ART. 3. — In the case of armed conflict not of far as military considerations permit, leave with ART. 22.

ART. 22. — Military hospital ships, that is to

an international character occurring in the them a part of its medical personnel and material ART. 26. — The staff of National Red Cross say, ships built or equipped by the Powers
territory of one of the High Contracting Parties, to assist in their care Societies and that of other Voluntary Aid specially and solely with a view to assisting the
each Party to the conflict shall be bound to Societies, duly recognized and authorized by wounded, sick and shipwrecked, to treating
apply, as a minimum, the following provisions: ART. 15. — At all times, and particularly after their Governments, who may be employed on them and to transporting them, may in no
1) Persons taking no active part in the hostilities, an engagement, Parties to the conflict shall, the same duties as the personnel named in circumstances be attacked or captured, but shall
including members of armed forces who have without delay, take all possible measures to Article 24, are placed on the same footing as the at all times be respected and protected, on
laid down their arms and those placed hors de search for and collect the wounded and sick, to personnel named in the said Article, provided condition that their names and descriptions have
combat by sickness, wounds, detention, or any protect them against pillage and ill-treatment, to that the staff of such societies are subject to been notified to the Parties to the conflict ten
other cause, shall in all circumstances be treated ensure their adequate care, and to search for the military laws and regulations. Each High days before those ships are employed. The
humanely, without any adverse distinction dead and prevent their being despoiled. Contracting Party shall notify to the other, either characteristics which must appear in the
founded on race, colour, religion or faith, sex, Whenever circumstances permit, an armistice or in time of peace or at the commencement of or notification shall include registered gross
birth or wealth, or any other similar criteria. To a suspension of fire shall be arranged, or local during hostilities, but in any case before actually tonnage, the length from stem to stern and the
this end, the following acts are and shall remain arrangements made, to permit the removal, employing them, the names of the societies number of masts and funnels.
prohibited at any time and in any place exchange and transport of the wounded left on which it has authorized, under its responsibility,
whatsoever with respect to the above-mentioned the battlefield. Likewise, local arrangements to render assistance to the regular medical ART. 23. — Establishments ashore entitled to
persons: a) violence to life and person, in may be concluded between Parties to the service of its armed forces. the protection of the Geneva Convention for the
particular murder of all kinds, mutilation, cruel conflict for the removal or exchange of wounded Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded
treatment and torture; b) taking of hostages; c) and sick from a besieged or encircled area, and and Sick in Armed Forces in the Field of August
outrages upon personal dignity, in particular for the passage of medical and religious 12, 1949, shall be protected from bombardment
humiliating and degrading treatment; d) the personnel and equipment on their way to that or attack from the sea.
passing of sentences and the carrying out of area.
executions without previous judgment ART. 12. — Members of the armed forces and ART. 24. — Hospital ships utilized by National
pronounced by a regularly constituted court, ART. 18. — The military authorities may appeal other persons mentioned in the following Red Cross Societies, by officially recognized
affording all the judicial guarantees which are to the charity of the inhabitants voluntarily to Article, who are at sea and who are wounded, relief societies or by private persons shall have
recognized as indispensable by civilized collect and care for, under their direction, the sick or shipwrecked, shall be respected and the same protection as military hospital ships
peoples. 2) The wounded and sick shall be wounded and sick, granting persons who have protected in all circumstances, it being and shall be exempt from capture, if the Party to
collected and cared for. An impartial responded to this appeal the necessary understood that the term “shipwreck” means the conflict on which they depend has given
humanitarian body, such as the International protection and facilities. Should the adverse shipwreck from any cause and includes forced them an official commission and in so far as the
Committee of the Red Cross, may offer its Party take or retake control of the area, it shall landings at sea by or from aircraft. Such persons provisions of Article 22 concerning notification
services to the Parties to the conflict. The Parties likewise grant these persons the same protection shall be treated humanely and cared for by the have been complied with. These ships must be
to the conflict should further endeavour to bring and the same facilities. The military authorities Parties to the conflict in whose power they may provided with certificates from the responsible
into force, by means of special agreements, all shall permit the inhabitants and relief societies, be, without any adverse distinction founded on authorities, stating that the vessels have been
or part of the other provisions of the present even in invaded or occupied areas, sex, race, nationality, religion, political under their control while fitting out and on
Convention. The application of the preceding spontaneously to collect and care for wounded opinions, or any other similar criteria. Any departure.
