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Non-combatant is a military and legal term describing civilians not engaged in combat. It is distinguished
from other protected persons, such as medical personel (who are regular soldiers but are protected because of their medical
function) and soldiers who are hors de combat (regular soldiers that are incapable of performing their military
function, such as a downed pilot). It is also distinguished from unprotected persons: people who are fighting but are not members
of a regular armed force and who therefore do not enjoy the protections of the Geneva Conventions.
See also: Combatant, laws of war, Geneva Conventions.
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