ICRC publication 1988 ref. 0365 Basic rules of the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols

ICRC-Basic-Rules-in-the-1949-Geneva-Conventions-and-1977-Additional-Protocols

Basic rules of the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols

Page 1 of 2

Foreword

The aim of this document, “The Geneva Conventions and the Additional Protocols-Basic Rules”, is to provide

a condensed synthesis of the rules of international humanitarian law in armed conflicts as contained in these

legal instruments. This presentation itself is preceded by a summary which sets out, as simply and briefly as

possible, the fundamental rules which are the basis of these treaties and the law of armed conflicts as a

whole. Prepared for dissemination purposes, this work cannot in any circumstances serve as a substitute for

the complete provisions of the international agreements to which the marginal notes refer.

Summary: Basic rules of international humanitarian law in armed conflicts

1. Persons hors de combat and those who do not take a direct part in hostilities are entitled to respect for

their

lives and their moral and physical integrity. They shall in all circumstances be protected and treated

humanely

without any adverse distinction.

2. It is forbidden to kill or injure an enemy who surrenders or who is hors de combat.

3. The wounded and sick shall be collected and cared for by the party to the conflict which has them in its

power.

Protection also covers medical personnel, establishments, transports and equipment. The emblem of the red

cross or the red crescent is the sign of such protection and must be respected.

4. Captured combatants and civilians under the authority of an adverse party are entitled to respect for their

lives,dignity, personal rights and convictions. They shall be protected against all acts of violence and

reprisals. They shall have the right to correspond with their families and to receive relief.

5. Everyone shall be entitled to benefit from fundamental judicial guarantees. No one shall be held

responsible for an act he has not committed. No one shall be subjected to physical or mental torture,

corporal punishment or cruel or degrading treatment.

6. Parties to a conflict and members of their armed forces do not have an unlimited choice of methods and

means of warfare. It is prohibited to employ weapons or methods of warfare of a nature to cause

unnecessary losses or excessive suffering.

7. Parties to a conflict shall at all times distinguish between the civilian population and combatants in order

to

spare civilian population and property. Neither the civilian population as such nor civilian persons shall be

the

object of attack. Attacks shall be directed solely against military objectives.

International Committee of the Red Cross

Basic rules of the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols

Page 2 of 2

Note

1. This text constitutes the quintessence of the provisions of international humanitarian law which are

summarized in the following pages. It does not have the force of an international legal instrument and is in

no way intended to replace the treaties in force. It is designed, as is this whole work, to facilitate

dissemination of international humanitarian law.

CONTENTS (I-VI)

Chapter I

Provisions common to the four Conventions and to Protocol I

Chapter II

Protection of the wounded, sick and shipwrecked

Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded and Sick in Armed Forces in the

Field (Convention I of 12 August 1949)

Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of Wounded, Sick and Shipwrecked Members of

Armed Forces at Sea (Convention 11 of 12 August 1949)

Additional Protocol I, Part II

Chapter III

Regulations relating to the conduct of combatants and the protection of prisoners of war

Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War (Convention III of 12 August 1949)

Additional Protocol I, Part III

Chapter IV

Protection of civilian persons and populations in time of war

Additional Protocol I, Part IV

Geneva Convention relative to the protection of civilian persons in time of war (Convention IV of 12 August

1949)

Chapter V

Protection of victims of non-international armed conflicts

Article 3 common to the four Conventions and additional Protocol II

31-12-1988

Provisions common to the four Conventions and to Protocol I

Page 1 of 3

International Committee of the Red Cross

31-12-1988

Provisions common to the four Conventions and to Protocol I

1. Field of application, duration of application, general principles of law

2. Prohibition of reprisals

3. Non-renunciation of rights

4. Supervision

a) Protecting Powers

b) International Committee of the Red Cross

5. Sanctions

6. Dissemination

(Please note: Roman numerals indicate the number of the Convention or the Protocol (designated by the

letter

P), Arabic numerals refer to the articles of these instruments.)

1. Field of application, duration of application, general principles of law

The Conventions and the Protocol are applicable in case of declared war or of any other armed conflict

arising between two or more of the Parties to the Conventions and Protocol I from the beginning of such a

situation, even if the state of war is not recognized by one of them. These agreements also cover armed

conflicts in which people are fighting against colonial domination and alien occupation and against racist

regimes in the exercise of their right of self-determination.[I, 2; II, 2; III, 2; IV, 2; P. I, 1]

The application ceases at the general close of military operations and, in occupied territories, at the end of

the occupation except for those categories of people whose final release, repatriation or settlement takes

place at a later date. These people shall continue to benefit from the relevant provisions of the Conventions

and the Protocol until their final release, repatriation or settlement. [I, 5; III, 5; IV, 6; P. I, 3]

In cases not covered by the Conventions, the Protocol or other international agreements, or in the case of

denunciation of these agreements, civilians and combatants remain under the protection and authority of

the principles of international law derived from established custom, from the principles of humanity and

from the dictates of public conscience.[P. I, 1 ; I, 63; II, 62; III, 142; IV, 158]

2. Prohibition of reprisals

Reprisals, violations of the law in response to other violations of the law and to make them cease, are

prohibited against the wounded, sick and shipwrecked, medical services and personnel, civil defence

services and personnel, prisoners of war, civilians, civilian and cultural property, the natural environment

and works and installations containing dangerous forces. They are admitted only in the conduct of the

hostilities.[I, 46; II, 47; III, 13; IV, 33; P. I, 20, 51-56]

3. Non-renunciation of rights

The Geneva Conventions having as their aim the protection of war victims, these persons must be placed,

as far as is possible, out of the reach of any pressures to make them renounce their rights. This is why

these persons may in no circumstances renounce, in part or totally, the rights ensured them by the

Conventions and the Protocol. The people mainly concerned are military and civilian medical personnel and

the wounded, military and civilian sick and shipwrecked persons, as well as prisoners of war, civilian

internees, inhabitants of occupied territories and foreigners on the territory of a Party to the conflict. The

Extract from “Basic rules of the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols”

Provisions common to the four Conventions and to Protocol I

Page 2 of 3

principle of non-renunciation applies to all the rights which protect war victims.[I, 7; II, 7; III, 7; IV, 8; P.

I, 1]

4. Supervision

a) Protecting Powers

To ensure that the Geneva Conventions are respected, the Parties to the conflict should secure the

cooperation

and admit the supervision of Protecting Powers, in other words neutral States appointed to safeguard the

interests

of the Parties to the conflict in enemy countries. If such appointments have not been made, the

International

Committee of the Red Cross will offer the Parties to the conflict its help in the designation of Protecting

Powers.[I,

8; II, 8; III, 8; IV, 9; P. I, 5]

b) International Committee of the Red Cross

The presence of the Protecting Powers does not stand in the way of humanitarian activities which the ICRC

or any other impartial humanitarian organization undertakes for the protection of war victims.[I, 9; II, 9;

III, 9; IV, 10]

This is an application of the provision that governments may at any time agree to entrust to an organization

offering every guarantee of impartiality and efficiency the humanitarian duties incumbent on the Protecting

Powers by virtue of the Conventions.[I, 10; II, 10; III, 10; IV, 11]

ICRC delegates are, in particular, authorized to go to all places where there are protected persons, prisoners

of war or civil internees and to talk to them without witnesses. The ICRC will be granted all the necessary

facilities to carry out its humanitarian work.[III, 126; IV, 143; P. I, 81]

5. Sanctions

These articles have particular significance. They relate both to offences which are subject only to

administrative or disciplinary sanctions as well as to grave breaches, against which they constitute an

embryonic international penal law by elevating them to the rank of international crimes and designating

them as “war crimes”. These articles lay before the conscience of the world the list of especially grave

violations of the Conventions and the Protocol which, were they to remain unpunished, would signify the

degradation of human values and the regression of the entire concept of humanity.

These grave breaches are those involving any of the following acts, if committed against persons or

property protected by the Conventions, as supplemented by the Protocol: wilful killing, torture or inhuman

treatment, including biological experiments, wilfully causing great suffering or serious injury to body or

health, any wilful omission seriously endangering the physical or mental health or integrity of a person in

the power of a Party other than the one on which he depends, unlawful deportation or transfer, illegal

detention, compelling a protected person to serve in the armed forces of a hostile Power, or wilfully

depriving a protected person of the right to a fair and regular trial as prescribed in the Conventions and the

Protocol, the taking of hostages, the destruction and appropriation of property not justified by military

necessity and carried out on a large scale in an arbitrary and unlawful way.[I, 50; II, 51; III, 130; IV, 174;

P. I, 11]

The following wilful acts are also grave breaches when they result in death or cause serious injury to body

or health: attacks on the civilian population, civilians, civilian property, attacks launched indiscriminately or

attacks on works and installations containing dangerous forces, in the knowledge that such attacks will

cause loss of lives, injury to civilians or damage to civilian property which are excessive in relation to the

actual and direct military advantage expected; attacks on non-defended localities and demilitarized zones,

attacks on people known to be hors de combat and the perfidious use of the emblem of the red cross or red

crescent and other recognized protective signs.

The following are also grave breaches of the Conventions and the Protocol: any transfer by an Occupying

Power of part of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies, the deportation or transfer of all or

Provisions common to the four Conventions and to Protocol I

Page 3 of 3

part of the population of this territory, any unjustifiable delay in the repatriation of prisoners of war or

civilians, apartheid and similar practices, attacks directed against clearly recognizable historical monuments,

works of art or places of worship.

The Conventions and the Protocol require governments to enact any legislation necessary to provide

effective penal sanctions for persons committing or ordering the commission of any of the grave breaches;

they will search for persons alleged to have committed, or to have ordered the commission of such

breaches, including those resulting from a failure to act when under a duty to do so. Military commanders

must be watchful to prevent breaches of the Conventions and the Protocol, will suppress them and, if

necessary, report them to the competent authorities.[I, 49; II, 50; III, 129; IV, 146]

As we have seen, each contracting Party must also take the necessary steps to stop actions contrary to the

Conventions other than grave breaches. But the Conventions accord the greatest importance to grave

breaches because they provide for them to come under the criminal jurisdiction of all Parties to the

Conventions. It is also possible for the offender to be brought before an international tribunal, if such a

tribunal has been set up.

Because of the universality of such sanctions, extradition will be required whenever a State concerned has

not summoned the accused to appear before its own courts. Being subject to so many different forms of

possible jurisdiction, these crimes are not likely to go unpunished.

