Unidos 01

HANDBOOK
OF THE INTERNACIONAL RED CROSS

AND RED CRESCENT MOVEMENT
ANNEX I
DRAFT AGREEMENT RELATING TO HOSPITAL ZONES

AND LOCALITIES
ARTICLE 1. — Hospital zones shall be strictly reserved for the persons named in
Article 23 of the Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of the
Wounded and Sick in the Armed Forces in the Field of August 12, 1949, and for the
personnel entrusted with the organization and administration of these zones and
localities, and with the care of the persons therein assembled.
Nevertheless, persons whose permanent residence is within such zones shall
have the right to stay there.
ART. 2. — No persons residing, in whatever capacity, in a hospital zone shall
perform any work, either within or without the zone, directly connected with
military operations or the production of war material.
ART. 3. — The Power establishing a hospital zone shall take all necessary
measures to prohibit access to all persons who have no right of residence or entry
therein.
ART. 4. — Hospital zones shall fulfil the following conditions:
a) They shall comprise only a small part of the territory governed by the
Power vhich has established them.
b) They shall be thinly populated in relation to the possibilities of
accommodation.
c) They shall be far removed and free from all military objectives, or large
industrial or administrative establishments.
d) They shall not be situated in areas which, according to every probability, may
become important for the conduct of the war.
Au. 5. — Hospital zones shall be subject to the following obligations:

a) The lines of communication and means of transport which they possess shall
not be used for the transport of military personnel or material, even in transit.
b) They shall in no case be defended by military means.
ART. 6. — Hospital zones shall be marked by means of red crosses (red crescents,
red lions and suns) on a white background placed on the outer precincts and on the
buildings. They may be similarly marked at night by means of appropriate
illumination.
When wounded and sick, or medical personnel and chaplains do not
benefit or cease to benefit, no matter for what reason, by the activities of
a Protecting Power or of an organization provided for in the first
paragraph above, the Detaining Power shall request a neutral State, or
such an organization, to undertake the functions performed under the
present Convention by a Protecting Power designated by the Parties to a
conflict.
If protection cannot be arranged accordingly, the Detaining Power shall
request or shall accept, subject to the provisions of this Article, the offer
of the services of a humanitarian organization, such as the International
Committee of the Red Cross, to assume the humanitarian functions
performed by Protecting Powers under the present Convention.
Any neutral Power, or any organization invited by the Power concerned
or offering itself for these purposes, shall be required to act with a sense
of responsibility towards the Party to the conflict on which persons
protected by the present Convention depend, and shall be required to
furnish sufficient assurances that it is in a position to undertake the
appropriate functions and to discharge them impartially.
No derogation from the preceding provisions shall be made by special
agreements between Powers one of which is restricted, even temporarily,
in its freedom to negotiate with the other Power or its allies by reason of
military events, more particularly where the whole, or a substantial part,
of the territory of the said Power is occupied.
Whenever in the present Convention mention is made of a Protecting
Power, such mention also applies to substitute organizations in the sense
of the present Article.
ART. 11. - In cases where they deem it advisable in the interest of
protected persons, particularly in cases of disagreement between the
Parties to the conflict as to the application or interpretation of the
provisions of the present Convention, the Protecting Powers shall lend
their good offices with a view to settling the disagreement.
For this purpose, each of the Protecting Powers may, either at the
invitation of one Party or on its own initiative, propose to the Parties to
the conflict a meeting of their representatives, in particular of the
authorities responsible for the wounded and sick, members of medical
personnel and chaplains, possibly on neutral territory suitably chosen. The
Parties to the conflict shall be bound to give effect to the proposals made
to them for this purpose. The Protecting Powers may, if necessary,
propose for approval by the Parties to the conflict a person belonging to a
neutral Power or delegated by the International Committee of the Red
Cross, who shall be invited to take part in such a meeting.
II
GENEVA CONVENTION
FOR THE AMELIORATION OF THE
CONDITION OF WOUNDED, SICK
AND SHIPWRECKED MEMBERS OF ARMED
FORCES AT SEA OF 12 AUGUST 1949
CHAPTER I
General Provisions
Article 1 Respect for the Convention . 64
Article 2 Application of the Convention . 64
Article 3 Conflicts not of an international character . 64
Article 4 Field of application . 65
Article 5 Application by neutral Powers 65
Article 6 Special agreements 66
Article 7 Non-renunciation of rights 66
Article 8 Protecting Powers . 66
Article 9 Activities of the International Committee of the Red Cross .... 66
Article 10 Substitutes for Protecting Powers 67
Article 11 Conciliation procedure. 67
CHAPTER II
Wounded, Sick and Shipwrecked
Article 12 Protection and care. 68
Article 13 Protected persons 68
Article 14 Handing over to a belligerent . 69
Article 15 Wounded taken on board a neutral warship. 69
Article 16 Wounded falling into enemy hands 70
Article 17 Wounded landed in a neutral port . 70
Article 18 Search for casualties after an engagement . 70
Article 19 Recording and forwarding of information. 70
Article 20 Prescriptions regarding the dead. 71
Article 21 Appeals to neutral vessels 71
CHAPTER III
Hospital Ships
Article 22 Notification and protection of military hospital ships 72
Article 23 Protection of medical establishments ashore 72
Article 24 Hospital ships utilized by relief societies
and private individuals of I. Parties to the conflict 72
42 FIRST GENEVA CONVENTION OF 1949
a) designation of the Power on which he depends;

b) army, regimental, personal or serial number;
c) surname;
d) first name or names;
e) date of birth;
f) any other particulars shown on his identity card or disc;
g) date and place of capture or death;
h) particulars concerning wounds or illness, or cause of death.
As soon as possible the above mentioned information shall be
forwarded to the Information Bureau described in Article 122 of the
Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War of
August 12, 1949, which shall transmit this information to the Power on
which these persons depend through the intermediary of the
Protecting Power and of the Central Prisoners of War Agency.
Parties to the conflict shall prepare and forward to each other
through the same bureau, certificates of death or duly authenticated
lists of the dead. They shall likewise collect and forward through the
same bureau one half of a double identity disc, last wills or other
documents of importance to the next of kin, money and in general
all articles of an intrinsic or sentimental value, which are found on
the dead. These articles, together with unidentified articles, shall be
sent in sealed packets, accompanied by statements giving all
particulars necessary for the identification of the deceased owners, as
well as by a complete list of the contents of the parcel.
Prescriptions
regarding the ART. 17. — Parties to the conflict shall ensure that burial or
dead. Graves cremation of the dead, carried out individually as far as
Registration circumstances permit, is preceded by a careful examination, if
Service possible by a medical examination, of the bodies, with a view to
confirming death, establishing identity and enabling a report to be
made. One half of the double identity disc, or the identity disc itself
if it is a single disc, should remain on the body.
Bodies shall not be cremated except for imperative reasons of
hygiene or for motives based on the religion of the deceased. In case of
cremation, the circumstances and reasons for cremation shall be stated
in detail in the death certificate or on the authenticated list of the dead.
They shall further ensure that the dead are honourably interred, if
possible according to the rites of the religion to which they
belonged, that their graves are respected, grouped if possible
according to the nationality of the deceased, properly maintained
and marked so that they may always be found. For this purpose,
WOUNDED AND SICK 43
they shall organize at the commencement of hostilities an Official

Graves Registration Service, to allow subsequent exhumations and to
ensure the identification of bodies, whatever the site of the graves, and
the possible transportation to the home country. These provisions
shall likewise apply to the ashes, which shall be kept by the Graves
Registration Service until proper disposal thereof in accordance with
the wishes of the home country.
As soon as circumstances permit, and at latest at the end of
hostilities, these Services shall exchange, through the Information
Bureau mentioned in the second paragraph of Article 16, lists
showing the exact location and markings of the graves together with
particulars of the dead interred therein.
ART. 18. — The military authorities may appeal to the charity of the Role ;0,`1,°',e,
inhabitants voluntarily to collect and care for, under their direction, the
wounded and sick, granting persons who have responded to this
appeal the necessary protection and facilities. Should the adverse Party
take or retake control of the area, it shall likewise grant these
persons the same protection and the same facilities.
The military authorities shall permit the inhabitants and relief
societies, even in invaded or occupied areas, spontaneously to
collect and care for wounded or sick of whatever nationality. The
civilian population shall respect these wounded and sick, and in
particular abstain from offering them violence.
No one may ever be molested or convicted for having nursed the
wounded or sick.
The provisions of the present Article do not relieve the occupying
Power of its obligation to give both physical and moral care to the
wounded and sick.
CHAPTER III
Medical Units and Establishments
ART. 19. — Fixed establishments and mobile medical units of the Protection
Medical Service may in no circumstances be attacked, but shall at all
times be respected and protected by the Parties to the conflict.
Should they fall into the hands of the adverse Party, their personnel
shall be free to pursue their duties, as long as the capturing Power
has not itself ensured the necessary care of the wounded and sick found
in such establishments and units.
The responsible authorities shall ensure that the said medical

establishments and units are, as far as possible, situated in such a
manner that attacks against military objectives cannot imperil their
safety.
Protection ART. 20. — Hospital ships entitled to the protection of the

of hospital Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of
ships Wounded, Sick and Shipwrecked Members of Armed Forces at Sea
of August 12, 1949, shall not be attacked from the land.
Discontinu-
ance of ART. 21. — The protection to which fixed establishments and
protection of mobile medical units of the Medical Service are entitled shall not
medical cease unless they are used to commit, outside their humanitarian
establish- duties, acts harmful to the enemy. Protection may, however, cease only
ments and
units after a due warning has been given, naming, in all appropriate cases, a
reasonable time limit and after such warning has remained unheeded.
Conditions
not depriving ART. 22. — The following conditions shall not be considered as
medical units depriving a medical unit or establishment of the protection
and establish- guaranteed by Article 19:
ments of
protection 1. That the personnel of the unit or establishment are armed,
and that they use the arms in their own defence, or in that of
the wounded and sick in their charge.
2. That in the absence of armed orderlies, the unit or establishment
is protected by a picket or by sentries or by an escort.
3. That small arms and ammunition taken from the wounded
and sick and not yet handed to the proper service, are found
in the unit or establishment.
4. That personnel and material of the veterinary service are
found in the unit or establishment, without forming an
integral part thereof.
5. That the humanitarian activities of medical units and
establishments or of their personnel extend to the care of
civilian wounded or sick.
Hospital ART. 23. — In time of peace, the High Contracting Parties and, after
the outbreak of hostilities, the Parties to the conflict, may establish in
their own territory and, if the need arises, in occupied areas, hospital
zones and localities so organized as to protect the wounded and sick
from the effects of war, as well as the personnel entrusted with the
organization and administration of these zones and localities and
with the care of the persons therein assembled.
WOUNDED AND SICK 45
Upon the outbreak and during the course of hostilities, the

