Legal Literacy- This article discusses the protection afforded to medical personnel during armed conflicts, including how the Geneva Conventions of 1949 provide protection for medical personnel and the health facilities they use. The article also discusses the obligations and rights of medical personnel as they carry out their humanitarian tasks.

By: Sintarda Hari Pratama

A. Medical Personnel in Conflict as Helpers

Since ancient times, wars have occurred everywhere, which can be caused by several factors. There are at least three factors that cause this: first, for economic gain to control a natural resource, trade, or investment; second, for security to oppose a force or threat that could endanger the integrity and stability of a nation and state; and third, because of ideological issues, political beliefs, and the dissemination of religious values.

In the modern world, especially when entering the 20th century until now, international rules have developed regarding how wars should occur and proceed. These rules include the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and related Protocols.

However, even though it has been regulated, violations can still occur no matter how perfect the rules are by those in conflict. As long as conflicts occur, they will certainly cause human casualties, so medical personnel and assistance become important elements needed during the conflict to provide care and assistance.

However, the problem is that medical personnel often become victims during conflicts, such as what happened on the Gaza border to Razan al-Najjar in 2018, and during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, one of them happened to a combat medic named Rykhlitska in Bakhmut in March 2023. Ukraine itself is currently one of the points where these medics are working to save human lives during the conflict, both from armed unit units and volunteers such as the ICRC and others.