6. Dissemination

In time of peace as in time of war, the Parties are obliged to include the study of the Conventions and the

Protocol in their programmes of military instruction and to encourage the civilian population to study them.

Military and civil authorities must be fully acquainted with these texts and military commanders must ensure

that members of the armed forces under their command are aware of their obligations under the

Conventions and the Protocol.[I, 47; II, 48; III, 127; IV, 144; P. I, 83, 87]

In addition, Parties to a conflict are obliged to ensure that legal advisers are available to advise military

commanders on the application of the Conventions and the Protocol and on appropriate instructions to the

armed forces on this subject.[P. I, 82]

31-12-1988

Protection of the wounded, sick and shipwrecked

Page 1 of 4

International Committee of the Red Cross

31-12-1988

Protection of the wounded, sick and shipwrecked

Geneva Convention for the amelioration of the condition of the wounded and sick in armed forces in the field

(Convention I of 12 August 1949)

Geneva Convention for the amelioration of the condition of wounded, sick and shipwrecked members of

armed forces at sea (Convention II of 12 August 1949)

Additional Protocol I, Part II

1. Field of application of the two Conventions and the Protocol

2. Definition of protected persons

3. Protection, treatment and care

4. Search for the wounded, dead and missing

5. Recording and forwarding of information

6. Role of the civilian population and relief organizations; role of neutral ships

7. Medical units

8. Medical transport

9. Medical personnel

10. Medical mission

11. Emblem and signals

(Please note: Roman numerals indicate the number of the Convention or the Protocol (designated by the letter

P), Arabic numerals refer to the articles of these instruments.)

1. Field of application of the two Conventions and the Protocol

Generally speaking, the Second Geneva Convention of 12 August 1949 is almost identical with the First. The

main difference between the two is that the second concerns the wounded, sick and shipwrecked members of

armed forces at sea while the first relates to the wounded and sick in armed forces in the field. Otherwise, the

principles underlying the two Conventions are identical and the same rules apply to protected persons and

property, taking into account the different conditions prevailing on land and at sea.[I, 13; II, 13]

Protocol I, Part 11, extends this protection to all wounded, sick and shipwrecked persons, whether they be

civilians or members of the armed forces.[P. I, 8, 34]

2. Definition of protected persons I(1)

The terms “wounded” and “sick” mean military or civilian persons in need of medical care and who refrain from any act of

hostility.[P. I, 8]

The term “shipwrecked” means military or civilian persons in a perilous situation at sea or on any other waters following a

misfortune which has befallen them and who refrain from any act of hostility.

3. Protection, treatment and care

All wounded, sick and shipwrecked, to whichever Party they belong, shall be respected and protected.[P. I, 10]

In all circumstances, they shall be treated humanely and shall receive, to the fullest possible extent and with the least

possible delay, the medical care and attention required by their condition. There shall be no distinction between them on

any other grounds. Women shall be treated with all the particular consideration due to their sex.[I, 12; II, 12; P. I, 10]

Wounded, sick and shipwrecked combatants who are captured become prisoners of war. Until their recovery or their

disembarkation they will benefit from the provisions of Conventions I or II and III.

4. Search for the wounded, dead and missing

The general principle governing this section is, first and foremost, the right of families to know the fate of their

relatives.[P. I, 32]

Extract from “Basic rules of the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols”

Protection of the wounded, sick and shipwrecked

Page 2 of 4

At all times, and particularly after an engagement, Parties to a conflict must immediately take all possible measures to

search for and collect the wounded, sick and shipwrecked, to protect them against pillage and ill-treatment and ensure

their adequate care, as well as to search for the dead and prevent their being despoiled.[I, 15; II, 18; IV, 16]

The Conventions specify that Parties to a conflict must ensure that burial, cremation or burial at sea of the dead, carried

out individually as far as circumstances permit, is preceded by a careful and, if possible, medical examination of the

bodies with a view to confirming death, establishing identity and making possible a report.[I, 17; II, 20]

In addition, as soon as circumstances permit, and at the latest from the end of active hostilities, each Party to the conflict

must search for persons who have been reported missing by an adverse Party.[P. I, 33]

5. Recording and forwarding of information

Parties to a conflict must record all available particulars which could help to identify the wounded, sick and dead who have

fallen into their hands: the Power on which they depend or nationality, regimental number, surname and first name, date

of birth, date and place of capture and the nature of actions taken with regard to the individuals concerned, etc. This

information is to be forwarded as soon as possible to the Information Bureau provided for in Convention III for

transmission to the adverse Party, particularly through the intermediary of the Central Tracing Agency of the International

Committee of the Red Cross (CTA). When this information is not channelled through the ICRC and its central Agency,

each Party to the conflict will ensure that this information is also supplied to the Central Agency provided for in

Convention III. [I, 16; II, 19; P. I, 33; III, 122; IV, 136]

6. Role of the civilian population and relief organizations; role of neutral ships

The civilian Population must respect the wounded, sick and shipwrecked, even if they belong to the adverse Party, and

shall commit no act of violence against them. The civilian population and relief organizations, such as National Red Cross

and Red Crescent Societies, will be authorized, even in invaded or occupied regions, to collect and care for the wounded,

sick and ship wrecked, even if they are enemy parachutists or guerillas. Nobody may be harassed, prosecuted or convicted

for such humanitarian action.[I, 18; P. I, 17]

Furthermore, the competent authority may appeal to the civilian population and the relief organizations to collect the

wounded, sick and shipwrecked, to search for the dead and report where they were found.

The same applies in naval warfare to neutral merchant vessels, yachts or other craft which may be called upon, by the

Parties to the conflict, to take on board and care for the wounded, sick and shipwrecked and also to collect the dead.[II,

21]

7. Medical units

Military(2) or civilian medical units are protected by the Conventions and the Protocol. Such units comprise all buildings or

fixed installations (hospitals and other similar units, blood transfusion and preventive medicine centres, medical depots

and stores) and mobile units (quarantine stations, tents, open air installations, vehicles assigned to medical purposes) [I,

19; P. I, 8, 9, 12] :

a) which belong to a Party to the conflict or which are recognized and authorized by a Party to the conflict

(naturally including the National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and other authorized Societies);

b) which are placed at the disposal of a Party to the conflict

- by a neutral State,

- by an impartial international organization of a humanitarian nature.

Assigned to medical purposes means units devoted to searching for evacuating, transporting, diagnosing or

treating the wounded, sick and shipwrecked, as well as to disease prevention.

It is however specified that the protection to which these medical units are entitled may cease if they are used to

commit acts harmful to the enemy (for example, sheltering unwounded soldiers or installing a military observation

post). Protection may only cease, however, after a warning has been given, setting a reasonable time limit, and

after such warning has remained unheeded.[I, 21, 22;P, I, 13]

The equipment (stretchers, surgical apparatus, medicines, dressings, etc.) of mobile military units seized by the

army will be reserved for the care of the wounded and sick.[I, 33]

In occupied territory, the occupant cannot requisition civilian medical units, their equipment, material or personnel

so long as these resources are required for the needs of the civilian population and the wounded and sick already

under treatment.[P. I, 14]

The real and personal property of Red Cross Societies and other authorized aid Societies will always be regarded

as private property. The army or the occupant can, however, requisition them in case of urgent necessity, but only

Protection of the wounded, sick and shipwrecked

Page 3 of 4

after the welfare of the sick and wounded has been assured.[I, 34]

8. Medical transport

“Medical transport” means the conveyance by land, water or air of the wounded, sick and shipwrecked, medical

and religious personnel and medical equipment protected by the Conventions and the Protocol. Any means of

transport may be used, whether military or civilian, permanent or temporary, assigned exclusively to this purpose

and placed under the control of a Party to the conflict.[P. I, 8]

Medical transport by land (ambulances) must be respected and protected in the same way as mobile medical

units. Military ambulances falling into enemy hands are subject to the laws of war on condition that the Party

capturing them assumes responsibility for the sick and wounded they contain.[I, 35; P. I, 21]

Medical transport by water is carried out either by hospital ships or other medical ships and craft. The following

vessels are protected by the Conventions and the Protocol on condition that their names and descriptions have

been notified to the Parties to the conflict:[II, 22]

- military hospital ships of the Parties to the conflict;

- hospital ships used by National Red Cross Societies or other officially recognized aid Societies or by private

persons, including those from neutral countries;[II, 24, 25]

- hospital ships made available to a Party to the conflict by a neutral State or by an impartial international

organization of a humanitarian nature.[P. I, 22]

Hospital ships may not be attacked and may not be captured. The same applies to ships chartered for the

transport of medical equipment. However, the Parties to the conflict have the right to board and inspect these

ships.[II, 22, 31, 38]

Any hospital ship in a port which falls into enemy hands will be authorized to leave the port.[II, 29]

Other medical ships and craft shall be respected and protected in the same way as mobile medical units.[P. I, 23]

Medical transport by air (medical aircraft) carried out in areas not controlled by an adverse Party shall be

respected and protected. In contact or similar zones, medical aircraft operate at their own risk, unless prior

agreement has been reached between the Parties concerned. They must, however, be respected, even in the

absence of such agreement, after they have been recognized as medical aircraft. When flying over an area

controlled by an adverse Party, protection is subject to the prior agreement of this Party.[P. I, 24, 25, 26, 27]

Medical aircraft must not be used to attempt to acquire a military advantage over an adverse Party nor, without the

prior agreement of this Party, to search for the wounded, sick and shipwrecked.[P. I, 28]

Medical aircraft flying over areas not controlled by the Party to which they belong may be ordered to land or to

alight on water and must obey such an order. If inspection reveals that the aircraft has not infringed any rule of the

law of armed conflicts, it must be authorized to continue its flight without delay.[P. I, 30]

Medical aircraft must not fly over the territory of neutral States except by previous agreement or in an emergency.

In the latter case, the medical aircraft will make every effort to identify itself and the neutral State will refrain from

attacking it as soon as it has recognized it as such. If wounded, sick or shipwrecked persons are collected or

disembarked on neutral territory, they will be cared for and detained by this State if they belong to the fighting

armed forces of a Party to the conflict, so that they cannot again take part in the hostilities.[II, 40; P. I, 31]

9. Medical personnel

Medical and religious personnel of the Parties to the conflict, whether military or civilian, shall be respected and

protected.[I, 24, 25; P, I, 15]

Such personnel (doctors, nurses, stretcher-bearers, etc.) should be assigned, either on a permanent or

temporary basis, exclusively to medical purposes (see Point 7, Medical Units) or to the administration and

operation of medical units or medical transport facilities (administrators, drivers, cooks, etc.). Religious personnel

comprise military or civilian persons, such as chaplains, who are exclusively engaged in the work of their ministry.

