and in times of armed conflict.
In a section on the human rights obligations of the security forces, the manual further states: “Respect the integrity of individuals and human dignity.”
Peru’s Decree on the Use of Force by the Armed Forces (2010) states that “persons placed
hors de combat for … any … reason must in all circumstances be treated humanely”.
In 2006, in the Lucanmarca case, the Second Provisional Criminal Chamber of Peru’s Supreme Court of Justice stated:
International human rights law, international humanitarian law and Peru’s Political Constitution recognize the right to … health, physical integrity, personal liberty and security.
…
In international humanitarian law, Article 3 common to the [1949] Geneva Conventions prohibits in non-international armed conflicts attempts on the life and physical integrity of civilians, in particular … cruel treatment and attempts on personal dignity.