Parties concerned may conclude agreements on mutual recognition
of the hospital zones and localities they have created. They may for
this purpose implement the provisions of the Draft Agreement
annexed to the present Convention, with such amendments as they
may consider necessary.
The Protecting Powers and the International Committee of the
Red Cross are invited to lend their good offices in order to facilitate
the institution and recognition of these hospital zones and localities.
CHAPTER IV
Personnel
An. 24. — Medical personnel exclusively engaged in the search Protection of

permanent
for, or the collection, transport or treatment of the wounded or sick,
personnel
or in the prevention of disease, staff exclusively engaged in the
administration of medical units and establishments, as well as
chaplains attached to the armed forces, shall be respected and
protected in all circumstances.
Ani. 25. — Members of the armed forces specially trained for
Protection of
employment, should the need arise, as hospital orderlies, nurses or auxiliary
auxiliary stretcher-bearers, in the search for or the collection, personnel
transport or treatment of the wounded and sick shall likewise be
respected and protected if they are carrying out these duties at the time
when they come into contact with the enemy or fall into his hands.
ART. 26. — The staff of National Red Cross Societies and that of
a i d of
other Voluntary Aid Societies, duly recognized and authorized by their
Governments, who may be employed on the same duties as the personnel
named in Article 24, are placed on the same footing as the personnel
named in the said Article, provided that the staff of such societies are
subject to military laws and regulations.
Each High Contracting Party shall notify to the other, either in
time of peace or at the commencement of or during hostilities, but in
any case before actually employing them, the names of the societies
which it has authorized, under its responsibility, to render assistance
to the regular medical service of its armed forces.
WOUNDED AND SICK 51
distinctive emblem. This card shall be water-resistant and of such size

that it can be carried in the pocket. It shall be worded in the national
language, shall mention at least the surname and first names, the date
of birth, the rank and the service number of the bearer, and shall state
in what capacity he is entitled to the protection of the present
Convention. The card shall bear the photograph of the owner and
also either his signature or his finger-prints or both. It shall be
embossed with the stamp of the military authority.
The identity card shall be uniform throughout the same armed
forces and, as far as possible, of a similar type in the armed forces of
the High Contracting Parties. The Parties to the conflict may be
guided by the model which is annexed, by way of example, to the
present Convention. They shall inform each other, at the outbreak of
hostilities, of the model they are using. Identity cards should be made
out, if possible, at least in duplicate, one copy being kept by the home
country.
In no circumstances may the said personnel be deprived of their
insignia or identity cards not of the right to wear the armlet. In case
of loss, they shall be entitled to receive duplicates of the cards and to
have the insignia replaced.
ART. 41. — The personnel designated in Article 25 shall wear, but identification
only while carrying out medical duties, a white armlet bearing in its of auxiliary
personnel
centre the distinctive sign in miniature; the armlet shall be issued and
stamped by the military authority.
Military identity documents to be carried by this type of
personnel shall specify what special training they have received, the
temporary character of the duties they are engaged upon, and their
authority for wearing the armlet.
Aim 42. — The distinctive flag of the Convention shall be hoisted Marketing
of
only over such medical units and establishments as are entitled to be medicinal
respected under the Convention, and only with the consent of the units
military authorities. and
In mobile units, as in fixed establishments, it may be establish-
ments
accompanied by the national flag of the Party to the conflict to
which the unit or establishment belongs.
Nevertheless, medical units which have fallen into the hands of
the enemy shall not fly any flag other than that of the Convention.
Parties to the conflict shall take the necessary steps, in so far as
military considerations permit, to make the distinctive emblems
indicating medical units and establishments clearly visible to the
enemy land, air or naval forces, in order to obviate the possibility of
any hostile action.
Marking of Arr. 43. — The medical units belonging to neutral countries,

units of which may have been authorized to lend their services to a
neutral
countries belligerent under the conditions laid down in Artide 27, shall fly,
along with the flag of the Convention, the national flag of that
belligerent, wherever the latter makes use of the faculty conferred on
him by Article 42.
Subject to orders to the contrary by the responsible military
authorities, they may, on all occasions, fly their national flag, even if
they fall into the hands of the adverse Party.
Restrictions Arr. 44. — With the exception of the cases mentioned in the
in the use of following paragraphs of the present Article, the emblem of the red
the emblem.
Exceptions cross on a white ground and the words "Red Cross", or "Geneva
Cross" may not be employed, either in time of peace or in time of
war, except to indicate or to protect the medical units and
establishments, the personnel and material protected by the present
Convention and other Conventions dealing with similar matters.
The same shall apply to the emblems mentioned in Article 38,
second paragraph, in respect of the countries which use them. The
National Red Cross Societies and other Societies designated in
Article 26 shall have the right to use the distinctive emblem
conferring the protection of the Convention only within the
framework of the present paragraph.
Furthermore, National Red Cross (Red Crescent, Red Lion and
Sun) Societies may, in time of peace, in accordance with their
national legislation, make use of the name and emblem of the Red
Cross for their other activities which are in conformity with the
principles laid down by the International Red Cross Conferences.
When those activities are carried out in time of war, the conditions
for the use of the emblem shall be such that it cannot be considered
as conferring the protection of the Convention; the emblem shall be
comparatively small in size and may not be placed on armlets or on
the roofs of buildings.
The international Red Cross organizations and their duly
authorized personnel shall be permitted to make use, at all times, of
the emblem of the red cross on a white ground.
As an exceptional measure, in conformity with national
legislation and with the express permission of one of the National
Red Cross (Red Crescent, Red Lion and Sun) Societies, the emblem
of the Convention may be employed in time of peace to identify
vehicles used as ambulances and to mark the position of aid stations
exclusively assigned to the purpose of giving free treatment to the
wounded or sick.
WOUNDED AND SICK 53
CHAPTER VIII
Execution of the Convention
ART. 45. — Each Party to the conflict, acting through its Detailed
commanders-in-chief, shall ensure the detailed execution of the execution.
Unforeseen
preceding Articles, and provide for unforeseen cases, in conformity
cases
with the general principles of the present Convention.
ART. 46. — Reprisals against the wounded, sick, personnel, Prohibition

buildings or equipment protected by the Convention are of r eP ri sa is
prohibited.
ART. 47. — The High Contracting Parties undertake, in time of Dissemination

peace as in time of war, to disseminate the text of the present of the
Convention
Convention as widely as possible in their respective countries, and, in
particular, to include the study thereof in their programmes of
military and, if possible, civil instruction, so that the principles
thereof may become known to the entire population, in particular to
the armed fighting forces, the medical personnel and the
chaplains.
Translations.
Arr. 48. — The High Contracting Parties shall communicate to Rules of
one another through the Swiss Federal Council and, during application
hostilities, through the Protecting Powers, the official translations of
the present Convention, as well as the laws and regulations which
they may adopt to ensure the application thereof.
CHAPTER IX
Repression of Abuses and Infractions
Arr. 49. — The High Contracting Parties undertake to enact any Penal
legislation necessary to provide effective penal sanctions for sanctions
persons committing, or ordering to be committed, any of the grave 1.
General
breaches of the present Convention defined in the following Article. observations
Each High Contracting Party shall be under the obligation to
search for persons alleged to have committed, or to have ordered
to be committed, such grave breaches, and shall bring such persons,
regardless of their nationality, before its own courts. It may also, if it
prefers, and in accordance with the provisions of its own
legislation,
hand such persons over for trial to another High Contracting Party
concerned, provided such High Contracting Party has made out a
prima facie case.
Each High Contracting Party shall take measures necessary for
the suppression of all acts contrary to the provisions of the present
Convention other than the grave breaches defined in the following
Article.
In all circumstances, the accused persons shall benefit by
safeguards of proper trial and defence, which shall not be less
favourable than those provided by Article 105 and those following of
the Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War
of August 12, 1949.
AkT. 50. — Grave breaches to which the preceding Article relates

Grave shall be those involving any of the following acts, if committed
breaches
against persons or property protected by the Convention: wilful
killing, torture or inhuman treatment, including biological
experiments, wilfully causing great suffering or serious injury to
body or health, and extensive destruction and appropriation of
property, not justified by military necessity and carried out
unlawfully and wantonly.
Ill. Awr. 51. — No High Contracting Party shall be allowed to