Medical and religious personnel benefit from special protection and are designated as “protected personnel”.(3) [I,

24, 25, 26, 27; II, 36, 42; P. I, 8]

Protected personnel are the following:

a) Military or civilian medical personnel of the Parties to the conflict, including those belonging to civil defence

organizations;

b) medical personnel of National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and other national aid Societies

recognized by a Party to the conflict;

Protection of the wounded, sick and shipwrecked

Page 4 of 4

c) religious personnel attached, either permanently or temporarily, to the armed forces, to medical units or

transport, or to civil defence organizations.

If military medical personnel fall into enemy hands, they may be retained so as to care for prisoners of war. They will not

themselves be regarded as prisoners of war. They will nevertheless benefit at least from all the provisions of the Geneva

Convention of 12 August 1949 relative to the treatment of prisoners of war.[I, 28; II, 37; III, 33]

In occupied territory, civilian medical personnel may not be requisitioned if their services are necessary to provide for the

medical needs of the civilian population and the care of the wounded and sick already under treatment.[P. I, 14]

10. Medical mission

Finally, the Protocol provides that nobody may be punished for having carried out medical activities compatible with

medical ethics, regardless of the beneficiaries of this activity, nor be compelled to carry out acts contrary to the rules of

medical ethics or to refrain from carrying out acts required by these rules.[P. I, 16]

11. Emblem and signals

The sign of the red cross(4) or red crescent must be displayed on the flags, buildings, installations and mobile formations

of medical units, on their means of transport, as well as on armlets, clothes and headgear of medical and religious

personnel. It will be as large as the circumstances require.[I, 39; P. I, 18]

An important regulation: the distinctive emblem of the Convention and the Protocol may be displayed only on medical

units and by medical personnel protected by the Convention and the Protocol, and only with the consent of the competent

authority. Strict observance of this rule is essential to respect the Convention the Protocol.[I, 42; P. II, 18]

In naval warfare, ships and craft entitled to the protection the Convention will be marked as follows:[II, 43]

a) all exterior surfaces must be white,.

b) one or more dark red crosses, as large as possible, must painted on each side of the hull as well as on

horizontal surfaces, so as to afford the greatest possible visibility from the sea and from the air. A white flag with a

red cross shall be flown at the mainmast, as high as possible.

The international Red Cross organizations and their duly authorized personnel are permitted to use the emblem of the red

cross on a white ground at all times.[I, 44]

Apart from these regulations, the use of the emblem or the designation “red cross” or “Geneva cross”, or any sign or

designation constituting an imitation, shall be prohibited at all times; the necessary measures will be taken to prevent and

repress any abuse of these distinctive signs. The perfidious use of the emblem of the red cross (and other protective signs

or signals) is a grave breach.[I, 53, 54; II, 45; P. I, 18, 85]

In addition to the distinctive emblem, the Parties to the conflict may authorize the use of distinctive signals (light, radio

and secondary radar signals, internationally recognized codes and signals).[P. I, 18 and Annex I]

Notes

1. For protected medical personnel, see point 9.

2. As far as Possible, military medical units and especially civilian medical units should be placed

well out of the way of military objectives.

3. Protected personnel must carry identity cards and make themselves known by means of the

distinctive emblem of the red cross or red crescent (1, 40, 41; 11, 42; P. 1, 18 and Annex 1, Chapter I

and II). They may be armed for their own defence and that of the wounded in their charge (I, 22; II, 35; P. 1, 13).

4. The form of the cross is not specified but it has become customary to use a so-called Greek cross, i.e. a cross with four

arms of equal length not touching the edge of the shield, comprising the inverted colours of the Swiss flag. Instead of the

red cross, some countries use the red crescent. The red lionand-sun emblem is no longer in use.

31-12-1988

Rules relating to the conduct of combatants and the protection of prisoners of war

Page 1 of 9

International Committee of the Red Cross

31-12-1988

Rules relating to the conduct of combatants and the protection of

prisoners of war

Geneva Convention relative to the treatment of prisoners of war (Convention III of 12 August 1949)

Additional Protocol I, Part II

Contents:

Section I

Status

Section II

Regulations relating to the conduct of combatants

Section III

Protection of prisoners of war

1. Rights and obligations

2. Protection and treatment

3. Physical conditions of internment

4. Moral and psychological conditions of internment

5. Aid

6. Discipline

a) General observations

b) Escapes or attempts to escape

c) Prisoners’ representatives

d) Sanctions

7. Repatriation

a) Direct repatriation and hospitalization in a neutral country

b) Release and repatriation at the end of hostilities

8. Death

9. Information bureaux and Central Tracing Agency

10. Assistance by relief societies and the ICRC

11. The right of Protecting Powers and the ICRC to visit

(Please note: Roman numerals indicate the number of the Convention or the Protocol (designated by the

letter

P), Arabic numerals refer to the articles of these instruments.)

Section I

Status

The status of prisoner of War is governed jointly by article 4 of the Third Convention and by articles 43 and

44 of

the Protocol. The general principle is the following: any member of the armed forces of a Party to a conflict

is a

combatant and any combatant captured by the adverse Party is a prisoner of war.[III, 4; P. I, 43, 44]

This general rule is supplemented by three types of provisions which specify the conditions in which armed

forces are recognized as such, to extend the qualification (or the treatment) of prisoner of war to categories

of persons not covered by the general rule, and finally to deprive, in a specific case, a captured combatant

of his qualification as a combatant and hence of his status of prisoner of war.

Extract from “Basic rules of the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols”

Rules relating to the conduct of combatants and the protection of prisoners of war

Page 2 of 9

a) To be recognized as such, the armed forces of a Party to a conflict must be organized and placed under a

command responsible to that Party for the conduct of its subordinates, even if that Party is represented by

a government or other authority not recognized by the adverse Party. In addition, these armed forces must

be subject to an internal disciplinary system which, inter alia, enforces compliance with the rules of

internationallaw applicable in armed conflicts. In particular, this compliance requires combatants to

distinguish themselves from civilians, except in particular circumstances (see point c below) by a uniform or

other distinctive sign, visible and recognizable at a distance, while they are engaged in an attack or in a

military operation preparatory to an attack. Violation by a combatant of the rules applicable in armed

conflict is punishable but if this combatant at least carries his arms openly during the engagement, he is not

deprived of his right to the status of prisoner of war in case of capture. If the Party to which these armed

forces belong omits or deliberately refuses to enforce compliance with these rules, it can result in all

members of these forces losing their status of combatant and prisoner of war. (1)

b) The status or treatment of prisoner of war is extended to various categories of persons who do not come

under

the definition of combatants as given below, or who are not combatants. The following are thus also entitled

to the

status of prisoner of war:

- those taking part in a levy en masse, that is, when the inhabitants of a non-occupied territory

spontaneously take

up arms on the approach of the enemy to combat invasion without having had time to organize themselves

as laid down under point a) above, if they carry their arms openly and respect the laws and customs of war;

-persons authorized to follow the armed forces without being directly part of them;

-crews of the merchant marine and civil aviation;

-members of military personnel serving in civil defence organizations.[P. I, 67]

The following are entitled only to the treatment of prisoner of war:

- persons arrested in occupied territory because they belong to the armed forces of the occupied country;

- military internees in a neutral country;

- members of non-combatant medical and religious personnel who are part of the armed forces.

c) In exceptional cases, when required by the nature of the hostilities, a combatant can be released from

the

obligation to distinguish himself from the civilian population by wearing a uniform or distinctive sign

recognizable at

a distance during military operations. However, in such situations, these combatants must distinguish

themselves

by carrying arms openly during the engagement and during such time as they are visible to the adversary

while

engaged in a military deployment preceding the launching of an attack in which they are to participate. Even

failing

to comply with the obligation of carrying arms openly can deprive a combatant of his status, but not of the

guarantees relating to it, in the case of his being prosecuted for carrying arms illegally either with or

without other

offences. (2)

These provisions are not intended to modify the generally accepted practice of uniforms being worn by

members of regular armed units of the Parties to conflicts.

To avoid uncertainty and prevent any arbitrary measures at the time of capture, the Protocol specifies that

any person taking part in hostilities and captured is presumed to be a prisoner of war and is treated as a

prisoner of war, even in case of doubt as to his status. In the latter case, the question will be decided by a

tribunal at a later date. A person who, having taken part in hostilities, is eventually deprived of his right to

the status of prisoner of war, benefits not only from the provisions of the Fourth Convention applicable in his

case but also from the fundamental guarantees laid down in article 75 of the Protocol (see Section Ill, point

6 at end, below page 31).[III, 5; P. I, 45]

Spies and mercenaries are not entitled to the status of prisoner of war. Children under the age of fifteen

shall not be recruited into the armed forces.(3) [P. I, 46, 47]

Rules relating to the conduct of combatants and the protection of prisoners of war

Page 3 of 9

Children under the age of fifteen shall not be recruited into the armed forces.[P. I, 77]

Section II

Rules relating to the conduct of combatants

Part III of the Protocol does not confine itself to stating the rules relating to the status and treatment of

prisoners of war. It also recalls the correct conduct of combatants in the course of hostilities. The

fundamental principle forming the basis of these rules is that the right of the Parties to the conflict to choose

methods or means of warfare is not unlimited.[P. I, 35]

For example, it is prohibited to employ weapons, projectiles and methods and materials of warfare of a

nature to cause superfluous injury, particularly those which are intended to cause, or can be expected to

cause widespread, long-term and severe damage to the natural environment. Neither may the presence of

civilian persons be used to render certain points or areas immune from military operations.[P. I, 51; IV, 28]

It is prohibited to kill, injure or capture an adversary by resort to perfidy. Acts inviting the confidence of an

adversary to lead him to believe that he is entitled to receive, or is obliged to accord protection under the

rules of international law applicable in armed conflict, with intent to betray that confidence, shall constitute

perfidy. The recognized emblems (the white flag, the emblem of cultural property, other recognized

protective signs) and in particular the sign of the red cross or red crescent must not be used improperly.