provisions shall not affect the legal status of the or sick of whatever nationality. The civilian attempts upon their lives, or violence to their
Parties to the conflict. population shall respect these wounded and sick, persons, shall be strictly prohibited; in
and in particular abstain from offering them particular, they shall not be murdered or
ART. 12. — Members of the armed forces and violence. No one may ever be molested or exterminated, subjected to torture or to GENERAL PROTECTION OF PRISONERS
other persons mentioned in the following convicted for having nursed the wounded or biological experiments; they shall not wilfully OF WAR
Article, who are wounded or sick, shall be sick. The provisions of the present Article do not be left without medical assistance and care, nor
respected and protected in all circumstances. relieve the occupying Power of its obligation to shall conditions exposing them to contagion or ART. 12. — Prisoners of war are in the hands of
They shall be treated humanely and cared for by give both physical and moral care to the infection be created. Only urgent medical the enemy Power, but not of the individuals or
the Party to the conflict in whose power they wounded and sick. reasons will authorize priority in the order of military units who have captured them.
may be, without any adverse distinction founded treatment to be administered. Women shall be Irrespective of the individual responsibilities
on sex, race, nationality, religion, political ART. 19. — Fixed establishments and mobile treated with all consideration due to their sex. that may exist, the Detaining Power is
opinions, or any other similar criteria. Any medical units of the Medical Service may in no responsible for the treatment given them.
attempts upon their lives, or violence to their circumstances be attacked, but shall at all times ART. 14. — All warships of a belligerent Party Prisoners of war may only be transferred by the
persons, shall be strictly prohibited; in be respected and protected by the Parties to the shall have the right to demand that the wounded, Detaining Power to a Power which is a party to
particular, they shall not be murdered or conflict. Should they fall into the hands of the sick or shipwrecked on board military hospital the Convention and after the Detaining Power
exterminated, subjected to torture or to adverse Party, their personnel shall be free to ships, and hospital ships belonging to relief has satisfied itself of the willingness and ability
biological experiments; they shall not wilfully pursue their duties, as long as the capturing societies or to private individuals, as well as of such transferee Power to apply the
be left without medical assistance and care, nor Power has not itself ensured the necessary care merchant vessels, yachts and other craft shall be Convention. When prisoners of war are
shall conditions exposing them to contagion or of the wounded and sick found in such surrendered, whatever their nationality, provided transferred under such circumstances,
infection be created. Only urgent medical establishments and units. that the wounded and sick are in a fit state to be responsibility for the application of the
reasons will authorize priority in the order of The responsible authorities shall ensure that the moved and that the warship can provide Convention rests on the Power accepting them
treatment to be administered. Women shall be said medical establishments and units are, as far adequate facilities for necessary medical while they are in its custody. Nevertheless if that
treated with all consideration due to their sex. as possible, situated in such a manner that treatment. Power fails to carry out the provisions of the
The Party to the conflict which is compelled to attacks against military objectives cannot Convention in any important respect, the Power
abandon wounded or sick to the enemy shall, as imperil their safety. Hospital Ships by whom the prisoners of war were transferred
shall, upon being notified by the Protecting add concerning persons belonging to its armed engagements of their paroles or promises. In
Power, take effective measures to correct the forces. As far as possible the card shall measure ART. 19. — Prisoners of war shall be such cases, the Power on which they depend is
situation or shall request the return of the 6.5 x 10 cm and shall be issued in duplicate. The evacuated, as soon as possible after their bound neither to require nor to accept from them
prisoners of war. Such requests must be identity card shall be shown by the prisoner of capture, to camps situated in an area far enough any service incompatible with the parole or
complied with. war upon demand, but may in no case be taken from the combat zone for them to be out of promise given.