Responsibilities absolve itself or any other High Contracting Party of any liability
of the
Contracting incurred by itself or by another High Contracting Party in respect of
Parties breaches referred to in the preceding Article.
Enquiry
ART. 52. — At the request of a Party to the conflict, an enquiry
shall be instituted, in a manner to be decided between the interested
Parties, concerning any alleged violation of the Convention.
If agreement has not been reached concerning the procedure for
the enquiry, the Parties should agree on the choice of an umpire
who will decide upon the procedure to be followed.
Once the violation has been established, the Parties to the conflict
shall put an end to it and shall repress it with the least possible delay.
Axr. 53. — The use by individuals, societies, firms or companies

either public or private, other than those entitled thereto under the
present Convention, of the emblem or the designation "Red Cross"
or "Geneva Cross", or any sign or designation constituting an
imitation thereof, whatever the object of such use, and irrespective
of the date of its adoption, shall be prohibited at all times.
By reason of the tribute paid to Switzerland by the adoption of
the reversed Federal colours, and of the confusion which may arise
WOUNDED, SICK ANDSHIPWRECKED 65
those placed hors de combat by sickness, wounds, detention,

or any other cause, shall in all circumstances be treated
humanely, without any adverse distinction founded on race,
colour, religion or faith, sex, birth or wealth, or any other
similar criteria.
To this end, the following acts are and shall remain prohib-
ited at any time and in any place whatsoever with respect to
the above-mentioned persons:
a) violence to life and person, in particular murder of all
kinds, mutilation, cruel treatment and torture;
b) taking of hostages;
c) outrages upon personal dignity, in particular, humiliating
and degrading treatment;
d) the passing of sentences and the carrying out of
executions without previous judgment pronounced by a
regularly constituted court, affording all the judicial
guarantees which are recognized as indispensable by
civilized peoples.
2) The wounded, sick and shipwrecked shall be collected and
cared for.
An impartial humanitarian body, such as the International
Committee of the Red Cross, may offer its services to the Parties to
the conflict.
The Parties to the conflict should further endeavour to bring into
force, by means of special agreements, all or part of the other
provisions of the present Convention.
The application of the preceding provisions shall not affect the
legal status of the Parties to the conflict.
Arr. 4. — In case of hostilities between land and naval forces of

Parties to the conflict, the provisions of the present Convention shall
apply only to forces on board ship.
Forces put ashore shall immediately become subject to the
provisions of the Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the
Condition of the Wounded and Sick in Armed Forces in the Field of
August 12, 1949.
Arr. 5. — Neutral Powers shall apply by analogy the provisions

of the present Convention to the wounded, sick and shipwrecked,
and to members of the medical personnel and to chaplains of the
armed forces of the Parties to the conflict received or interned in
their territory, as well as to dead persons found.
66 SECOND GENEVA CONVENTION OF 1949
Special Arr. 6. — In addition to the agreements expressly provided for in

agreements Articles 10, 18, 31, 38, 39, 40, 43 and 53, the High Contracting
Parties may conclude other special agreements for all matters
concerning which they may deem it suitable to make separate
provision. No special agreement shall adversely affect the situation
of wounded, sick and shipwrecked persons, of members of the
medical personnel or of chaplains, as defined by the present
Convention, nor restrict the rights which it confers upon them.
Wounded, sick, and shipwrecked persons, as well as medical
personnel and chaplains, shall continue to have the benefit of such
agreements as long as the Convention is applicable to them, except
where express provisions to the contrary are contained in the
aforesaid or in subsequent agreements, or where more favourable
measures have been taken with regard to them by one or other of
the Parties to the conflict.
Non- Arr. 7. — Wounded, sick and shipwrecked persons, as well as

renunciation members of the medical personnel and chaplains, may in no
of rights
circumstances renounce in part or in entirety the rights secured to
them by the present Convention, and by the special agreements
referred to in the foregoing Artide, if such there be.
Protecting
ART. 8. — The present Convention shall be applied with the co-
operation and under the scrutiny of the Protecting Powers whose
duty it is to safeguard the interests of the Parties to the conflict. For
this purpose, the Protecting Powers may appoint, apart from their
diplomatic or consular staff, delegates from amongst their own
nationals or the nationals of other neutral Powers. The said
delegates shall be subject to the approval of the Power with which
they are to carry out their duties.
The Parties to the conflict shall facilitate to the greatest extent
possible the task of the representatives or delegates of the Protecting
Powers.
The representatives or delegates of the Protecting Powers shall
not in any case exceed their mission under the present Convention.
They shall, in particular, take account of the imperative necessities
of security of the State wherein they carry out their duties. Their activities
shall only be restricted as an exceptional and temporary measure when
this is rendered necessary by imperative military necessities.
Activities Airs. 9. — The provisions of the present Convention constitute

of the
International no obstacle to the humanitarian activities which the International
Committee of Committee of the Red Cross or any other impartial humanitarian
the Red Cross organization may, subject to the consent of the Parties to the
conflict
WOUNDED, SICK AND SHIPWRECKED 67
concerned, undertake for the protection of wounded, sick and

shipwrecked persons, medical personnel and chaplains, and for
their relief.
Art. 10. — The High Contracting Parties may at any time agree Substitutes
to entrust to an organization which offers all guarantees of for
impartiality and efficacy the duties incumbent on the Protecting Protecting
Powers
Powers by virtue of the present Convention.
When wounded, sick and shipwrecked, or medical personnel and
chaplains do not benefit or cease to benefit, no matter for what
reason, by the activities of a Protecting Power or of an organization
provided for in the first paragraph above, the Detaining Power shall
request a neutral State, or such an organization, to undertake the
functions performed under the present Convention by a Protecting
Power designated by the Parties to a conflict.
If protection cannot be arranged accordingly, the Detaining
Power shall request or shall accept, subject to the provisions of this
Article, the offer of the services of a humanitarian organization,
such as the International Committee of the Red Cross, to assume the
humanitarian functions performed by Protecting Powers under the
present Convention.
Any neutral Power, or any organization invited by the Power
concerned or offering itself for these purposes, shall be required to
act with a sense of responsibility towards the Party to the conflict on
which persons protected by the present Convention depend, and
shall be required to furnish sufficient assurances that it is in a
position to undertake the appropriate functions and to discharge
them impartially.
No derogation from the preceding provisions shall be made by
special agreements between Powers one of which is restricted, even
temporarily, in its freedom to negotiate with the other Power or its
allies by reason of military events, more particularly where the whole,
or a substantial part, of the territory of the said Power is occupied.
Whenever, in the present Convention, mention is made of a
Protecting Power, such mention also applies to substitute
organizations in the sense of the present Artide.
Arr. 11. — In cases where they deem it advisable in the interest Conciliation
of protected persons, particularly in cases of disagreement between procedure
the Parties to the conflict as to the application or interpretation of
the provisions of the present Convention, the Protecting Powers
shall lend their good offices with a view to settling the disagreement.
For this purpose, each of the Protecting Powers may, either at the
invitation of one Party or on its own initiative, propose to the
Wounded Arr. 16. — Subject to the provisions of Article 12, the wounded,
falling into sick and shipwrecked of a belligerent who fall into enemy hands
enemy hands
shall be prisoners of war, and the provisions of international law
concerning prisoners of war shall apply to them. The captor may
decide, according to circumstances, whether it is expedient to hold
them, or to convey them to a port in the captor's own country, to a
neutral port or even to a port in enemy territory. In the last case,
prisoners of war thus returned to their home country may not serve
for the duration of the war.
Wounded Arr. 17. — Wounded, sick or shipwrecked persons who are

landed in a landed in neutral ports with the consent of the local authorities,
neutral port
shall, failing arrangements to the contrary between the neutral and
the belligerent Powers, be so guarded by the neutral Power, where so
required by international law, that the said persons cannot again
take part in operations of war.
The costs of hospital accommodation and internment shall be
borne by the Power on whom the wounded, sick or shipwrecked
persons depend.
Scrrh for Arr. 18. — After each engagement, Parties to the conflict shall,
casualties without delay, take all possible measures to search for and collect the
after an
engagement shipwrecked, wounded and sick, to protect them against pillage and
ill-treatment, to ensure their adequate care, and to search for the
dead and prevent their being despoiled.
Whenever circumstances permit, the Parties to the conflict shall
conclude local arrangements for the removal of the wounded and
sick by sea from a besieged or encircled area and for the passage of
medical and religious personnel and equipment on their way to that
area.
Recording Arr. 19. — The Parties to the conflict shall record as soon as
forwarding of possible, in respect of each shipwrecked, wounded, sick or dead
information person of the adverse Party falling into their hands, any particulars
which may assist in his identification. These records should if
possible include:
a) designation of the Power on which he depends;
b) army, regimental, personal or serial number;
c) s ur na me ;
d) first name or names;
e) date of birth;
f) any other particulars shown on his identity card or disc;
g) date and place of capture or death;

h) particulars concerning wounds or illness, or cause of death.
As soon as possible the above-mentioned information shall be
forwarded to the Information Bureau described in Article 122 of the
Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War of
August 12, 1949, which shall transmit this information to the Power
on which these persons depend through the intermediary of the
Protecting Power and of the Central Prisoners of War Agency.
Parties to the conflict shall prepare and forward to each other
through the same bureau, certificates of death or duly authenticated
lists of the dead. They shall likewise collect and forward through the
same bureau one half of the double identity disc, or the identity disc
itself if it is a single disc, last wills or other documents of importance
to the next of kin, money and in general all artides of an intrinsic or
sentimental value, which are found on the dead. These articles
together with unidentified artides, shall be sent in sealed packets,
accompanied by statements giving all particulars necessary for the
identification of the deceased owners, as well as by a complete list of
the contents of the parcel.
Arr. 20. — Parties to the conflict shall ensure that burial at sea of Prescriptions
the dead, carried out individually as far as circumstances permit, is regarding
preceded by a careful examination, if possible by a medical the dead
examination, of the bodies, with a view to confirming death,
establishing identity and enabling a report to be made. Where a
double identity disc is used, one half of the disc should remain on
the body.
If dead persons are landed, the provisions of the Geneva
Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded
and Sick in Armed Forces in the Field of August 12, 1949, shall be
applicable.
Arr. 21. — The Parties to the conflict may appeal to the charity Appeals to
of commanders of neutral merchant vessels, yachts or other craft, to neural
take on board and care for wounded, sick or shipwrecked persons, vessels
and to collect the dead.
Vessels of any kind responding to this appeal, and those having of
their own accord collected wounded, sick or shipwrecked persons,
shall enjoy special protection and facilities to carry out such
assistance.
They may, in no case, be captured on account of any such
transport; but, in the absence of any promise to the contrary, they
shall remain liable to capture for any violations of neutrality they
may have committed.
CHAPTER III
Hospital Ships
Notification Arr. 22. — Military hospital ships, that is to say, ships built or
and equipped by the Powers specially and solely with a view to assisting
protection of the wounded, sick and shipwrecked, to treating them and to
military transporting them, may in no circumstances be attacked or
hospital ships captured, but shall at all times be respected and protected, on
condition that their names and descriptions have been notified to
the Parties to the conflict ten days before those ships are employed.
The characteristics which must appear in the notification shall indude
registered gross tonnage, the length from stem to stern and the
number of masts and funnels.
Protection of Arr. 23. — Establishments ashore entitled to the protection of
medical the Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of
establishments the Wounded and Sick in Armed Forces in the Field of August 12,
ashore
1949, shall be protected from bombardment or attack from the sea.
Hospital Arr. 24. — Hospital ships utilized by National Red Cross

ships utilized Societies, by officially recognized relief societies or by private
by relief persons shall have the same protection as military hospital ships
societies and and shall be exempt from capture, if the Party to the conflict on
private which they depend has given them an official commission and in so
individuals of far as the provisions of Artide 22 concerning notification have been
complied with.
I.
These ships must be provided with certificates from the
Parties to
responsible authorities, stating that the vessels have been under
the conflict
their control while fitting out and on departure.
II. Arr. 25. — Hospital ships utilized by National Red Cross