The use of the national insignia of States not Parties to the conflict is forbidden. The national insignia of the

adverse Party must not be used during attacks or in order to shield, favour, protect or impede military

operations.[P. I, 37; P. I, 38; P, I, 39]

The Protocol thus asserts that the law of armed conflicts demands a minimum of honesty on the part of the

combatants. Other rules of conduct of combatants are summarized either in Section I of this chapter or in

the relevant chapters of this manual (see in particular Chapter 1, points 2 and 5, Chapter 11, points 3-4 and

7-11 and Chapter IV, Section 1). But it should be stressed here, once again, that it is prohibited to declare

that no quarter will be given, to threaten the adversary with this and to conduct hostilities in such a way

that there are no survivors. The enemy who is hors de combat, or who has surrendered, or who shows his

intention to surrender, or who has parachuted from an aircraft in distress, shall not be made the object of

attack. If the capturing Party is unable to evacuate its prisoners from the fighting zone, it must release

them and take all feasible precautions to ensure their safety.[P. I, 40, 41, 42]

Section III

Protection of prisoners of war

1. Rights and obligations

Regarding the rights of prisoners of war, the principle specifying that prisoners of war are in the hands of

the enemy Power, but not of the individuals or military units who have captured them, should be borne in

mind. Prisoners of war are entitled in all circumstances to respect for their persons and their honour. [III,

12, 14]

Women must be treated with all the regard due to their sex and shall in all cases benefit from treatment at

least as favourable as that granted to men. Finally, it should be noted that prisoners of war retain the full

civil capacity they had at the time of their capture. Within the limits imposed by captivity, they therefore

continue to enjoy their civil rights according to the law of their country of origin. In particular, they can

marry by proxy.[III, 14]

As for the duties of prisoners, they are generally derived from the laws of war and the rules of military

discipline.

Some of these duties are formally stated in the Convention; thus article 17, relating to questioning of the

prisoner, specifies that he is bound to give his name, first names and rank, date of birth and army,

regimental, personal or serial number or, failing this, equivalent information.(4) However, the same article

adds that no physical or mental torture, nor any other form of coercion may be inflicted on prisoners of war

to obtain from them information of any kind whatever.[III, 17]

Rules relating to the conduct of combatants and the protection of prisoners of war

Page 4 of 9

The Convention also provides for the case – which is not excluded, if the laws of the Power on which

prisoners depend allow it – for the release on parole or promise. Article 21 states that prisoners released

under these conditions will be bound, on their personal honour, scrupulously to fulfil, both towards the

Power on which they depend and the Power which has captured them, the engagements of their paroles or

promises.[III, 21]

This mention is important for it shows that honesty is essential to the successful application of humanitarian

rules.

2. Protection and treatment

The Protocol prohibits declaring that no quarter will be given, threatening the adversary with this, and

conducting hostilities in such a way that there are no survivors. The enemy who is hors de combat, who has

surrendered or who shows his intention of surrendering, or who has parachuted from an aircraft in distress

shall not be the object of attack.[P. I, 40, 41, 42]

In these articles, the Convention states that prisoners of war must at all times be treated humanely and

that subject to any privileged treatment on account of rank, sex, state of health, age or professional

qualifications, all prisoners of war shall be treated alike. The Protocol specifies that no prisoner may be

subjected to physical mutilation or to medical and scientific experiments of any nature whatever, which are

not justified by the medical treatment of the prisoner concerned and which are not in his interest. It

nevertheless allows for exceptions in the case of donations of blood for transfusion or of skin for grafting,

providing that these are voluntary.[III, 13, 16; P. I, 11]

Among the general principles protecting prisoners of war, the following should also be mentioned: they shall

not be unnecessarily exposed to danger while awaiting evacuation from a fighting zone. When they have

been captured under unusual conditions of combat which prevent their being evacuated in the normal way,

they shall be released and all feasible precautions shall be taken to ensure their safety.[III, 19; P. I, 41]

Prisoners of war may be interned only in premises located on land and affording every guarantee of hygiene

and wholesomeness. No prisoner of war may at any time be sent to or detained in an area 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.[III, 22,23]

Prisoners without the recognized status of prisoner of war are at all times entitled to the fundamental

guarantees (see Chapter IV, Section II, Point 2, letter g, page 43 and point 6 below, guarantees of judicial

procedure).

3. Physical conditions of internment

The Detaining Power assumes general responsibility for the life and welfare of prisoners of war, who must be

kept in good health. Women and children under the age of fifteen becoming prisoners of war must be

treated with special respect and protected against any form of indecent assault. Other information

concerning the application of these principles can be found under the following headings: [P. I 76, 77]

Quarters [III, 25]

Food [III, 26, 28]

Clothing [III, 27]

Hygiene and medical attention [III, 29, 30, 31]

Under all circumstances, prisoners of war will receive any medical care they may need and will preferably be

treated by medical personnel of the Power on which they depend and, if possible, of their nationality.

Transfers [III, 12, 46, 48]

Prisoners of war may only be transferred to a Power which is a party to the Convention and after the

Detaining Power has satisfied itself that the Power in question is willing and able to apply the Convention.

Transfer within the territory of the Detaining Power will always be carried out humanely and in conditions no

less favourable than those enjoyed by the troops of the Detaining Power during their movements.

Rules relating to the conduct of combatants and the protection of prisoners of war

Page 5 of 9

4. Moral and psychological conditions of internment

The Convention is not only concerned with the physical conditions of internment. A great number of articles

are devoted to moral and psychological conditions. They deal not only with religion, intellectual and sports

activities but also with the kind of work considered suitable to maintain prisoners’ self-respect and mental

well-being and protect them from boredom and idleness. In application of these principles, the Convention

includes a number of provisions on the following matters:

Religion [III, 34, 35]

Intellectual and sports activities [III, 38]

Work [III, 49, 50, 51, 57]

In order to prevent the work carried out by prisoners from degenerating into inhumane exploitation or

participation in the war effort of the Detaining Power, such work is limited by a series of very strict rules.

Property and working pay [III, 18, 28, 59, 60, 61, 62]

Correspondence [III, 71, 74, 76]

Prisoners of war shall be allowed to send and receive letters and cards free of postage.(5)

5. Aid

The Convention affirms the right of prisoners of war to receive relief.

Relief supplies may be individual or collective but the Convention indicates a preference to relief parcels of a

standard model, intended for all the prisoners in a camp and shared out among them by prisoners’

representatives.(6) [III, 72]

All relief shipments are exempt from import, customs and other dues and the experience acquired by the

ICRC and National Red Cross Societies in the course of the two World Wars is implicitly recognized.[III, 74,

75]

6. Discipline

a) General observations

To ensure discipline in accordance with military honour, every prisoner of war camp is placed under the

immediate authority responsible commissioned officer belonging to the regular at forces of the Detaining

Power.[III, 39]

This officer must be fully acquainted with the text of the Convention and the relevant provisions of the

Protocol. These texts must also be posted in each camp, in the prisoners’ own language, in places where all

may read them. The wearing of badges of rank and nationality, as well as decorations, shall be permitted, in

due respect for the dignity of the persons concerned.[III, 41; P. I, 83; III, 40]

Military commanders must ensure that members of the armed forces under their command are aware of

their obligations under the Conventions and the Protocol. They are responsible for preventing any breaches

of these provisions, for suppressing them and, if necessary, reporting them to the competent authorities.[P.

I, 87]

b) Escapes or attempts to escape

The Convention has several provisions relating to escapes or attempts to escape. These are accepted as

being consistent with military honour and patriotic courage. Punishments incurred in cases of escape are

consequently limited. Weapons may be used against prisoners who escape or attempt to escape, but such

use should only be made as a last resort and must always be preceded by warnings appropriate to the

circumstances.[III, 91, 92, 93; III, 42]

c) Prisoners’ representatives

Article 79 stipulates that 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 in case of vacancies,

representatives entrusted with representing them before the military authorities, the Protecting Powers, the

ICRC and any other organization which may assist them. These prisoners’ representatives shall be eligible

Rules relating to the conduct of combatants and the protection of prisoners of war

Page 6 of 9

for re-election. In camps for officers and persons of equivalent status or in mixed camps, the senior-ranking

officer among the prisoners of war shall be recognized as the camp prisoners’ representative.[III, 79]

This institution is very important. Benefiting from various prerogatives and facilities enumerated in article

81, the prisoners’ representative is the intermediary qualified to further the physical, spiritual and

intellectual well-being of prisoners of war.[III, 80, 81]

He not only supervises the distribution of relief supplies but also does all he can to mitigate the severities of

discipline, to help prisoners in their difficulties with the detaining authority.

Finally, it should be stressed that prisoners must 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 about their

conditions of captivity.[III, 78]

d) Sanctions

The Convention specifies that prisoners of war shall be subject to the laws, regulations and orders in force in

the armed forces of the Detaining Power.[III, 82]

A general leniency clause protects prisoners of war against excessively severe interpretation of the laws and

regulations. In deciding whether an offence committed by a prisoner of war should be subject to disciplinary

or judicial punishment, the Detaining Power shall ensure that the competent authorities exercise the

greatest leniency and adopt, wherever possible, disciplinary rather than judicial measures.[III, 83]

Disciplinary sanctions may only be ordered by the camp commander or an officer appointed by him, and in

no case by a prisoner of war. Moreover, certain concessions are granted to prisoners undergoing disciplinary

punishment: permission to take exercise and to be in the open air for at least two hours daily, permission to

read and write, as well as to send and receive letters.[III, 96, 98]

Finally, in no case shall disciplinary punishments be inhuman, brutal or dangerous to the health of prisoners

of war and the duration of any single punishment shall never exceed thirty days.[III, 89, 90]

As far as judicial sanctions are concerned, a prisoner of war may only be tried by a military court, except

under specified circumstances. Furthermore, prisoners of war may not be sentenced to any penalties other

than those imposed for the same acts committed by members of the armed forces of the Detaining Power.