away from him. No physical or mental torture, danger. Only those prisoners of war who, owing
ART. 13. — Prisoners of war must at all times nor any other form of coercion, may be inflicted to wounds or sickness, would run greater risks ART. 42. — The use of weapons against
be humanely treated. Any unlawful act or on prisoners of war to secure from them by being evacuated than by remaining where prisoners of war, especially against those who
omission by the Detaining Power causing death information of any kind whatever. Prisoners of they are, may be temporarily kept back in a are escaping or attempting to escape, shall
or seriously endangering the health of a prisoner war who refuse to answer may not be danger zone. Prisoners of war shall not be constitute an extreme measure, which shall
of war in its custody is prohibited, and will be threatened, insulted, or exposed to any unnecessarily exposed to danger while awaiting always be preceded by warnings appropriate to
regarded as a serious breach of the present unpleasant or disadvantageous treatment of any evacuation from a fighting zone. the circumstances.
Convention. In particular, no prisoner of war kind. Prisoners of war who, owing to their
may be subjected to physical mutilation or to physical or mental condition, are unable to state ART. 20. — The evacuation of prisoners of war ART. 49. — The Detaining Power may utilize
medical or scientific experiments of any kind their identity, shall be handed over to the shall always be effected humanely and in the labour of prisoners of war who are
which are not justified by the medical, dental or medical service. The identity of such prisoners conditions similar to those for the forces of the physically fit, taking into account their age, sex,
hospital treatment of the prisoner concerned and shall be established by all possible means, Detaining Power in their changes of station. The rank and physical aptitude, and with a view
carried out in his interest. Likewise, prisoners of subject to the provisions of the preceding Detaining Power shall supply prisoners of war particularly to maintaining them in a good state
war must at all times be protected, particularly paragraph. The questioning of prisoners of war who are being evacuated with sufficient food of physical and mental health. Non-
against acts of violence or intimidation and shall be carried out in a language which they and potable water, and with the necessary commissioned officers who are prisoners of war
against insults and public curiosity. Measures of understand. clothing and medical attention. The Detaining shall only be required to do supervisory work.
reprisal against prisoners of war are prohibited. Power shall take all suitable precautions to Those not so required may ask for other suitable
ART. 18. — All effects and articles of personal ensure their safety during evacuation, and shall work which shall, so far as possible, be found
ART. 14. — Prisoners of war are entitled in all use, except arms, horses, military equipment and establish as soon as possible a list of the for them. If officers or persons of equivalent
circumstances to respect for their persons and military documents, shall remain in the prisoners of war who are evacuated. If prisoners status ask for suitable work, it shall be found for
their honour. Women shall be treated with all possession of prisoners of war, likewise their of war must, during evacuation, pass through them, so far as possible, but they may in no
the regard due to their sex and shall in all cases metal helmets and gas masks and like articles transit camps, their stay in such camps shall be circumstances be compelled to work.
benefit by treatment as favourable as that issued for personal protection. Effects and as brief as possible.
granted to men. Prisoners of war shall retain the articles used for their clothing or feeding shall ART. 92. — A prisoner of war who attempts to
full civil capacity which they enjoyed at the time likewise remain in their possession, even if such escape and is recaptured before having made
of their capture. The Detaining Power may not effects and articles belong to their regulation ART. 21. — The Detaining Power may subject good his escape in the sense of Article 91 shall
restrict the exercise, either within or without its military equipment. At no time should prisoners prisoners of war to internment. It may impose on be liable only to a disciplinary punishment in
own territory, of the rights such capacity confers of war be without identity documents. The them the obligation of not leaving, beyond respect of this act, even if it is a repeated
except in so far as the captivity requires. Detaining Power shall supply such documents to certain limits, the camp where they are interned, offence. A prisoner of war who is recaptured
prisoners of war who possess none. Badges of or if the said camp is fenced in, of not going shall be handed over without delay to the
ART. 15. — The Power detaining prisoners of rank and nationality, decorations and articles outside its perimeter. Subject to the provisions competent military authority. Article 88, fourth
war shall be bound to provide free of charge for having above all a personal or sentimental value of the present Convention relative to penal and paragraph, notwithstanding, prisoners of war
their maintenance and for the medical attention may not be taken from prisoners of war. Sums disciplinary sanctions, prisoners of war may not punished as a result of an unsuccessful escape
required by their state of health. of money carried by prisoners of war may not be be held in close confinement except where may be subjected to special surveillance. Such
taken away from them except by order of an necessary to safeguard their health and then only surveillance must not affect the state of their
BEGINNING OF CAPTIVITY officer, and after the amount and particulars of during the continuation of the circumstances health, must be undergone in a prisoner of war
the owner have been recorded in a special which make such confinement necessary. camp, and must not entail the suppression of any
ART. 17. — Every prisoner of war, when register and an itemized receipt has been given, Prisoners of war may be partially or wholly of the safeguards granted them by the present
questioned on the subject, is bound to give only legibly inscribed with the name, rank and unit of released on parole or promise, in so far as is Convention.