Neutral Societies, officially recognized relief societies, or private persons of
countries neutral countries shall have the same protection as military hospital
ships and shall be exempt from capture, on condition that they have
placed themselves under the control of one of the Parties to the
conflict, with the previous consent of their own governments and
with the authorization of the Party to the conflict concerned, in so
far as the provisions of Artide 22 concerning notification have been
complied with.
Tonnage Arr. 26. — The protection mentioned in Articles 22, 24 and 25

shall apply to hospital ships of any tonnage and to their lifeboats,
wherever they are operating. Nevertheless, to ensure the maximum
comfort and security, the Parties to the conflict shall endeavour to

utilize, for the transport of wounded, sick and shipwrecked over
long distances and on the high seas, only hospital ships of over 2,000
tons gross.
Arr. 27. — Under the same conditions as those provided for in Coastal
Artides 22 and 24, small craft employed by the State or by the officially rescue craft
recognized lifeboat institutions for coastal rescue operations, shall
also be respected and protected, so far as operational requirements
permit. The same shall apply so far as possible to fixed coastal
installations used exdusively by these craft for their humanitarian
missions. Protection of
Arr. 28. — Should fighting occur on board a warship, the sick-

bays shall be respected and spared as far as possible. Sick-bays and
their equipment shall remain subject to the laws of warfare, but may
not be diverted from their purpose so long as they are required for
the wounded and sick. Nevertheless, the commander into whose
power they have fallen may, after ensuring the proper care of the
wounded and sick who are accommodated therein, apply them to
other purposes in case of urgent military necessity.
Arr. 29. — Any hospital ship in a port which falls into the hands Hospital ships
of the enemy shall be authorized to leave the said port. M occupied
ports
Arr. 30. — The vessels described in Artides 22, 24, 25 and 27 Employment
of hospital
shall afford relief and assistance to the wounded, sick and ships and
shipwrecked without distinction of nationality. small craft
The High Contracting Parties undertake not to use these vessels
for any military purpose.
Such vessels shall in no wise hamper the movements of the
combatants.
During and after an engagement, they will act at their own risk.
Right of
ART. 31. — The Parties to the conflict shall have the right to control and
control and search the vessels mentioned in Articles 22, 24, 25 and search
27. They can refuse assistance from these vessels, order them off,
make them take a certain course, control the use of their wireless
and other means of communication, and even detain them for a
period not exceeding seven days from the time of interception, if the
gravity of the circumstances so requires.
They may put a commissioner temporarily on board whose sole
task shall be to see that orders given in virtue of the provisions of the
preceding paragraph are carried out.
CHAPTER VI
The Distinctive Emblem
ART. 41. — Under the direction of the competent military

authority, the emblem of the red cross on a white ground shall be
displayed on the flags, armlets and on all equipment employed in
the Medical Service.
Nevertheless, in the case of countries which already use as
emblem, in place of the red cross, the red crescent or the red lion and
sun on a white ground, these emblems are also recognized by the
terms of the present Convention.
Au. 42. — The personnel designated in Articles 36 and 37 shall Identification

wear, affixed to the left arm, a water-resistant armlet bearing the of medical
and religious
distinctive emblem, issued and stamped by the military authority. personnel
Such personnel, in addition to wearing the identity disc
mentioned in Article 19, shall also carry a special identity card
bearing the distinctive emblem. This card shall be water-resistant
and of such size that it can be carried in the pocket. It shall be
worded in the national language, shall mention at least the surname
and first names, the date of birth, the rank and the service number
of the bearer, and shall state in what capacity he is entitled to the
protection of the present Convention. The card shall bear the
photograph of the owner and also either his signature or his finger-
prints or both. It shall be embossed with the stamp of the military
authority.
The identity card shall be uniform throughout the same armed
forces and, as far as possible, of a similar type in the armed forces of
the High Contracting Parties. The Parties to the conflict may be
guided by the model which is annexed, by way of example, to the
present Convention. They shall inform each other, at the outbreak of
hostilities, of the model they are using. Identity cards should be
made out, if possible, at least in duplicate, one copy being kept by the
home country.
In no circumstances may the said personnel be deprived of their
insignia or identity cards nor of the right to wear the armlet. In
cases of loss they shall be entitled to receive duplicates of the cards
and to have the insignia replaced.
Au. 43. — The ships designated in Articles 22,24,25 and 27 shall Marking of
be distinctively marked as follows: hospital ships
and small
a) All exterior surfaces shall be white. craft
b) One or more dark red crosses, as large as possible, shall be

painted and displayed on each side of the hull and on the horizontal
surfaces, so placed as to afford the greatest possible visibility from
the sea and from the air.
All hospital ships shall make themselves known by hoisting their
national flag and further, if they belong to a neutral state, the flag of
the Party to the conflict whose direction they have accepted. A white
flag with a red cross shall be flown at the mainmast as high as
possible.
Lifeboats of hospital ships, coastal lifeboats and all small craft
used by the Medical Service shall be painted white with dark red
crosses prominently displayed and shall, in general, comply with the
identification system prescribed above for hospital ships.
The above-mentioned ships and craft, which may wish to ensure
by night and in times of reduced visibility the protection to which
they are entitled, must, subject to the assent of the Party to the
conflict under whose power they are, take the necessary measures to
render their painting and distinctive emblems sufficiently apparent.
Hospital ships which, in accordance with Article 31, are
provisionally detained by the enemy, must haul down the flag of the
Party to the conflict in whose service they are or whose direction
they have accepted.
Coastal lifeboats, if they continue to operate with the consent of
the Occupying Power from a base which is occupied, may be
allowed, when away from their base, to continue to fly their own
national colours along with a flag carrying a red cross on a white
ground, subject to prior notification to all the Parties to the conflict
concerned.
All the provisions in this Article relating to the red cross shall
apply equally to the other emblems mentioned in Artide 41.
Parties to the conflict shall at all times endeavour to conclude
mutual agreements, in order to use the most modern methods
available to facilitate the identification of hospital ships.
Limitation in Arr. 44. — The distinguishing signs referred to in Article 43 can
the use of only be used, whether in time of peace or war, for indicating or
markings
protecting the ships therein mentioned, except as may be provided
in any other international Convention or by agreement between all
the Parties to the conflict concerned.
Prevention Arr. 45. — The High Contracting Parties shall, if their

legislation is not already adequate, take the measures necessary
for the prevention and repression, at all times, of any abuse of
the distinctive signs provided for under Artide 43.
WOUNDED, SICK AND SHIPWRECKED 79
CHAPTER VII
Execution of the Convention
ART. 46. — Each Party to the conflict, acting through its

Detailed
Commanders-in-Chief, shall ensure the detailed execution of the execution.
preceding Articles and provide for unforeseen cases, in conformity Unforeseen
with the general principles of the present Convention. cases
Arr. 47. — Reprisals against the wounded, sick and shipwrecked Prohibition
persons, the personnel, the vessels or the equipment protected by of reprisals
the Convention are prohibited.
Dissemination
ART. 48. — The High Contracting Parties undertake, in time of of the
peace as in time of war, to disseminate the text of the present Convention
Convention as widely as possible in their respective countries, and,
in particular, to include the study thereof in their programmes of
military and, if possible, civil instruction, so that the principles
thereof may become known to the entire population, in particular
to the armed fighting forces, the medical personnel and the
chaplains.
Ain. 49. — The High Contracting Parties shall communicate to Translations.
one another through the Swiss Federal Council and, during Rules of
application
hostilities, through the Protecting Powers, the official translations of
the present Convention, as well as the laws and regulations which
they may adopt to ensure the application thereof.
CHAPTER VIII
Repression of Abuses and Infractions
ART. 50. — The High Contracting Parties undertake to enact any Penal
legislation necessary to provide effective penal sanctions for
persons committing, or ordering to be committed, any of the grave sanctions
breaches of the present Convention defined in the following Artide.
Each High Contracting Party shall be under the obligation to I.
search for persons alleged to have committed, or to have ordered to General
be committed, such grave breaches, and shall bring such persons, observations
regardless of their nationality, before its own courts. It may also, if it
prefers, and in accordance with the provisions of its own legislation,

hand such persons over for trial to another High Contracting Party
concerned, provided such High Contracting Party has made out a
prima facie case.
Each High Contracting Party shall take measures necessary for
the suppression of all acts contrary to the provisions of the present
Convention other than the grave breaches defined in the following
Article.
In all circumstances, the accused persons shall benefit by
safeguards of proper trial and defence, which shall not be less
favourable than those provided by Article 105 and those following of
the Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War
of August 12, 1949.
Arr. 51. — Grave breaches to which the preceding Article relates

shall be those involving any of the following acts, if committed
against persons or property protected by the Convention: wilful
killing, torture or inhuman treatment, including biological
experiments, wilfully causing great suffering or serious injury to
body or health, and extensive destruction and appropriation of
property, not justified by military necessity and carried out
unlawfully and wantonly.
ART. 52. — No High Contracting Party shall be allowed to

absolve itself or any other High Contracting Party of any liability
incurred by itself or by another High Contracting Party in respect
of breaches referred to in the preceding Article.
ART. 53. — At the request of a Party to the conflict, an enquiry

shall be instituted, in a manner to be decided between the interested
Parties, concerning any alleged violation of the Convention.
If agreement has not been reached concerning the procedure for
the enquiry, the Parties should agree on the choice of an umpire,
who will decide upon the procedure to be followed.
Once the violation has been established, the Parties to the
conflict shall put an end to it and shall repress it with the least
possible delay.
Final Provisions
Languages ART. 54. — The present Convention is established in English and
in French. Both texts are equally authentic.
The Swiss Federal Council shall arrange for official translations of
the Convention to be made in the Russian and Spanish languages.
90 CONTENTS
SECTION!! - Final Provisions