Collective punishment for individual acts is forbidden, as are corporal punishment, imprisonment in premises

without daylight and, in general, torture or cruelty in any form whatsoever.[III, 84, 87]

It is important to note that prisoners who are prosecuted shall still benefit from the Convention, even if they

are convicted.[III,85]

The death penalty can be imposed, in principle, for offences liable to capital punishment in the armed forces

of the Detaining Power. Since the accused is not a national of the Detaining Power, owes it no allegiance,

and is in its power as a result of circumstances beyond his control, the court must take these facts into

account before pronouncing a death sentence.[III, 100]

As far as possible, the death penalty shall not be pronounced on pregnant women or mothers having

dependent infants. If it is pronounced, it will not be carried out. The same will apply to prisoners under the

age of eighteen at the time the offence was committed.[P. I, 76; P. I, 77]

Article 101 extends to at least six months the period that must elapse between the time the death penalty

is pronounced and the time the sentence is executed. Furthermore, Article 107 provides an opportunity for

the Protecting Power to intervene in the case of a death sentence being pronounced.[III, 101, 107]

The guarantees of judicial procedure form part of the fundamental guarantees, which means that they must

be accorded even to prisoners whose status of prisoner of war is not recognized.

Judicial procedure must be regular, i.e. it must include at least the following guarantees: the accused to be

informed without delay of the particulars of the offence he is alleged to have committed, which must have

constituted an offence at the time it was committed; presumption of innocence; no coercion on a prisoner to

Rules relating to the conduct of combatants and the protection of prisoners of war

Page 7 of 9

force him to confess judgement to be pronounced in the presence of the accused and, in principle, publicly.

The prisoner cannot be punished more than once for the same act or on the same charge if it is based on

the same law and the same judicial procedure.[III, 86, 99; P. I, 75]

The rights of defence are recognized and guaranteed and, accordingly, the prisoner of war shall be entitled

to be assisted by one of his fellow prisoners, to be defended by a qualified attorney of his own choice, to

call witnesses and, if he thinks it necessary, to employ the services of a competent interpreter. On the same

conditions as members of the armed forces of the Detaining Power, he will have the right of appeal with a

view to quashing or revising the sentence pronounced on him; any judgement and sentence shall be

immediately reported to the Protecting Power.[III, 105,106; P. I, 75]

7. Repatriation

a) Direct repatriation and hospitalization in a neutral country

Even during hostilities, the Convention prescribes the direct return to their own countries of the wounded

and sick

whose mental or physical fitness seems to have been seriously impaired, and hospitalization in neutral

countries of

specific categories of those less seriously sick or wounded.[III, 109]

A model agreement, annexed to Convention 111 (Annex 1, referred to in Article I 10) cites numerous cases

which

can give rise to application of this principle. Mixed Medical Commissions, set up at the outbreak of

hostilities, are

called upon to decide what prisoners are to be repatriated. The Parties to the conflict must send back to

their own

country, regardless of number or rank, seriously wounded and sick prisoners of war, after caring for them

until they

are able to travel.[III, 112]

No sick or injured prisoner of war may be repatriated against his will during hostilities.

No repatriated person may be employed on active military service.[III, 117]

b) Release and repatriation at the end of hostilities

Situations which can arise at the end of a war have shown that the way in which the principle of the Code

for

prisoners of war of 1929 was worded, requiring the repatriation of prisoners on the conclusion of peace,

could be

detrimental to them, because experience has shown that a very long time can elapse between the time

hostilities

cease and the time peace is concluded. To remedy this, the Convention states that repatriation will take

place

“without delay after the cessation of active hostilities”, i.e. after the cease-fire.[III, 118]

One exception to immediate repatriation is provided in the case of prisoners convicted or prosecuted for

criminal

offences, who may be detained until the end of legal proceedings and, if necessary, until they have

completed their

sentences.[III, 119]

8. Death

Prisoners of war are entitled to make wills. The Convention prescribes that wills of prisoners of war shall be

drawn up so as to satisfy the conditions of validity required by legislation in their countries of origin, which

will take the necessary steps to inform the Detaining Power of its requirements in this respect.[III, 120]

The Convention specifies the conditions of burial (or, in certain cases cremation) appropriate to ensure

respect for the dead and to safeguard the interests of their families. The Protocol supplements these

Rules relating to the conduct of combatants and the protection of prisoners of war

Page 8 of 9

provisions.[III, 120; P. I, 35]

In case of death from suspicious causes, an enquiry is opened in order to determine responsibility,

particularly with a view to possible compensation for beneficiaries.[III, 121]

Death certificates must be forwarded as rapidly as possible to the Prisoner of War Information Bureaux.

9. Information bureaux and Central Tracing Agency

The services rendered to prisoners and their families by the Central Prisoner of War Agency (now known as

the Central Tracing Agency) during the two World Wars and the numerous conflicts since 1945 are well

known.

Created under the auspices of the ICRC, this Agency keeps in its archives over fifty million cards which

constitute a unique information system to establish the rights of prisoners or their families. In particular, it

contains all the information it can obtain through private or official sources concerning prisoners of war with

a view to determining their identity, and any particulars about them relating to transfers, releases,

repatriations, escapes, hospitalization and death.

These results have been consolidated by the Convention, which not only requires Governments to set up

official bureaux to collect and transmit information about prisoners of war, but provides for establishment of

a Central Prisoner of War Information Agency in a neutral country.[III, 122, 123; P. I, 34]

To facilitate the work of the national Bureaux and the Central Information Agency, States must grant them

free postage for mail, as well as all exemptions provided for in Article 74 and, as far as possible, exemption

from telegraphic charges or, at least, greatly reduced rates.(7) [III, 124]

Families have the right to know what has become of their relatives. As soon as circumstances permit and, at

the latest, from the end of hostilities, the Parties to the conflict should therefore search for persons reported

missing by an adverse Party and transmit all relevant information concerning such persons in order to

facilitate the search.[P. I, 33; III, 119]

10. Assistance by relief societies and the ICRC

Relief societies, the ICRC and the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies have played such an important role

in helping prisoners of war during the two World Wars that the Convention devotes an article to them, to

facilitate and encourage their activity.

This provision requires the Powers to grant them and their duly accredited delegates, all the necessary

facilitates to visit prisoners, distribute relief supplies and material from any source, for religious, educational

or recreative purposes, and help them organize their leisure activities within camps. The special status of

the ICRC in this sphere must be recognized and respected.[III, 125]

11. The right of Protecting Powers and the ICRC to visit

Furthermore, the Convention provides that representatives of the Protecting Powers shall have permission to

go to all places where prisoners of war may be, particularly to places of internment, imprisonment and

labour. They shall have access to all premises used by prisoners. ICRC delegates shall enjoy the same

prerogatives. The appointment of such delegates shall be submitted to the approval of the Power detaining

the prisoners of war to

be visited.[III, 126]

The Parties to the conflict shall grant the ICRC all facilities within their power to enable it to carry out the

humanitarian functions assigned to it by the Conventions and the Protocol, to assure protection and

assistance to the victims of conflicts. The ICRC may also carry out any other humanitarian activities for the

benefit of these victims, subject to the consent of the Parties to the conflict. The League of Red Cross

Societies and National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies shall also receive the necessary facilities to

carry out their humanitarian work.[P. I, 81; III, 9]

Rules relating to the conduct of combatants and the protection of prisoners of war

Page 9 of 9

1. In article 4 of the Third Convention, the term “armed forces” or “regular armed forces” covers only

“regular” manpower, i.e. constituted in application of the national legislation recognized by the Government

in power at the time of the constitution. Members of “other” militia do not form part of the regular

establishment. This distinction is eliminated by the Protocol.

2. A reminder that The Hague Regulation concerning the laws and customs of war on land (article 1),

confirmed by article 4 of the Third Convention, does not confer recognition of the status of prisoner of war

to combatants not forming part of the “regular” army unless they fulfil the following conditions: a) being

headed by a person responsible for his subordinates, b) having a fixed distinctive sign recognizable at a

distance, c) carrying arms openly and d) conducting their operations in accordance with the laws and

customs of war.

3. Only persons acting under false pretences or in a deliberately clandestine manner can be considered as

spies. Thus a member of the armed forces in uniform is not a spy even if he conceals himself to gather

information.

4. These particulars will be reproduced on the identity card which the Parties to the conflict are required to

issue to the prisoner of war (III, 17, 18).

5. Immediately after capture, the Detaining Power must issue the prisoner of war with a “capture card” by

means of which he can himself inform his family and the Central Tracing Agency of his capture (see below,

point 9, page 33).

6. See below, point 6, page 29.

7. These facilities have been ratified by the Universal Postal Convention, Article 37 ( Acts of the Universal

Postal Union, Brussels, 1952).

31-12-1988

Notes

Protection of civilian persons and populations in time of war

Page 1 of 10

International Committee of the Red Cross

31-12-1988

Protection of civilian persons and populations in time of war

Additional Protocol I, Part IV

Geneva Convention relative to the protection of civilian persons in time of war (Convention IV of

12 August 1949)

Contents:

Section I

Protection against the effects of hostilities

1 Fundamental principle and basic rules

2. Definition of civilians and civilian property

3. Protection of civilian persons and property

4. Special protection of certain property

5. Special protection of certain zones and localities

6. Precautionary measures

7. Civil defence

Section II

General protection and administration of civilians in time of war

1. Scope of the Fourth Convention

2. General protection of all persons affected by the armed conflict

3. General treatment of persons protected by the Fourth Convention

4. Treatment of foreigners on the territory of a Party to the conflict

5. Occupation administration

6. Treatment of civilian internees

(Please note: Roman numerals indicate the number of the Convention or the Protocol (designated by the

letter

P), Arabic numerals refer to the articles of these instruments.)

Section I

Protection against the effects of hostilities

Apart from a few provisions of limited scope, the Geneva Conventions do not deal with the general

protection of civilian populations against the effects of hostilities. This matter came under The Hague

Conventions, most of whose rules go back to 1907 and have from that time acquired a customary character

and are still valid. But the evolution that has taken place since the beginning of this century in military

technique and, in particular, extraordinary developments in aerial warfare has made it necessary to develop

and make more specific the existing law of armed conflicts. This is the subject of Part IV of the First

Protocol additional to the Conventions.

