Seldonis IV Convention

Inspired by the humanitarian principles of Earth's Geneva Conventions, the Seldonis IV Convention establishes a framework of laws and ethics designed to mitigate the suffering inherent in interstellar conflict. This Convention recognizes the diversity of life in the galaxy, tailoring protections to accommodate a wide range of species, technologies, and environments.

Section I - General Provisions

This section sets out the fundamental principles of the Convention, defining its applicability and the responsibilities of signatory parties.

Article 1 - Respect and Enforcement: Parties to the Convention must uphold its provisions in all circumstances.

Article 2 - Scope of Application: The Convention applies to declared wars, armed conflicts between signatories, and situations of occupation.

Article 3 - Internal Conflicts: Even in internal armed conflicts, the core ethical tenets of the Convention must be applied.

Section II - Protection of Wounded, Sick, and Shipwrecked

This section mandates the compassionate treatment and care of those injured or incapacitated in combat, regardless of their affiliation.

Article 4 - Care & Protection: Wounded, sick, and shipwrecked combatants must be collected, cared for, and shielded from mistreatment.

Article 5 - Medical Entities: Medical facilities, personnel, and transports must be clearly marked and may not be targeted.

Article 6 - Neutral Parties: Neutral parties may offer compassionate aid with the consent of the powers in conflict.

Section III: Prisoners of War (POWs)

This section defines the rights and protections afforded to captured combatants and certain civilians detained by an enemy power.

Article 7 - POW Definition: POWs are combatants and certain civilians captured by a hostile power.

Article 8 - Responsibility: POWs are under the authority of the detaining power, not of individual captors.

Article 9 - Detaining Power Obligations: Compassionate treatment, protection, adequate provisions (adapted to the needs of the POW's species), and allowance of religious and intellectual activities.

Article 10 - POW Rights: Right to provide only identifying information, to correspond, to receive relief, and to have access to representatives of relief organizations.

Section IV: Civilians

This section outlines protections for civilians not directly engaged in hostilities.

Article 11 - Civilian Protection: Civilians generally cannot be targeted unless directly participating in hostilities.

Article 12 - Prohibited Acts: Violence, threats, degradation, collective punishment, hostage-taking, and forced displacement are prohibited against civilians.

Article 13 - Occupied Territories: Occupying powers must ensure order, safety, and respect for local laws while ensuring the well-being of civilians.

Section V: Ethical and Compassionate Conduct

The Seldonis IV Convention recognizes compassion and ethics as intertwined principles guiding all actions in armed conflict.

Article 14 - Compassionate Principals

Understanding Suffering: Acknowledging that all sentient beings, regardless of species, physiology, or culture, have the capacity to experience pain, fear, and loss. This understanding necessitates a commitment to minimizing such suffering in warfare.
Valuing Life: Respecting the inherent worth of all forms of sentient life, even those of the enemy. This mandates actions that preserve life whenever possible and prohibits the infliction of unnecessary harm.
Active Mitigation: Seeking ways to actively lessen the suffering caused by conflict. This includes providing aid to the wounded and sick (regardless of affiliation), facilitating the humane treatment of prisoners, and protecting civilians from the ravages of war.
Respectful Treatment: Treating all individuals, combatants and non-combatants alike, with dignity. This prohibits acts of cruelty, humiliation, or degradation based on species, origin, or affiliation. It also mandates that cultural and religious beliefs be respected within reason, as long as they do not incite violence or violate other core principles of the Convention.

Article 15 - Ethical Obligations of Belligerents

Parties to a conflict have a duty to uphold the principles of this Convention, even in the face of adversity. They must:

Facilitate the work of recognized relief organizations providing impartial humanitarian aid based on need.
Ensure the ethical sourcing and use of military resources, avoiding methods that cause indiscriminate or excessive suffering.
Promote a culture of ethical behavior within their forces, disciplining those who violate the Convention.ds
The deliberate rigging of escape pods to harm retrieval personnel is a violation of this Convention.
Refrain from targeting escape pods or similar life-saving craft.
This Convention recognizes the use of escape pods as weapons to be a violation of compassionate and ethical conduct except in extreme conditions where the following criteria are met:
- There is clear evidence of no life signs present.
- There exists a reasonable suspicion the craft poses an active threat, demonstrably rigged or weaponized (e.g., evidence of explosive devices).

Article 16 - Role of Relief Organizations

Recognized relief organizations, identified by a neutral emblem, have the right to offer humanitarian services in conflict zones. Belligerents must facilitate their safe access to provide essential aid such as:

Medical care for the wounded and sick
Provision of basic necessities (food, water, shelter)
Assistance in the repatriation of POWs and displaced persons