Article 133 Languages.. 144
Article 134 Relation to the 1929 Convention . 144
Article 135 Relation to the Hague Convention . 144
Article 136 Signature 144
Article 137 Ratification 144
Article 138 Coming into force . 145
Article 139 Accession 145
Article 140 Notification of accessions 145
Article 141 Immediate effect . 145
Article 142 Denunciation . 145
Article 143 Registration with the United Nations.. 146
ANNEX I
Model Agreement concerning Direct Repatriation and Accommodation
in Neutral Countries of Wounded and Sick Prisoners of War . 147
I. Principles for direct repatriation and accommodation in neutral countries 147
A. Direct repatriation. 147
B. Accommodation in neutral countries . 150
II. General observations . 150
ANNEX!!
Regulations concerning Mixed Medical Commissions. 152
ANNEX III
Regulations concerning Collective Relief 154
ANNEX IV
A. Identity Card……………………………………………………………….156
B. Capture Card……………………………………………………………….157
C. Correspondence Card and Letter …………………………………………158
D. Notification of Death……………………………………………..………160
E. Repatriation Certificate……………………………………………...……161
ANNEX V
Model Regulations concerning Payments sent
by Prisoners to their own Country . ………………………………………...…162
92 THIRD GENEVA CONVENTION 01:1949
without any adverse distinction founded on race, colour, religion

or faith, sex, birth or wealth, or any other similar criteria.
To this end, the following acts are and shall remain prohibited
at any time and in any place whatsoever with respect to the
above-mentioned persons:
a) violence to life and person, in particular murder of all
kinds, mutilation, cruel treatment and torture;
b) taking of hostages;
c) outrages upon personal dignity, its particular, humiliating
and degrading treatment;
d) the passing of sentences and the carrying out of
executions without previous judgment pronounced by a
regularly constituted court affording all the judicial
guarantees which are recognized as indispensable by
civilized peoples.
2) The wounded and sick shall be collected and cared for.
An impartial humanitarian body, such as the International
Committee of the Red Cross, may offer its services to the Parties to
the conflict.
The Parties to the conflict should further endeavour to bring into
force, by means of special agreements, all or part of the other
provisions of the present Convention.
The application of the preceding provisions shall not affect the
legal status of the Parties to the conflict.
Prisoners ART. 4. — A. Prisoners of war, in the sense of the present

o f wa r Con venti on, are persons bel on gin g to one of the followin g
categories, who have fallen into the power of the enemy:
1) Members of the armed forces of a Party to the conflict as well
as members of militias or volunteer corps forming part of
such armed forces.
2) Members of other militias and members of other volunteer
corps, including those of organized resistance movements,
belonging to a Party to the conflict and operating in or
outside their own territory, even if this territory is occupied,
provided that such militias or volunteer corps, including such
organized resistance movements, fulfil the following
conditions:
a) that of being commanded by a person responsible for his
subordinates;
b) that of having a fixed distinctive sign recognizable at a
distance;
PRISONERS OF WAR 93
c) that of carrying arms openly;

d) that of conducting their operations in accordance with the
laws and customs of war.
3) Members of regular armed forces who profess allegiance to a
government or an authority not recognized by the Detaining
Power.
4) Persons who accompany the armed forces without actually
being members thereof, such as civilian members of military
aircraft crews, war correspondents, supply contractors,
members of labour units or of services responsible for the
welfare of the armed forces, provided that they have received
authorization from the armed forces which they accompany,
who shall provide them for that purpose with an identity card
similar to the annexed model.
5) Members of crews, including masters, pilots and apprentices
of the merchant marine and the crews of civil aircraft of the
Parties to the conflict, who do not benefit by more favourable
treatment under any other provisions of international law.
6) Inhabitants of a non-occupied territory who, on the approach
of the enemy, spontaneously take up arms to resist the
invading forces, without having had time to form themselves
into regular armed units, provided they carry arms openly
and respect the laws and customs of war.
B. The following shall likewise be treated as prisoners of war

under the present Convention:
1) Persons belonging, or having belonged, to the armed forces of
the occupied country, if the occupying Power considers it
necessary by reason of such allegiance to intern them, even
though it has originally liberated them while hostilities were
going on outside the territory it occupies, in particular where
such persons have made an unsuccessful attempt to rejoin the
armed forces to which they belong and which are engaged in
combat, or where they fail to comply with a summons made
to them with a view to internment.
2) The persons belonging to one of the categories enumerated in
the present Article, who have been received by neutral or non-
belligerent Powers on their territory and whom these Powers
are required to intern under international law, without
prejudice to any more favourable treatment which these
Powers may choose to give and with the exception of
Articles 8, 10, 15, 30, fifth paragraph, 58-67, 92, 126 and,
94 THIRD GENEVA CONVENTION OF 1949
where diplomatic relations exist between the Parties to the

conflict and the neutral or non-belligerent Power concerned,
those Articles concerning the Protecting Power. Where such
diplomatic relations exist, the Parties to a conflict on whom
these persons depend shall be allowed to perform towards
them the functions of a Protecting Power as provided in the
present Convention, without prejudice to the functions which
these Parties normally exercise in conformity with diplomatic
and consular usage and treaties.
C. This Article shall in no way affect the status of medical

personnel and chaplains as provided for in Article 33 of the present
Convention.
Beginning Ann. 5. — The present Convention shall apply to the persons

referred to in Article 4 from the time they fall into the power of the
application
enemy and until their final release and repatriation.
Should any doubt arise as to whether persons having committed
a belligerent act and having fallen into the hands of the enemy
belong to any of the categories enumerated in Article 4, such
persons shall enjoy the protection of the present Convention until
such time as their status has been determined by a competent
tribunal.
Special Arr. 6. — In addition to the agreements expressly provided for in

agreements Articles 10, 23, 28, 33, 60, 0, 66, 67, 72, 73, 75, 109, 110, 118, 119, 122
and 132, the High Contracting Parties may condude other special
agreements for all matters concerning which they may deem it
suitable to make separate provision. No special agreement shall
adversely affect the situation of prisoners of war, as defined by the
present Convention, nor restrict the rights which it confers upon
them.
Prisoners of war shall continue to have the benefit of such
agreements as long as the Convention is applicable to them, except
where express provisions to the contrary are contained in the
aforesaid or in subsequent agreements, or where more favourable
measures have been taken with regard to them by one or other of
the Parties to the conflict.
Non- ART. 7. — Prisoners of war may in no circumstances renounce in

renunciation part or in entirety the rights secured to them by the present
of rights
Convention, and by the special agreements referred to in the
foregoing Article, if such there be.
PRISONERS OF WAR 101
Arr. 22. — Prisoners of war may be interned only in premises Places and
conditions of
located on land and affording every guarantee of hygiene and internment
healthfulness. Except in particular cases which are justified by the
interest of the prisoners themselves, they shall not be interned in
penitentiaries.
Prisoners of war interned in unhealthy areas, or where the
climate is injurious for them, shall be removed as soon as possible to
a more favourable dimate.
The Detaining Power shall assemble prisoners of war in camps or
camp compounds according to their nationality, language and
customs, provided that such prisoners shall not be separated from
prisoners of war belonging to the armed forces with which they
were serving at the time of their capture, except with their consent.
A= 23. — No prisoner of war may at any time be sent to, or prisoners -uri
detained in areas where he may be exposed to the fire of the combat
zone, nor may his presence be used to render certain points or areas
immune from military operations.
Prisoners of war shall have shelters against air bombardment and
other hazards of war, to the same extent as the local civilian
population. With the exception of those engaged in the protection
of their quarters against the aforesaid hazards, they may enter such
shelters as soon as possible after the giving of the alarm. Any other
protective measure taken in favour of the population shall also
apply to them.
Detaining Powers shall give the Powers concerned, through the
intermediary of the Protecting Powers, all useful information
regarding the geographical location of prisoner of war camps.
Whenever military considerations permit, prisoner of war camps
shall be indicated in the day-time by the letters PW or PG, placed so
as to be clearly visible from the air. The Powers concerned may,
however, agree upon any other system of marking. Only prisoner of
war camps shall be marked as such.
Arr. 24. — Transit or screening camps of a permanent kind shall
P
be fitted out under conditions similar to those described in the transiterCleatpS
present Section, and the prisoners therein shall have the same
treatment as in other camps.
CHAPTER II
Quarters, Food and Clothing of Prisoners of War
Quarters ART. 25. — Prisoners of war shall be quartered under conditions