1. Fundamental principle and basic rules

The fundamental principle on which the law of armed conflicts is based is expressed as follows: In any

armed conflict, the right of the Parties to the conflict to choose methods or means of warfare is not

unlimited. Two basic rules follow from this principle. The first prohibits the use of weapons, projectiles and

material and methods of warfare of a nature to cause unnecessary injury. The second, in order to ensure

respect and protection for the civilian population and civilian property, obliges the Parties to the conflict to

Extract from “Basic rules of the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols”

Protection of civilian persons and populations in time of war

Page 2 of 10

distinguish at all times between the civilian population and combatants, as well as between civilian property

and military objectives and to direct their operations only against military objectives.[P. I, 35; P. I, 48]

2. Definition of civilians and civilian Property

Any Person not belonging to the armed forces (see Chapter III, Section I) is considered as a civilian and the

same applies in case of doubt as to his status. The civilian population comprises all persons who are

civilians.[P. I, 50]

Civilian property is anything which is not a military objective, i.e. which by its nature, location, purpose or

use does not effectively contribute to military action and whose total or partial destruction, capture or

neutralization would not offer a definite military advantage in the circumstances ruling at the time. Thus,

military equipment, a road of strategic importance, a supply column on its way to the army, a civilian

building evacuated and reoccupied by combatants are military objectives. In case of doubt, a property which

is normally assigned to civilian use should be considered as civilian and must not be attacked.[P. I, 52]

3. Protection of civilian persons and property

The prohibition of attacks on civilian persons and civilian property includes all acts of violence, whether

committed in offence or defence. Attacks or threats of violence intended to terrorize the civilian Population

are also prohibited.[P. I, 49, 51, 52]

The prohibition includes attacks launched indiscriminately. In particular these are attacks which are not

directed or which cannot be directed, because of the methods or means of combat employed, at a military

objective. Also considered as indiscriminate are attacks which treat as a single military objective a number

of clearly separated and distinct military objectives located in a town, village or other area containing a

similar concentration of civilians or civilian property. The same applies to attacks which cause incidental

civilian losses and damage excessive in relation to the concrete and direct military advantage anticipated.[P.

I, 49, 51, 52]

The presence or movements of the civilian population or individual civilians must not be used to try to

shield military objectives from attack or to shield, favour or impede military operations.

The Fourth Convention provides for the conclusion by Parties to a conflict of local agreements for the

evacuation from besieged or encircled areas of wounded, sick, disabled and old people, children and women

in labour, and for the passage of ministers of all religions, medical personnel and equipment on their way to

such areas.[IV, 17]

The Protocol forbids starving civilian populations. Objects indispensable to the survival of civilian

populations, such as foodstuffs, agricultural areas, crops, livestock, drinking water installations and supplies

and irrigation works must neither be attacked, destroyed, removed nor rendered useless. A belligerent may

depart from this rule only on its own territory and only if imperative military necessities require it to do

so.[P. I, 54]

The environment itself must be protected against widespread, long-term and severe damage. Methods or

means of warfare likely to cause such damage and thereby jeopardize the health or survival of the

population are forbidden.[P. I, 55]

4. Special protection of certain property

Cultural property(1) is entitled to special protection. Historical monuments, works of art or places of worship

which constitute the cultural or spiritual heritage of peoples must not be the objects of any acts of hostility,

nor be used in support of the military effort.[P. I, 53]

In case of risk of the release of dangerous forces which could cause severe losses among the civilian

population, dams, dykes and nuclear electrical generating stations, must not be attacked, even if they

constitute military objectives. This protection can only cease if they are used for the regular, significant and

direct support of military operations and if attack is the only practical means of stopping this support. These

installations may be marked with a special sign (three bright orange circles in a straight line).[P. I, 56,

Annex I, 16]

Protection of civilian persons and populations in time of war

Page 3 of 10

5. Special Protection of certain zones and localities

a) Safety zones

The Fourth Convention provides that either before or after the outbreak of hostilities, hospital and safety

zones and localities may be established so as to protect wounded, sick and aged persons, children under the

age of fifteen, expectant mothers and mothers of children under the age of seven. The Protecting Powers

and the ICRC are invited to lend their good offices in order to facilitate the setting up and recognition of

such zones and localities.[IV, 14]

If necessary, and when circumstances permit, these zones may be set up in or near places which already

benefit from special protection as cultural property (see point 4).

b) Neutralized zones

Neutralized zones are zones established in fighting areas and intended to shelter from the dangers of war all

persons, without distinction, who are not taking part, or no longer taking part, in hostilities and who do not

perform any work of a military nature while they remain in these zones. They are established by agreement

between the Parties concerned on the proposal of the Party setting up the zone. [IV, 15]

c) Non-defended localities

Any inhabited place near or in a zone where armed forces are in contact and which is open to occupation by

the adversary may be declared a non-defended locality. Such a locality must fulfil the following

conditions:[P. I, 59]

a) all combatants, as well as mobile weapons and mobile military equipment must have been evacuated;

b) no hostile use may be made of fixed military installations or establishments,.

c) no acts of hostility may be committed by the authorities or by the population,.

d) no activities may be undertaken in support of military operations.

As long as these conditions are met, no attack can be launched on the locality by any means whatsoever.

d) Demilitarized zones

The Protocol prohibits extension of military operations to zones on which the opposing Parties have

conferred by agreement the status of demilitarized zone, if such extension is contrary to the terms of such

an agreement.[P. I, 60]

The purpose of the agreement will normally be to create a zone fulfilling the same conditions as for nondefended

localities.

6. Precautionary measures

To implement the rules protecting civilian persons and property, those who plan or decide upon an attack

are bound to take certain precautions. They must do everything feasible to verify that the objectives to be

attacked are definitely military objectives. They must choose means and methods of attack which avoid, or

at least reduce to a minmum, incidental losses and damage which could be caused to civilians and civilian

property. They must refrain from launching an attack if it seems clear that such losses or damage would be

excessive in relation to the concrete and direct military advantage anticipated, and even cancel or suspend

it if it becomes apparent that such is the case. Advance warning must be given in good time to the civilian

population of attacks which may affect them when circumstances permit. Finally, the location of military

objectives in the vicinity of civilian populations and civilian property shall be avoided as far as possible and

all other necessary precautions must also be taken (shelters, signs, etc.).[P. I. 57, 58]

7. Civil defence

Civil defence organizations have humanitarian tasks. They are intended to protect the civilian population

against the dangers of hostilities or disasters and to help it recover from their immediate effects, as well as

to ensure the conditions necessary for its survival (warning, evacuation, shelters, rescue, medical services,

fire-fighting, public services, etc.). These organizations and their personnel are entitled to perform their

Protection of civilian persons and populations in time of war

Page 4 of 10

tasks except in case of imperative military necessity and must be respected and protected. Objects used for

civil defence purposes may not be destroyed or diverted from their proper use except by the Party to which

they belong.[P. I, 61, 62]

These rules are also valid in occupied territory where civil defence organizations shall receive from the

authorities the necessary facilities for the performance of their tasks. The occupant must not requisition

buildings or equipment belonging to civil defence organizations nor divert them from their proper use.[P. I,

63]

The same rules also apply to civil defence organizations of neutral States operating on the territory of a

Party to the conflict with the consent and under the control of that Party.[P. I, 64]

This protection may only cease if civil defence organizations are used to commit, outside their proper tasks,

acts harmful to the enemy and only after an appropriate warning with a reasonable time-limit has been

given and disregarded. The fact that civil defence organizations are formed along military lines, that they

cooperate with military personnel or are placed under the direction of military authorities and incidentally

benefit military victims is not considered as a harmful act. The same applies to the carrying of light

individual weapons by civilian personnel for the purpose of maintaining order or for self-defence.[P. I, 65]

The distinctive sign of civil defence organizations is an equilateral blue triangle on an orange ground. [P. I,

66, Annex I, 15]

Members of the armed forces and military units permanently and exclusively assigned to civil defence

organizations must be respected and protected, provided that the conditions stated above are observed and

that they prominently display the international distinctive sign of civil defence. If they fall into enemy

hands, they are prisoners of war. [P. I, 67]

Section II

General protection and administration of civilians in time of war

1. Scope of the Fourth Convention

Article 4 of the Fourth Convention defines protected persons as follows: persons protected by the

Convention are those who, at a given moment and in any manner whatsoever, find themselves, in case of a

conflict or occupation, in the hands of a Party to the conflict or Occupying Power of which they are not

nationals.[IV, 4]

This protection rules out any arbitrary actions by the enemy at whose mercy the protected persons may be.

The Fourth Convention is especially concerned with supplementing Section 111 of the Hague Regulations of

1907 on the laws and customs of war relating to occupied territories. But, in addition to a section

concerning the administration of foreigners, it also includes provisions relative to the general protection of

civilian populations and provisions common to the territories of the Parties to the conflict and to occupied

territories.

Both these latter groups of provisions are supplemented or even replaced by corresponding Articles in the

Protocol.

2. General protection of all persons affected by the armed conflict

The rules of general protection stated in this subdivision refer to all persons affected by an armed conflict,

whether or not they are protected persons in the meaning of Article 4 of the Fourth Convention. In principle

they therefore concern nationals as well as non-nationals of the Parties to the conflict, nationals of neutral

States on the territory of a Party to the conflict as well as nationals of States not Parties to the Conventions

and the Protocol who find themselves on this territory.

a) Aid

The Fourth Convention guarantees the free passage of all consignments of medicaments and medical

Protection of civilian persons and populations in time of war

Page 5 of 10

equipment, as well as objects necessary for religious worship intended only for civilians of another

Contracting Party, even those of an enemy. It also permits the free passage of foodstuffs, clothing and

tonics intended for children under fifteen, expectant mothers and women in labour. The Protocol

considerably extends the scope for undertaking relief operations. It provides that when the civilian

population of a territory under the control of a Party to the conflict, other than an occupied territory, is not

adequately provided for, relief actions of a humanitarian and impartial character, conducted without any

adverse distinction, must be undertaken, subject to the agreement of the Parties concerned in such relief

action. These may consist of foodstuffs, medicines, clothing, bedding, means of shelter and other supplies

essential to the survival of the civilian population. [IV, 23; P. I, 69, 70, 71]

The personnel taking part in relief actions must be respected and protected.

b) Protection of children

The Protocol declares that children must be the object of special respect and must be protected against any

form of indecent assault. They must receive the care and aid they require, whether because of their age or

for any other reason. All practicable measures must be taken to prevent children under the age of 15 from

taking a direct part in the hostilities and, if they have become orphaned or separated from their families as

a result of the war, to ensure that they are not left to their own resources and that their maintenance, the

exercise of their religion and their education are facilitated in all circumstances. In case of arrest, children

shall be kept in quarters separate from those of adults, except where families are accommodated as family

units. The death penalty must not be executed on persons who were under the age of 18 at the time the

offence was committed.[P. I, 77; IV, 24]

Unless there are imperative reasons for doing so, no Party to the conflict shall arrange for the evacuation of

children other than its own nationals to a foreign country. When evacuation does occur, all necessary steps

must be taken to facilitate the return of the children to their families and their country. [P.I, 78]

c) Protection of women

Women shall be the object of special respect and must be protected against any form of indecent assault.

