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The Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols afford significant protections to civilians during armed conflict. Essentially, civilians are to be protected from the dangers of military operations and are not to be the object of attack. Specific protections include prohibitions on attacking civilians, using them to shield military objectives, and employing terror tactics against them. Furthermore, the Conventions prohibit attacks on civilian objects like hospitals, cultural sites, and objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population.

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

Protection from Attack:
Civilians are to be protected from the dangers of military operations and should not be the direct object of attack.

Prohibition of Indiscriminate Attacks:
Attacks that do not distinguish between civilians and military targets, or that cause excessive civilian casualties relative to the military advantage gained, are prohibited.

Protection of Civilian Objects:
Certain civilian objects, like hospitals, cultural sites, and objects necessary for the survival of the population (e.g., food, water), are specifically protected and cannot be attacked.

Prohibition of Terror Tactics:
Acts or threats of violence aimed at spreading terror among the civilian population are forbidden.

Special Protections in Occupied Territories:
The Geneva Conventions detail specific protections for civilians in occupied territories, ensuring their basic rights and humane treatment.

Protection of Vulnerable Groups:
Civilians who are sick, wounded, children, or detainees receive specific protections as vulnerable groups.