as favourable as those for the forces of the Detaining Power who are
billeted in the same area. The said conditions shall make allowance
for the habits and customs of the prisoners and shall in no case be
prejudicial to their health.
The foregoing provisions shall apply in particular to the
dormitories of prisoners of war as regards both total surface and
minimum cubic space, and the general installations, bedding and
blankets.
The premises provided for the use of prisoners of war
individually or collectively, shall be entirely protected from
dampness and adequately heated and lighted, in particular between
dusk and lights out. All precautions must be taken against the
danger of fire.
In any camps in which women prisoners of war, as well as men,
are accommodated, separate dormitories shall be provided for them.
Food ART. 26. — The basic daily food rations shall be sufficient in
quantity, quality and variety to keep prisoners of war in good health
and to prevent loss of weight or the development of nutritional
deficiencies. Account shall also be taken of the habitual diet of the
prisoners.
The Detaining Power shall supply prisoners of war who work
with such additional rations as are necessary for the labour on
which they are employed.
Sufficient drinking water shall be supplied to prisoners of war.
The use of tobacco shall be permitted.
Prisoners of war shall, as far as possible, be associated with the
preparation of their meals; they may be employed for that purpose
in the kitchens. Furthermore, they shall be given the means of
preparing, themselves, the additional food in their possession.
Adequate premises shall be provided for messing.
Collective disciplinary measures affecting food are prohibited.
Clothing ART. 27. — Clothing, underwear and footwear shall be supplied
to prisoners of war in sufficient quantities by the Detaining Power,
which shall make allowance for the climate of the region where the
prisoners are detained. Uniforms of enemy armed forces captured
by the Detaining Power should, if suitable for the dimate, be made
available to clothe prisoners of war.
1
The regular replacement and repair of the above articles shall be
assured by the Detaining Power. In addition, prisoners of war who
work shall receive appropriate clothing, wherever the nature of the
work demands.
Are. 28. — Canteens shall be installed in all camps, where canteens

prisoners of war may procure foodstuffs, soap and tobacco and
ordinary articles in daily use. The tariff shall never be in excess of
local market prices.
The profits made by camp canteens shall be used for the benefit of
the prisoners; a special fund shall be created for this purpose. The
prisoners' representative shall have the right to collaborate in the
management of the canteen and of this fund.
When a camp is closed down, the credit balance of the special
fund shall be handed to an international welfare organization, to be
employed for the benefit of prisoners of war of the same nationality
as those who have contributed to the fund. In case of a general
repatriation, such profits shall be kept by the Detaining Power,
subject to any agreement to the contrary between the Powers
concerned.
CHAPTER III
Hygiene and Medical Attention
Arr. 29. — The Detaining Power shall be bound to take all Hygiene
sanitary measures necessary to ensure the cleanliness and
healthfulness of camps, and to prevent epidemics.
Prisoners of war shall have for their use, day and night,
conveniences which conform to the rules of hygiene and are
maintained in a constant state of cleanliness. In any camps in which
women prisoners of war are accommodated, separate conveniences
shall be provided for them.
Also, apart from the baths and showers with which the camps
shall be furnished, prisoners of war shall be provided with sufficient
water and soap for their personal toilet and for washing their
personal laundry; the necessary installations, facilities and time
shall be granted them for that purpose.
Arr. 30. — Every camp shall have an adequate infirmary where Medie val
prisoners of war may have the attention they require, as well as attention
appropriate diet. Isolation wards shall, if necessary, be set aside for

cases of contagious or mental disease.
Prisoners of war suffering from serious disease, or whose
condition necessitates special treatment, a surgical operation or
hospital care, must be admitted to any military or civilian medical
unit where such treatment can be given, even if their repatriation is
contemplated in the near future. Special facilities shall be afforded
for the care to be given to the disabled, in particular to the blind, and
for their rehabilitation, pending repatriation.
Prisoners of war shall have the attention, preferably, of medical
personnel of the Power on which they depend and, if possible, of
their nationality.
Prisoners of war may not be prevented from presenting
themselves to the medical authorities for examination. The
detaining authorities shall, upon request, issue to every prisoner
who has undergone treatment, an official certificate indicating the
nature of his illness or injury, and the duration and kind of
treatment received. A duplicate of this certificate shall be forwarded
to the Central Prisoners of War Agency
The costs of treatment, including those of any apparatus
necessary for the maintenance of prisoners of war in good health,
particularly dentures and other artificial appliances, and spectacles,
shall be borne by the Detaining Power.
Medical Awn 31. — Medical inspections of prisoners of war shall be held

inspections at least once a month. They shall include the checking and the
recording of the weight of each prisoner of war. Their purpose shall
be, in particular, to supervise the general state of health, nutrition
and cleanliness of prisoners and to detect contagious diseases,
especially tuberculosis, malaria and venereal disease. For this
purpose the most efficient methods available shall be employed,
e.g. periodic mass miniature radiography for the early detection of
tuberculosis.
Prisoners Arr. 32. — Prisoners of war who, though not attached to the
medical service of their armed forces, are physicians, surgeons,
engaged
dentists, nurses or medical orderlies, may be required by the
on medieval Detaining Power to exercise their medical functions in the interests
duties of prisoners of war dependent on the some Power. In that case they
shall continue to be prisoners of war, but shall receive the same
treatment as corresponding medical personnel retained by the
Detaining Power. They shall be exempted from any other work
under Article 49.
Such notifications shall be given in time for them to pack their

luggage and inform their next of kin.
They shall be allowed to take with them their personal effects,
and the correspondence and parcels which have arrived for them.
The weight of such baggage may be limited, if the conditions of
transfer so require, to what each prisoner can reasonably carry,
which shall in no case be more than twenty-five kilograms per head.
Mail and parcels addressed to their former camp shall be
forwarded to them without delay. The camp commander shall take,
in agreement with the prisoners' representative, any measures
needed to ensure the transport of the prisoners' community
property and of the luggage they are unable to take with them in
consequence of restrictions imposed by virtue of the second
paragraph of this Article.
The costs of transfers shall be borne by the Detaining Power.
SECTION III
LABOUR OF PRISONERS OF WAR
General ART. 49. — The Detaining Power may utilize the labour of
observations prisoners of war who are physically fit, taking into account their age,
sex, rank and physical aptitude, and with a view particularly to
maintaining them in a good state of physical and mental health.
Non-commissioned officers who are prisoners of war shall only be
required to do supervisory work. Those not so required may ask for
other suitable work which shall, so far as possible, be found for them.
If officers or persons of equivalent status ask for suitable work, it
shall be found for them, so far as possible, but they may in no
circumstances be compelled to work.
Authorized ART. 50. — Besides work connected with camp administration,

work installation or maintenance, prisoners of war may be compelled to
do only such work as is included in the following lasses:
a) agriculture;
b) industries connected with the production or the extraction of
raw materials, and manufacturing industries, with the
exception of metallurgical, machinery and chemical
industries; public works and building operations which have
no military character or purpose;
PRISONERS OF WAR 11I
c) transport and handling of stores which are not military in

character or purpose;
d) commercial business, and arts and crafts;
e) domestic service;
f) public utility services having no military character or purpose.
Should the above provisions be infringed, prisoners of war shall
be allowed to exercise their right of complaint, in conformity with
Article 78.
Am: 51. — Prisoners of war must be granted suitable working Working

conditions, especially as regards accommodation, food, clothing Conditions
and equipment; such conditions shall not be inferior to those
enjoyed by nationals of the Detaining Power employed in similar
work; account shall also be taken of dimatic conditions.
The Detaining Power, in utilizing the labour of prisoners of war,
shall ensure that in areas in which prisoners are employed, the
national legislation concerning the protection of labour, and, more
particularly, the regulations for the safety of workers, are duly applied.
Prisoners of war shall receive training and be provided with the
means of protection suitable to the work they will have to do and
similar to those accorded to the nationals of the Detaining Power.
Subject to the provisions of Article 52, prisoners may be submitted
to the normal risks run by these civilian workers.
Conditions of labour shall in no case be rendered more arduous
by disciplinary measures.
ART. 52. — Unless he be a volunteer, no prisoner of war may be Dangerous or

employed on labour which is of an unhealthy or dangerous nature. humiliating
labour
No prisoner of war shall be assigned to labour which would be
looked upon as humiliating for a member of the Detaining Power's
own forces.
The removal of mines or similar devices shall be considered as
dangerous labour.
ART. 53. — The duration of the daily labour of prisoners of war, Duration
including the time of the journey to and from, shall not be excessive, of labour
and must in no case exceed that permitted for civilian workers in the
district, who are nationals of the Detaining Power and employed on
the same work.
Prisoners of war must be allowed, in the middle of the day's work,
a rest of not less than one hour. This rest will be the same as that to
which workers of the Detaining Power are entitled, if the latter is of
longer duration. They shall be allowed in addition a rest of
twenty-four consecutive hours every week, preferably on Sunday or

the day of rest in their country of origin. Furthermore, every
prisoner who has worked for one year shall be granted a rest of eight
consecutive days, during which his working pay shall be paid
him. If methods of labour such as piece work are employed, the
length of the working period shall not be rendered excessive
thereby.
Working pay. Arr. 54. — The working pay due to prisoners of war shall be
Occupational fixed in accordance with the provisions of Article 62 of the present
accidents
and diseases Convention.
Prisoners of war who sustain accidents in connection with work,
or who contract a disease in the course, or in consequence of their
work, shall receive all the care their condition may require. The
Detaining Power shall furthermore deliver to such prisoners of war
a medical certificate enabling them to submit their claims to the
Power on which they depend, and shall send a duplicate to the
Central Prisoners of War Agency provided for in Article 123.
Medical Arr. 55. — The fitness of prisoners of war for work shall be
periodically verified by medical examinations at least once a month.
The examinations shall have particular regard to the nature of the
work which prisoners of war are required to do.
If any prisoner of war considers himself incapable of working, he
shall be permitted to appear before the medical authorities of his
camp. Physicians or surgeons may recommend that the prisoners
who are, in their opinion, unfit for work, be exempted therefrom.
Labour Arr. 56. — The organization and administration of labour