his surname, first names and rank, date of birth, the person issuing the said receipt. Sums in the allowed by the laws of the Power on which they
and army, regimental, personal or serial number, currency of the Detaining Power, or which are depend. Such measures shall be taken
or failing this, equivalent information. If he changed into such currency at the prisoner’s particularly in cases where this may contribute
wilfully infringes this rule, he may render request, shall be placed to the credit of the to the improvement of their state of health. No
himself liable to a restriction of the privileges prisoner’s account as provided in Article 64. prisoner of war shall be compelled to accept
accorded to his rank or status. Each Party to a The Detaining Power may withdraw articles of liberty on parole or promise. Upon the outbreak ART. 3. — In the case of armed conflict not of
conflict is required to furnish the persons under value from prisoners of war only for reasons of of hostilities, each Party to the conflict shall an international character occurring in the
its jurisdiction who are liable to become security; when such articles are withdrawn, the notify the adverse Party of the laws and territory of one of the High Contracting Parties,
prisoners of war, with an identity card showing procedure laid down for sums of money regulations allowing or forbidding its own each Party to the conflict shall be bound to
the owner’s surname, first names, rank, army, impounded shall apply. Such objects, likewise nationals to accept liberty on parole or promise. apply, as a minimum, the following provisions:
regimental, personal or serial number or the sums taken away in any currency other than Prisoners of war who are paroled or who have 1) Persons taking no active part in the hostilities,
equivalent information, and date of birth. The that of the Detaining Power and the conversion given their promise in conformity with the laws including members of armed forces who have
identity card may, furthermore, bear the of which has not been asked for by the owners, and regulations so notified, are bound on their laid down their arms and those placed hors de
signature or the finger-prints, or both, of the shall be kept in the custody of the Detaining personal honour scrupulously to fulfil, both combat by sickness, wounds, detention, or any
owner, and may bear, as well, any other Power and shall be returned in their initial shape towards the Power on which they depend and other cause, shall in all circumstances be treated
information the Party to the conflict may wish to to prisoners of war at the end of their captivity. towards the Power which has captured them, the humanely, without any adverse distinction
founded on race, colour, religion or faith, sex, passage shall have the right to prescribe the nationals of the Power in whose territory they
birth or wealth, or any other similar criteria. To technical arrangements under which such are. Where a Party to the conflict applies to a
this end, the following acts are and shall remain passage is allowed. protected person methods of control which
prohibited at any time and in any place result in his being unable to support himself, and
whatsoever with respect to the above-mentioned ART. 35. — All protected persons who may especially if such a person is prevented for
persons: a) violence to life and person, in desire to leave the territory at the outset of, or reasons of security from finding paid
particular murder of all kinds, mutilation, cruel during a conflict, shall be entitled to do so, employment on reasonable conditions, the said
treatment and torture; b) taking of hostages; c) unless their departure is contrary to the national Party shall ensure his support and that of his
outrages upon personal dignity, in particular interests of the State. The applications of such dependents. Protected persons may in any case
humiliating and degrading treatment; d) the persons to leave shall be decided in accordance receive allowances from their home country, the
passing of sentences and the carrying out of with regularly established procedures and the Protecting Power, or the relief societies referred
executions without previous judgment decision shall be taken as rapidly as possible. to in Article 30.