Pregnant women and mothers of dependent infants, who are arrested for reasons related to the armed

conflict, shall have their cases considered in absolute priority and in the event of a death penalty being

pronounced, it will not be carried out. [P. I, 76]

d) Reuniting of dispersed families and family news

All the Parties to the Conventions and the Protocol must facilitate the reunion of dispersed families and

encourage the work of the humanitarian organizations engaged in this task. [P. I, 74]

In particular, each Party to the conflict must facilitate enquiries made by members of families dispersed

because of the war with the object of renewing contact with one another and, if possible, of meeting. [IV,

26]

All persons in the territory of a Party to the conflict, or in a territory occupied by it, shall be enabled to give

news of a strictly personal nature to members of their families, wherever they may be, and to receive news

from them.[IV, 25]

e) Refugees and stateless persons

Persons who, before the outbreak of hostilities, were considered as stateless persons or refugees under the

relevant international agreements or under the legislation of the State of refuge or State of residence are

protected persons within the meaning of the Fourth Convention. [P. I, 73]

f) Journalists

Journalists engaged in dangerous professional missions in areas of armed conflict shall be considered as

civilians and protected as such. They may obtain identity cards attesting to their status as journalists. [P. I,

79]

g) Fundamental guarantees

Protection of civilian persons and populations in time of war

Page 6 of 10

In so far as they are affected by a situation of armed conflict, persons who are in the power of a Party to

the conflict and who do not benefit from more favourable treatment by virtue of the Conventions and the

Protocol shall be treated humanely in all circumstances and shall benefit from the fundamental guarantees

without any discrimination based on any pretext whatsoever. Among the fundamental guarantees, it is

specified that the person, the honour, the convictions and religious practices of all such persons must be

respected. The following acts in particular are prohibited under any pretext whatever, whether committed by

civil or military agents: [P. I, 75]

a) violence to the life, health and physical or mental well-being of persons, particularly:

- murder;

- torture of all kinds, whether physical or mental;

- corporal punishment,.

- mutilation;

b) outrages upon personal dignity, in particular humiliating and degrading treatment, enforced prostitution

and any form of indecent assault;

c) the taking of hostages;

d) collective punishments;

e) threats to commit any of the foregoing acts.

Finally, the guarantees of judicial procedure (see Chapter III, point 6, page 31) also form part of the

fundamental guarantees accorded to all persons affected by an armed conflict.

h) Activities of the Red Cross and other humanitarian organizations

The Parties to the conflict must grant the ICRC all facilities within their power to enable it to carry out the

humanitarian functions assigned to it by the Conventions and the Protocol, in order to ensure protection and

assistance to the victims of conflicts. The ICRC may also carry out any other humanitarian activities in

favour of

these victims, subject to the consent of the Parties to the conflict.

These Parties shall also grant their respective Red Cross and Red Crescent organizations the facilities

necessary for carrying out their humanitarian activities. As far as possible, they shall facilitate the assistance

which other National Societies, the League of Red Cross Societies and other humanitarian organizations

extend

to the victims of conflicts.

3. General treatment of persons protected by the Fourth Convention (2)

a) Respect for the human person

Article 27 of the Fourth Convention states the basic principle of the Geneva Conventions. It proclaims

respect for the human person and the inalienable character of his fundamental rights. This Article is now

supplemented by Article 75 of the Protocol relative to fundamental guarantees as well as by other relevant

provisions which appear under the heading “General Protection” (point 2, page 41). Article 27 declares:

Protected persons are entitled, in all circumstances, to respect for their persons, their honour, their family

rights, their religious convictions and practices, and their manners and customs. They shall at all times be

humanely treated, and shall be protected especially against all acts of violence or threats thereof and

against insults and public curiosity. [IV, 27]

Women shall be especially protected against any attack on their honour, in particular against rape, enforced

prostitution or any form of indecent assault.

In case of infringement of these rules, the State is responsible. [IV, 29]

b) Applications to Protecting Powers and the Red Cross

Protection of civilian persons and populations in time of war

Page 7 of 10

To guarantee observance of the principle stated above, protected persons shall have every facility for

making

application to the Protecting Powers, the ICRC, the National Red Cross or Red Crescent Society of the

country

where they may be and to any other organization that might assist them. [IV, 30]

c) Prohibition of maltreatment and pillage

It follows from this same principle that no physical or moral coercion may be used against protected

persons, in particular to obtain information from them, or from third parties, and that the High Contracting

Parties specifically agree that each of them is prohibited from taking any action of a nature to cause either

physical suffering or extermination of the protected persons in their hands. This prohibition applies not only

to murder, torture, corporal punishment, mutilation and medical or scientific experiments not necessitated

by the medical treatment of a protected person, but also to any other form of brutality by civilian or military

agents. [IV, 31, 32]

Pillage is prohibited. [IV, 33]

The taking of hostages is prohibited. [IV, 34]

4. Treatment of foreigners on the territory of a party to the conflict

While recognizing the right of foreigners to leave the territory at the outset of, or during a conflict, the

Convention also affirms the right of the State to detain them on certain conditions if their departure would

be against the national interests. If departures take place, they must be carried out in satisfactory

conditions as regards safety, hygiene, sanitation and food. The situation of foreigners who remain will

continue to be governed, in principle, by the provisions concerning aliens in time of peace. [IV, 35, 36, 38]

In all cases, foreigners on the territory of a Party to the conflict benefit from the rules stated under General

Protection of all persons affected by the armed conflict and, in particular, from the fundamental guarantees

(see point 2, page 41 and following). In addition, a number of basic rights are ensured them by the

Convention (right to receive individual or collective relief, medical and hospital treatment, to practise their

religion, and to benefit from the measures decreed by the Government in favour of certain categories of

persons).

Among the enemy aliens on the territory of a Party to the conflict, there may be some whose situation

merits special consideration: these are refugees, forced by events or persecution to leave their homeland

and seek asylum elsewhere.

If the country of refuge enters into war with their country of origin, these refugees are qualified as enemy

aliens because they have the nationality of an enemy Power. But their situation is a special one in that they

are expatriates, no longer having ties with their country of origin and not benefiting from the support of the

protecting Power. However, they do not yet have permanent links with the country that has received them.

Therefore, they do not enjoy the protection of any government. It is to make allowance for this situation

that the Convention provides the following article: the Detaining Power shall not treat as enemy aliens

exclusively on the basis of their nationality de jure of an enemy State, refugees who do not, in fact, enjoy

the protection of any government. [IV, 44]

The Protocol adds that persons who, before the beginning of hostilities, were considered as stateless

persons or refugees under the relevant international instruments accepted by the Parties concerned or under

the national legislation of the State of refuge or State of residence shall be protected persons within the

meaning of the Fourth Convention in all circumstances and without any adverse distinction. [P. I, 73]

In order to remove any possibility for the States parties to the Convention to evade their obligations, it is

prohibited to transfer protected persons to a Power which is not a party to the Convention. In the event of

a transfer to a Power which is a party to the Convention, the Detaining Power must satisfy itself that the

Power in question is willing and able to apply the Convention. The Convention adds that a protected person

can in no circumstances be transferred to a country where he or she may have reason to fear persecution

for his or her political opinions or religious beliefs. If internment or placing in assigned residence are

ordered, this decision will be reconsidered as soon as possible and, if it is upheld, the case will be reProtection

of civilian persons and populations in time of war

Page 8 of 10

examined at least twice yearly. [IV, 45, 42, 43]

5. Occupation administration

a) Protection of persons

Regarding the protection of persons, reference will first be made to point 2 under General Protection of all

persons affected by the armed conflict (page 41 and following), and in particular to the section dealing with

aid, fundamental guarantees and the protection of children and women, as well as to point 3, letter a):

Respect for the human person.

One of the most important clauses is that prohibiting deportations. Individual or mass forcible transfers, as

well as deportations of protected persons from occupied territory to the territory of the Occupying Power or

to that of any other country, occupied or not, are prohibited, regardless of their motive. [IV, 49]

Furthermore, as far as children are concerned, it is provided that the Occupying Power shall, with the

cooperation of the national and local authorities, facilitate the proper working of all institutions devoted to

the care and education of children. It will take all necessary steps to facilitate the identification of children

and the registration of their parentage. It may not, in any case, change their personal status, nor enlist

them in formations or organizations subordinate to it. [IV, 50]

The force of arms belonging to the Occupying Power, it will assume responsibility for public order and safety

by virtue of Article 43 of The Hague Regulations. The rules laid down in the Convention are intended to

safeguard the lives and interests of the population in humane conditions. Detailed provisions govern the

following:

Work: Only persons over the age of eighteen may be compelled to work, and this work will be carried out

only within the occupied territory, according to the legislation in force. [IV, 51]

Food: The Occupying Power has the duty of ensuring the food and medical supplies of the population. Fair

value must be paid for any requisitioned goods. [IV, 55]

Hygiene and public health must be ensured and maintained by the Occupying Power with the cooperation of

national and local authorities. [IV, 56]

Religion: The Occupying Power shall permit ministers of religion to give spiritual assistance to the members

of their religious communities. [IV, 58]

Relief: The Occupying Power must permit necessary relief operations to aid the population and facilitate

them by all means at its disposal, particularly by authorizing the charitable work of the Protecting Power, of

a neutral State, of the ICRC or any other impartial humanitarian organization. [IV, 59, 61]

b) Protection of property

Article 53 refers to the protection of property. In a way, this extends the scope of the Convention, whose

principal object is the protection of persons. It is justified by the fact that certain attacks on private

property are extremely detrimental to the mental and material situation of the persons concerned. (3)

The Occupying Power is prohibited from destroying real or personal property belonging individually or

collectively to private persons, or to the State or other public authorities, or to social or cooperative

organizations, except where such destruction is rendered absolutely necessary by military operations. [IV,

53]

c) Role of the National Society

The National Red Cross or Red Crescent Society is qualified to aid the wounded, sick and shipwrecked, to

distribute relief and to supervise the welfare of the population with the means at its disposal. It must be

shielded from any pressures that could prejudice its traditional character. To this end, and subject to

temporary and exceptional measures imposed for urgent security reasons by the Occupying Power, the

Convention provides as follows:

Protection of civilian persons and populations in time of war

Page 9 of 10

a) Recognized National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies shall be able to pursue their activities in

accordance with Red Cross principles, as defined by the International Red Cross Conferences. Other relief

societies shall be permitted to continue their humanitarian activities under similar conditions. [IV, 63]

b) The Occupying Power may not require any changes in the personnel or structure of these societies, which

would prejudice their activities.