detachments detachments shall be similar to those of prisoner of war camps.
Every labour detachment shall remain under the control of and
administratively part of a prisoner of war camp. The military
authorities and the commander of the said camp shall be responsible,
under the direction of their government, for the observance of the
provisions of the present Convention in labour detachments.
The camp commander shall keep an up-to-date record of the
labour detachments dependent on his camp, and shall
communicate it to the delegates of the Protecting Power, of the
International Committee of the Red Cross, or of other agencies
giving relief to prisoners of war, who may visit the camp.
Prisoners Arr. 57. — The treatment of prisoners of war who work for
working for private persons, even if the latter are responsible for guarding and
private
employers protecting them, shall not be inferior to that which is provided for
by the present Convention. The Detaining Power, the military
authorities and the commander of the camp to which such

prisoners belong shall be entirely responsible for the maintenance,
care, treatment, and payment of the working pay of such prisoners
ofwar.
Such prisoners of war shall have the right to remain in
communication with the prisoners' representatives in the camps on
which they depend.
SECTIONIV
FINANCIAL RESOURCES OF PRISONERS OF WAR
ART. 58. — Upon the outbreak of hostilities, and pending an Ready money
arrangement on this matter with the Protecting Power, the
Detaining Power may determine the maximum amount of money
in cash or in any similar form, that prisoners may have in their
possession. Any amount in excess, which was properly in their
possession and which has been taken or withheld from them, shall
be placed to their account, together with any monies deposited by
them, and shall not be converted into any other currency without
their consent.
If prisoners of war are permitted to purchase services or
commodities outside the camp against payment in cash, such
payments shall be made by the prisoner himself or by the camp
administration who will charge them to the accounts of the
prisoners concerned. The Detaining Power will establish the
necessary rules in this respect.
ARM 59. — Cash which was taken from prisoners of war, in Amounts in cash
accordance with Article 18, at the time of their capture, and which is taken from
prisoners
in the currency of the Detaining Power, shall be placed to their
separate accounts, in accordance with the provisions of Artide 64 of
the present Section.
The amounts, in the currency of the Detaining Power, due to the
conversion of sums in other currencies that are taken from the
prisoners of war at the same time, shall also be credited to their
separate accounts.
Ant 60. — The Detaining Power shall grant all prisoners of war
Advances
a monthly advance of pay, the amount of which shall be fixed
by of pay
Bureaux provided for in Artide 122 and the Central Prisoners of

War Agency provided for in Article 123, shall be exempt from any
postal dues, both in the countries of origin and destination, and in
intermediate countries.
If relief shipments intended for prisoners of war cannot be sent
through the post office by reason of weight or for any other cause,
the cost of transportation shall be borne by the Detaining Power in
all the territories under its control. The other Powers party to the
Convention shall bear the cost of transport in their respective
territories.
In the absence of special agreements between the Parties
concerned, the costs connected with transport of such shipments,
other than costs covered by the above exemption, shall be charged
to the senders.
The High Contracting Parties shall endeavour to reduce, so far as
possible, the rates charged for telegrams sent by prisoners of war, or
addressed to them.
Special Arr. 75. — Should military operations prevent the Powers

means of concerned from fulfilling their obligation to assure the transport of
transport
the shipments referred to in Artides 70,71,72 and 77, the Protecting
Powers concerned, the International Committee of the Red Cross or
any other organization duly approved by the Parties to the conflict
may undertake to ensure the conveyance of such shipments by
suitable means (railway wagons, motor vehicles, vessels or
aircraft, etc.). For this purpose, the High Contracting Parties shall
endeavour to supply them with such transport and to allow its
circulation, especially by granting the necessary safe-conducts.
Such transport may also be used to convey:
a) correspondence, lists and reports exchanged between the
Central Information Agency referred to in Artide 123 and the
National Bureaux referred to in Artide 122;
b) correspondence and reports relating to prisoners of war
which the Protecting Power, the International Committee of
the Red Cross or any other body assisting the prisoners,
exchange either with their own delegates or with the Parties
to the conflict.
These provisions in no way detract from the right of any Party to
the conflict to arrange other means of transport, if it should so
prefer, nor preclude the granting of safe-conducts, under mutually
agreed conditions, to such means of transport.
In the absence of special agreements, the costs occasioned by the
use of such means of transport shall be borne proportionally by the
Parties to the conflict whose nationals are benefited thereby.
PRISONERSOFWAR 121
ART. 76. — The censoring of correspondence addressed to

prisoners of war or despatched by them shall be done as quickly as
possible. Mail shall be censored only by the despatching State and
the receiving State, and once only by each.
The examination of consignments intended for prisoners of war
shall not be carried out under conditions that will expose the goods
contained in them to deterioration; except in the case of written or
printed matter, it shall be done in the presence of the addressee, or
of a fellow-prisoner duly delegated by him. The delivery to
prisoners of individual or collective consignments shall not be
delayed under the pretext of difficulties of censorship.
Any prohibition of correspondence ordered by Parties to the
conflict, either for military or political reasons, shall be only
temporary and its duration shall be as short as possible.
Au. 77. — The Detaining Power shall provide all facilities for the
transmission, through the Protecting Power or the Central
Prisoners of War Agency provided for in Article 123, of instruments,
papers or documents intended for prisoners of war or despatched
by them, especially powers of attorney and wills.
In all cases they shall facilitate the preparation and execution of
such documents on behalf of prisoners of war; in particular, they
shall allow them to consult a lawyer and shall take what measures
are necessary for the authentication of their signatures.
SECTION VI
R E L A T I O N S B E T W E E N P R I S O N E R S OF WAR
AND T H E A U T H O R I T I E S
C H A PT E R I
Complaints of Prisoners of War

Respecting the Conditions of Captivity
ART. 78. — Prisoners of war shall have the right to make known
to the military authorities in whose power they are, their requests
regarding the conditions of captivity to which they are subjected.

They shall also have the unrestricted right to apply to the

representatives of the Protecting Powers either through their
prisoners' representative or, if they consider it necessary, direct, in
order to draw their attention to any points on which they may have
complaints to make regarding their conditions of captivity.
Theses requests and complaints shall not be limited nor
considered to be a part of the correspondence quota referred to in
Article 71. They must be transmitted immediately. Even if they are
recognized to be unfounded, they may not give rise to any
punishment.
Prisoners' representative may send periodic reports on the
situation in the camps and the needs of the prisoners of war to the
representatives of the Protecting Powers.
CHAPTER II
Prisoner of War Representatives
Election Afr. 79. — In all places where there are prisoners of war, except
in those where there are officers, the prisoners shall freely elect by
secret ballot, every six months, and also in case of vacancies,
prisoners' representatives entrusted with representing them before
the military authorities, the Protecting Powers, the International
Committee of the Red Cross and any other organization which may
assist them. These prisoners' representatives shall be eligible for re-
election.
In camps for officers and persons of equivalent status or in mixed
camps, the senior officer among the prisoners of war shall be
recognized as the camp prisoners' representative. In camps for
officers, he shall be assisted by one or more advisers chosen by the
officers; in mixed camps, his assistants shall be chosen from among
the prisoners of war who are not officers and shall be elected by them.
Officer prisoners of war of the same nationality shall be stationed
in labour camps for prisoners of war, for the purpose of carrying
out the camp administration duties for which the prisoners of war
are responsible. These officers may be elected as prisoners'
representatives under the first paragraph of this Article. In such a
case the assistants to the prisoners' representatives shall be chosen
from among those prisoners of war who are not officers.
Every representative elected must be approved by the Detaining
Power before he has the right to commence his duties. Where the
Detaining Power refuses to approve a prisoner of war elected by his

fellow prisoners of war, it must inform the Protecting Power of the
reason for such refusal.
In all cases the prisoners' representative must have the same
nationality, language and customs as the prisoners of war whom he
represents. Thus, prisoners of war distributed in different sections
of a camp, according to their nationality, language or customs, shall
have for each section their own prisoners' representative, in
accordance with the foregoing paragraphs.
ART. 80. — Prisoners' representatives shall further the physical, Duties

spiritual and intellectual well-being of prisoners of war.
In particular, where the prisoners decide to organize amongst
themselves a system of mutual assistance, this organization will be
within the province of the prisoners' representative, in addition to
the special duties entrusted to him by other provisions of the
present Convention.
Prisoners' representatives shall not be held responsible, simply by
reason of their duties, for any offences committed by prisoners of
war.
ART. 81. — Prisoners' representatives shall not be required to Prerogatives

perform any other work, if the accomplishment of their duties is
thereby made more difficult.
Prisoners' representatives may appoint from amongst the
prisoners such assistants as they may require. All material facilities
shall be granted them, particularly a certain freedom of movement
necessary for the accomplishment of their duties (inspection of
labour detachments, receipt of supplies, etc.).
Prisoners' representatives shall be permitted to visit premises
where prisoners of war are detained, and every prisoner of war shall
have the right to consult freely his prisoners' representative. All
facilities shall likewise be accorded to the prisoners'
representatives for communication by post and telegraph with the
detaining authorities, the Protecting Powers, the International
Committee of the Red Cross and their delegates, the Mixed Medical
Commissions and with the bodies which give assistance to
prisoners of war. Prisoners' representatives of labour detachments
shall enjoy the same facilities for communication with the prisoners'
representatives of the principal camp. Such communications shall
not be restricted, nor considered as forming a part of the quota
mentioned in Article 71.
Prisoners' representatives who are transferred shall be allowed a
reasonable time to acquaint their successors with current affairs.
In case of dismissal, the reasons therefor shall be communicated
to the Protecting Power.
Atrr. 103. — Judicial investigations relating to a prisoner of war

Confinement shall be conducted as rapidly as circumstances permit and so that
awaiting trial
(Deduction his trial shall take place as soon as possible. A prisoner of war shall
from not be confined while awaiting trial unless a member of the armed
sentence, forces of the Detaining Power would be so confined if he were
treatment) accused of a similar offence, or if it is essential to do so in the
interests of national security. In no circumstances shall this
confinement exceed three months.
Any period spent by a prisoner of war in confinement awaiting
trial shall be deducted from any sentence of imprisonment passed
upon him and taken into account in fixing any penalty.
The provisions of Articles 97 and 98 of this Chapter shall apply
to a prisoner of war whilst in confinement awaiting trial.
Atrr. 104. — In any case in which the Detaining Power has