pronounced by a regularly constituted court, Those persons permitted to leave may provide
affording all the judicial guarantees which are themselves with the necessary funds for their ART. 40. — Protected persons may be
recognized as indispensable by civilized journey and take with them a reasonable amount compelled to work only to the same extent as
peoples. 2) The wounded and sick shall be of their effects and articles of personal use. If nationals of the Party to the conflict in whose
collected and cared for. An impartial any such person is refused permission to leave territory they are. If protected persons are of
humanitarian body, such as the International the territory, he shall be entitled to have such enemy nationality, they may only be compelled
Committee of the Red Cross, may offer its refusal reconsidered as soon as possible by an to do work which is normally necessary to
services to the Parties to the conflict. The Parties appropriate court or administrative board ensure the feeding, sheltering, clothing,
to the conflict should further endeavour to bring designated by the Detaining Power for that transport and health of human beings and which
into force, by means of special agreements, all purpose. Upon request, representatives of the is not directly related to the conduct of military
or part of the other provisions of the present Protecting Power shall, unless reasons of operations. In the cases mentioned in the two
Convention. The application of the preceding security prevent it, or the persons concerned preceding paragraphs, protected persons
provisions shall not affect the legal status of the object, be furnished with the reasons for refusal compelled to work shall have the benefit of the
Parties to the conflict. of any request for permission to leave the same working conditions and of the same
territory and be given, as expeditiously as safeguards as national workers, in particular as
ART. 23. — Each High Contracting Party shall possible, the names of all persons who have regards wages, hours of labour, clothing and
allow the free passage of all consignments of been denied permission to leave. equipment, previous training and compensation
medical and hospital stores and objects for occupational accidents and diseases. If the
necessary for religious worship intended only ART. 38. — With the exception of special above provisions are infringed, protected
for civilians of another High Contracting Party, measures authorized by the present Convention, persons shall be allowed to exercise their right
even if the latter is its adversary. It shall in particular by Articles 27 and 41 thereof, the of complaint in accordance with Article 30.
likewise permit the free passage of all situation of protected persons shall continue to
consignments of essential foodstuffs, clothing be regulated, in principle, by the provisions ART. 64. — The penal laws of the occupied
and tonics intended for children under fifteen, concerning aliens in time of peace. In any case, territory shall remain in force, with the
expectant mothers and maternity cases. The the following rights shall be granted to them: 1) exception that they may be repealed or
obligation of a High Contracting Party to allow They shall be enabled to receive the individual suspended by the Occupying Power in cases
the free passage of the consignments indicated or collective relief that may be sent to them. 2) where they constitute a threat to its security or
in the preceding paragraph is subject to the They shall, if their state of health so requires, an obstacle to the application of the present
condition that this Party is satisfied that there are receive medical attention and hospital treatment Convention. Subject to the latter consideration
no serious reasons for fearing: a) that the to the same extent as the nationals of the State and to the necessity for ensuring the effective
consignments may be diverted from their concerned. 3) They shall be allowed to practise administration of justice, the tribunals of the
destination, b) that the control may not be their religion and to receive spiritual assistance occupied territory shall continue to function in
effective, or c) that a definite advantage may from ministers of their faith. 4) If they reside in respect of all offences covered by the said laws.
accrue to the military efforts or economy of the an area particularly exposed to the dangers of The Occupying Power may, however, subject
enemy through the substitution of the war, they shall be authorized to move from that the population of the occupied territory to
abovementioned consignments for goods which area to the same extent as the nationals of the provisions which are essential to enable the
would otherwise be provided or produced by the State concerned. 5) Children under fifteen years, Occupying Power to fulfil its obligations under
enemy or through the release of such material, pregnant women and mothers of children under the present Convention, to maintain the orderly
services or facilities as would otherwise be seven years shall benefit by any preferential government of the territory, and to ensure the
required for the production of such goods. The treatment to the same extent as the nationals of security of the Occupying Power, of the
Power which allows the passage of the the State concerned. members and property of the occupying forces
consignments indicated in the first paragraph of or administration, and likewise of the
this Article may make such permission ART. 39.— Protected persons who, as a result establishments and lines of communication used
conditional on the distribution to the persons of the war, have lost their gainful employment, by them.
benefited thereby being made under the local shall be granted the opportunity to find paid
supervision of the Protecting Powers. Such employment. That opportunity shall, subject to
consignments shall be forwarded as rapidly as security considerations and to the provisions of
possible, and the Power which permits their free Article 40, be equal to that enjoyed by the