In military law, a civilian is a person who is not a member of the armed forces. In a colloquial context, the term typically refers to anyone who is not only a non-military member, but also not a sworn employee of a law enforcement agency or fire department.
Under international humanitarian law, a civilian is "an individual who has no direct part in any military action or hostilities, nor belongs to armed forces" in time of war. It is slightly different from a non-combatant, as some non-combatants are not civilians (for example, military chaplains and combat medics attached to the belligerent party or military personnel serving with a neutral country). Civilians in the territories of a party to an armed conflict are entitled to certain privileges under the customary laws of war and international treaties such as the Fourth Geneva Convention. The privileges that they enjoy under international law depends on whether the conflict is an internal one (a civil war) or an international one.
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