Notification decided to institute judicial proceedings against a prisoner of war, it
of
proceedings shall notify the Protecting Power as soon as possible and at least
three weeks before the opening of the trial. This period of three
weeks shall run as from the day on which such notification reaches
the Protecting Power at the address previously indicated by the
latter to the Detaining Power.
The said notification shall contain the following information:
1) surname and first names of the prisoner of war, his rank, his
army, regimental, personal or serial number, his date of birth,
and his profession or trade, if any;
2) place of internment or confinement;
3) specification of the charge or charges on which the prisoner
of war is to be arraigned, giving the legal provisions
applicable;
4) designation of the court which will try the case, likewise the
date and place fixed for the opening of the trial.
The same communication shall be made by the Detaining Power
to the prisoners' representative.
If no evidence is submitted, at the opening of a trial, that the
notification referred to above was received by the Protecting Power,
by the prisoner of war and by the prisoners' representative
concerned, at least three weeks before the opening of the trial, then
the latter cannot take place and must be adjourned.
IV. Arr. 105. — The prisoner of war shall be entitled to assistance by
Rights and one of his prisoner comrades, to defence by a qualified advocate or
means of
defence counsel of his own choice, to the calling of witnesses and, if he
deems necessary, to the services of a competent interpreter. He shall
be advised of these rights by the Detaining Power in due time before

the trial.
Failing a choice by the prisoner of war, the Protecting Power shall
find him an advocate or counsel, and shall have at least one week at
its disposal for the purpose. The Detaining Power shall deliver to the
said Power, on request, a list of persons qualified to present the
defence. Failing a choice of an advocate or counsel by the prisoner
of war or the Protecting Power, the Detaining Power shall appoint a
competent advocate or counsel to conduct the defence.
The advocate or counsel conducting the defence on behalf of the
prisoner of war shall have at his disposal a period of two weeks at
least before the opening of the trial, as well as the necessary facilities
to prepare the defence of the accused. He may, in particular, freely
visit the accused and interview him in private. He may also confer
with any witnesses for the defence, induding prisoners of war. He
shall have the benefit of these facilities until the term of appeal or
petition has expired.
Particulars of the charge or charges on which the prisoner of war
is to be arraigned, as well as the documents which are generally
communicated to the accused by virtue of the laws in force in the
armed forces of the Detaining Power, shall be communicated to the
accused prisoner of war in a language which he understands, and in
good time before the opening of the trial. The same communication
in the same circumstances shall be made to the advocate or counsel
conducting the defence on behalf of the prisoner of war.
The representatives of the Protecting Power shall be entitled to
attend the trial of the case, unless, exceptionally, this is held in
camera in the interest of State security. In such a case the Detaining
Power shall advise the Protecting Power accordingly.
ART. 106. — Every prisoner of war shall have, in the same manner V.
as the members of the armed forces of the Detaining Power, the Appeals
right of appeal or petition from any sentence pronounced upon
him, with a view to the quashing or revising of the sentence or the
reopening of the trial. He shall be fully informed of his right to
appeal or petition and of the time limit within which he may do so.
ART. 107. — Any judgment and sentence pronounced upon a VI.

prisoner of war shall be immediately reported to the Protecting Notification
of findings
Power in the form of a summary communication, which shall also andsentence
indicate whether he has the right of appeal with a view to the
quashing of the sentence or the reopening of the trial. This
communication shall likewise be sent to the prisoners'
representative concerned. It shall also be sent to the accused
prisoner of war in a language he understands, if the sentence was

not pronounced in his presence. The Detaining Power shall also
immediately communicate to the Protecting Power the decision of
the prisoner of war to use or to waive his right of appeal.
Furthermore, if a prisoner of war is finally convicted or if a
sentence pronounced on a prisoner of war in the first instance is a
death sentence, the Detaining Power shall as soon as possible
address to the Protecting Power a detailed communication
containing:
1) the precise wording of the fmding and sentence;
2) a summarized report of any preliminary investigation and of
the trial, emphasizing in particular the elements of the
prosecution and the defence;
3) notification, where applicable, of the establishment where the
sentence will be served.
The communications provided for in the foregoing sub-
paragraphs shall be sent to the Protecting Power at the address
previously made known to the Detaining Power.
Execution Arr. 108. — Sentence pronounced on prisoners of war after a
of penalties. conviction has become duly enforceable shall be served in the same
Penal
regulations establishments and under the same conditions as in the case of
members of the armed forces of the Detaining Power. These
conditions shall in all cases conform to the requirements of health
and humanity.
A woman prisoner of war on whom such a sentence has been
pronounced shall be confined in separate quarters and shall be
under the supervision of women.
In any case, prisoners of war sentenced to a penalty depriving
them of their liberty shall retain the benefit of the provisions of
Articles 78 and 126 of the present Convention. Furthermore, they
shall be entitled to receive and despatch correspondence, to receive
at least one relief parcel monthly, to take regular exercise in the open
air, to have the medical care required by their state of health, and the
spiritual assistance they may desire. Penalties to which they may be
subjected shall be in accordance with the provisions of Artide 87,
third paragraph.
PART IV
TERMINATION OF CAPTIVITY
SECTION I
DIRECT REPATRIATION AND ACCOMMODATION

IN NEUTRAL COUNTRIES
ART. 109. — Subject to the provisions of the third paragraph of General

this Artide, Parties to the conflict are bound to send back to their Observation
own country, regardless of number or rank, seriously wounded and
seriously sick prisoners of war, after having cared for them until
they are fit to travel, in accordance with the first paragraph of the
following Article.
Throughout the duration of hostilities, Parties to the conflict
shall endeavour, with the co-operation of the neutral Powers
concerned, to make arrangements for the accommodation in
neutral countries of the sick and wounded prisoners of war referred
to in the second paragraph of the following Article.
They may, in addition, conclude agreements with a view to the
direct repatriation or internment in a neutral country of able-
bodied prisoners of war who have undergone a long period of
captivity.
No sick or injured prisoner of war who is eligible for repatriation
under the first paragraph of this Artide, may be repatriated against
his will during hostilities.
Airr. 110. — The following shall be repatriated direct; Cases of
repatriation
1) Incurably wounded and sick whose mental or physical fitness and
seems to have been gravely diminished. accommo-
dation
2) Wounded and sick who, according to medical opinion, are
not likely to recover within one year, whose condition
requires treatment and whose mental or physical fitness
seems to have been gravely diminished.
3) Wounded and sick who have recovered, but whose mental or
physical fitness seems to have gravely and permanently
diminished.

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HANDBOOK

OF THE INTERNACIONAL RED CROSS

DRAFT AGREEMENT RELATING TO HOSPITAL ZONES

ART. 4. — Hospital zones shall fulfil the following conditions:

Au. 5. — Hospital zones shall be subject to the following obligations:

a) designation of the Power on which he depends;

they shall organize at the commencement of hostilities an Official

Medical Units and Establishments

The responsible authorities shall ensure that the said medical

Protection ART. 20. — Hospital ships entitled to the protection of the

Upon the outbreak and during the course of hostilities, the

An. 24. — Medical personnel exclusively engaged in the search Protection of

distinctive emblem. This card shall be water-resistant and of such size

Marking of Arr. 43. — The medical units belonging to neutral countries,

ART. 46. — Reprisals against the wounded, sick, personnel, Prohibition

ART. 47. — The High Contracting Parties undertake, in time of Dissemination

AkT. 50. — Grave breaches to which the preceding Article relates

Ill. Awr. 51. — No High Contracting Party shall be allowed to

Axr. 53. — The use by individuals, societies, firms or companies

those placed hors de combat by sickness, wounds, detention,

Arr. 4. — In case of hostilities between land and naval forces of

Arr. 5. — Neutral Powers shall apply by analogy the provisions

Special Arr. 6. — In addition to the agreements expressly provided for in

Non- Arr. 7. — Wounded, sick and shipwrecked persons, as well as

Activities Airs. 9. — The provisions of the present Convention constitute

concerned, undertake for the protection of wounded, sick and

Wounded Arr. 17. — Wounded, sick or shipwrecked persons who are

g) date and place of capture or death;

Hospital Arr. 24. — Hospital ships utilized by National Red Cross

II. Arr. 25. — Hospital ships utilized by National Red Cross

Tonnage Arr. 26. — The protection mentioned in Articles 22, 24 and 25

comfort and security, the Parties to the conflict shall endeavour to

Arr. 28. — Should fighting occur on board a warship, the sick-

The Distinctive Emblem

ART. 41. — Under the direction of the competent military

Au. 42. — The personnel designated in Articles 36 and 37 shall Identification

b) One or more dark red crosses, as large as possible, shall be

Prevention Arr. 45. — The High Contracting Parties shall, if their

ART. 46. — Each Party to the conflict, acting through its

prefers, and in accordance with the provisions of its own legislation,

Arr. 51. — Grave breaches to which the preceding Article relates

ART. 52. — No High Contracting Party shall be allowed to

ART. 53. — At the request of a Party to the conflict, an enquiry

SECTION!! - Final Provisions

without any adverse distinction founded on race, colour, religion

Prisoners ART. 4. — A. Prisoners of war, in the sense of the present

c) that of carrying arms openly;

B. The following shall likewise be treated as prisoners of war

where diplomatic relations exist between the Parties to the

C. This Article shall in no way affect the status of medical

Beginning Ann. 5. — The present Convention shall apply to the persons

Special Arr. 6. — In addition to the agreements expressly provided for in

Non- ART. 7. — Prisoners of war may in no circumstances renounce in

Quarters ART. 25. — Prisoners of war shall be quartered under conditions

Are. 28. — Canteens shall be installed in all camps, where canteens

Hygiene and Medical Attention

appropriate diet. Isolation wards shall, if necessary, be set aside for

Medical Awn 31. — Medical inspections of prisoners of war shall be held

Such notifications shall be given in time for them to pack their