What is a partisan?
Q: What is a partisan?
A: A partisan is an armed fighter who is not part of the regular troops of a country or state.
Q: Where does the term "partisan" come from?
A: The term "partisan" comes from Italian, where it meant member of a political party.
Q: Is there a separate legal status for partisans in international law?
A: No, there is no separate legal status for partisans in international law.
Q: What criteria does the law of war use to legally define someone as a prisoner of war if they are captured?
A: The law of war uses four criteria to legally define someone as a prisoner of war if they are captured: someone is at the head of the organization and assumes liability, they can be identified by a sign or mark visible from far away, they carry their weapons openly, and they adhere to the customs and laws of war during their operation.
Q: How many additional protocols were added in 1977, and what did they clarify?
A: Two additional protocols were added in 1977, and they clarified that it is sufficient to carry the weapons openly only on some occasions to be titled an armed combatant.
Q: What does it mean to be titled an armed combatant?
A: To be titled an armed combatant means that you are legally recognized as someone who is involved in armed conflict.
Q: Can a partisan be considered an armed combatant?
A: Yes, if they carry their weapons openly on some occasions and adhere to the customs and laws of war during their operation, a partisan can be considered an armed combatant.