Similarly, magistrates and public officials are, up to a point, protected against political pressures. The

Occupying Power may not alter the status of public officials or judges in the occupied territory, or apply

sanctions or take measures of coercion or discrimination of any kind against them, because they abstain

from fulfilling their functions for reasons of conscience. [IV, 54]

d) Penal legislation

Finally, a detailed statute relative to penal legislation aims to permit the maintenance of order while

protecting the population in the occupied territory from overbearing treatment on the part of the Occupying

Power. The principle is that the penal legislation of the occupied territory remains in force, except in so far

as it constitutes a threat to the Occupying Power, in which case it may be repealed or suspended by that

Power. Subject to this reservation, the tribunals of the occupied territory shall continue to function for all

offences covered by this legislation. [IV, 64]

In order to ensure that justice is observed, the courts shall apply only those provisions of law which were

applicable prior to the offence, and which are in accordance with general principles of law, in particular the

principle that the penalty shall be proportionate to the offence. They shall take into consideration the fact

that the accused is not a national of the Occupying Power. [IV, 67]

Judicial procedure must be regular, i.e. it must include at least the following guarantees: the accused to be

informed without delay of the particulars of the offence he is alleged to have committed, which must have

constituted an offence at the time it was committed; presumption of innocence, no coercion to obtain

confessions, judgement to be pronounced in the presence of the accused and, in principle, publicly. The

prisoner may not be punished more than once for the same act or on the same charge if based on the same

law and the same judicial procedures. The rights of defence are recognized and guaranteed in that the

accused has the right to question witnesses, or have them questioned, to be defended by a qualified

attorney of his own choice and to call on the services of an interpreter. Finally, all convicted persons will be

informed of their rights to appeal and the time limits within which they may do so. [P. I, 75; IV, 71, 72, 73]

Within this framework, the Occupying Power may promulgate penal provisions but the Convention confines

within very strict limits the possibility of imposing the death penalty.

In no case may this penalty be pronounced on a protected person who was under the age of eighteen at the

time the offence was committed, nor may it be carried out on a pregnant woman or a mother of young

infants dependent on her.[IV, 68; P. I, 76, 77]

No death sentence may be carried out before at least six months have elapsed from the time this sentence

was notified to the Protecting Power.[IV, 75]

A special clause protects refugees. [IV, 70]

6. Treatment of civilian internees

Both in the case of enemy civilians on the territory of a Party to the conflict, and that of protected persons

in occupied territory, the principle is that if the Detaining Power considers it necessary, for imperative

reasons of security, to take safety measures concerning protected persons, it may, at the most, subject

them to assigned residence or to internment. [IV, 41,78]

Internment therefore is not a punishment. Like the code for prisoners of war, it must in all circumstances

respect human dignity. The conditions of internment are virtually the same as those applying to prisoners of

war and, by and large, the rules of internment applicable to civilians follow almost word for word those

concerning prisoners of war (see articles 79 to 135 of the Fourth Convention).

However, it should be noted that several articles concerning, for example:

Protection of civilian persons and populations in time of war

Page 10 of 10

- management of property, [IV, 114]

- facilities for legal proceedings, [IV, 115]

- visits, [IV, 116]

have no direct parallels in the Convention relating to prisoners of war. They are intended to alleviate the

hardships of internment for persons who, not being subject to military discipline, may in some cases benefit

from less severe treatment than that meted out to prisoners of war.

Furthermore, as far as working conditions are concerned, an essential difference is worth pointing out.

Whereas prisoners of war (excepting officers) can be compelled to work, civil internees can only be

employed as workers if they so wish. Apart from its strictly voluntary character, their work is governed by

the same rules as those of prisoners of war. [IV, 95]

Also worthy of attention is a provision concerning family life, whereby internees may request that their

children who are left at liberty without parental care should be interned with them. [IV, 82]

As far as possible, interned members of the same family must be housed in the same premises and given

separate accommodation from other internees; they must also be granted all necessary facilities for leading

a proper family life.

As far as the release of internees is concerned, the Convention specifies that each interned person must be

released by the Detaining Power as soon as the reasons which necessitated his internment no longer exist.

In addition, the Parties to the conflict will endeavour, during the hostilities, to conclude agreements for

release, repatriation, return to places of residence or hospitalization in a neutral country of certain classes of

internees, in particular children, pregnant women and mothers with infants and young children, the

wounded and sick and internees who have been detained for a long time. [IV, 132]

Internment must cease as soon as possible after the close of hostilities and, at the end of hostilities or

occupation, the States must try to ensure the return of all internees to their last place of residence or

facilitate their repatriation. The spirit of this provision is of far-reaching consequence, benefiting not only

internees but, in a general way, all persons displaced by the events of war. [IV, 133; IV, 134]

Notes

1. This property is also protected by The Hague Convention of May 14, 1954 for the protection of cultural

property in the case of armed conflict.

2. A reminder that the definition of protected persons is given in article 4 of the Convention, see above,

page 40. A distinction is made between protected persons: aliens on the territory of a Party to conflict (see

page 45) and the population of occupied territories (see page 47).

3. A reminder that article 33, mentioned above, page 45, prohibits pillage.

31-12-1988

Protection of victims of non-international armed conflicts

Page 1 of 4

International Committee of the Red Cross

31-12-1988

Protection of victims of non-international armed conflicts

ARTICLE 3 COMMON TO THE FOUR CONVENTIONS AND ADDITIONAL PROTOCOL II

Contents:

Section I

Article 3 common to the four Conventions

Section II

Additional Protocol II

1. Wounded, sick and shipwrecked

a) Protection and care

b) Medical personnel

c) Medical units and transport

d) Distinctive emblem

2. Protection of the civilian population

3. Protection of certain objects

4. Humane treatment

a) Fundamental guarantees b) Persons deprived of their liberty c) Penal prosecutions d) Non-discrimination

(Please note: Roman numerals indicate the number of the Convention or the Protocol (designated by the

letter

P), Arabic numerals refer to the articles of these instruments.)

The general rules relating to non-international armed conflicts refer to the two following cases:

a) any situation where, within a State’s territory, clear and unmistakable hostilities break out between the

armed forces and organized armed groups (see Section I);

b) any situation where dissident forces are organized under the leadership of a responsible command and

exercise such control over a part of the territory as to enable them to conduct sustained and concerted

military operations (intensive fighting, see Section II).

Section I

Article 3 common to the four Conventions

Article 3 common to the four Conventions applies to all armed conflicts of a non-international character and

occurring in the territory of one of the Powers parties to the Convention. In such a case, persons taking no

active part in the hostilities, including members of armed forces who have laid down their arms and those

who are hors de combat for any other reason will in all circumstances be treated humanely without any

adverse distinction.[I, 3; II, 3; III, 3; IV, 3]

The common article 3, of which it has justly been said that it is, in itself, a small Convention within a larger

one, states what constitutes a minimum of humane treatment. The following acts, committed against the

persons mentioned above, are and must remain prohibited at all times and in all places:

a) violence to life and person, in particular murder of all kinds, mutilation, cruel treatment and torture;

Extract from “Basic rules of the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols”

Protection of victims of non-international armed conflicts

Page 2 of 4

b) taking of hostages;

c) outrages upon personal dignity, in particular, humiliating and degrading treatment;

d) the passing of sentences and carrying out of executions without previous judgement pronounced by a

regularly

constituted court, affording all the judicial guarantees which are recognized as indispensable by civilized

peoples.

Common article 3 adds that a humanitarian organization such as the ICRC may offer its services to the

Parties to the conflict and that these Parties should further endeavour to bring into force, by means of

special agreements, all or part of the other provisions of the present Convention. Finally, it declares that the

application of these provisions shall not affect the legal status of the Parties to the conflict.

Additional Protocol II

In the case of intensive fighting, and in the absence of the acknowledgement of a state of war involving the

application of the entire law of war, the provisions of the common article 3 still apply. In addition, the rules

of the second additional Protocol must be observed.

1. Wounded, sick and shipwrecked

a) Protection and care

All the wounded, sick and shipwrecked must be respected and protected, treated humanely and cared for

without any distinction founded on any grounds other than medical ones. All possible measures must be

taken without delay, particularly after an engagement, to search for and collect the wounded, sick and

shipwrecked and to pay the last honours to the dead. [P. II, 7, 8]

b) Medical personnel

Medical personnel must be respected, protected and helped in the performance of their duties in aiding all

the wounded and sick without discrimination. Nobody may be punished for having carried out medical

activities compatible with medical ethics, whoever may have benefited therefrom, nor be compelled to

perform acts contrary to the rules of medical ethics, or refrain from performing acts required by these

rules.[P. II, 9, 10, 11]

c) Medical units and transport

Medical units and transport must be protected and respected in the same way as medical personnel as long

as they are not used to commit hostile acts.[P. II, 11]

d) The distinctive emblem

The distinctive emblem of the red cross and the red crescent, used under the direction of the authority

concerned,

must be respected. It must not be used improperly.[P. II, 12]

2. Protection of the civilian population

The chief interest of Protocol II lies in the extension to non-international armed conflicts of the principal

rules of

Protocol I relating to the protection of civilian populations against the effects of hostilities.

The Protocol thus declares that neither the civilian population as such, nor individual civilians may be the

object of

attacks; moreover, acts of terrorism against them are prohibited. Civilians benefit from this protection as

long as

they do not take a direct part in hostilities. Starvation of civilians is a prohibited method of combat.[P. II,

13]

Protection of victims of non-international armed conflicts

Page 3 of 4

The displacement of the civilian population may only be ordered if its safety or imperative military reasons

require

it, and only after all possible measures have been taken to ensure it will be received under satisfactory

conditions.[P. II, 17]

Relief societies, such as the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, may offer their services and if necessary

provide impartial, humanitarian relief, subject to the consent of the High Contracting Party concerned.[P. II,

18]

3. Protection of certain objects

Certain objects benefit from special protection. This applies to objects indispensable to the survival of the

civilian population. It also applies to cultural property and places of worship which constitute the cultural

and spiritual heritage of peoples and which must neither be attacked nor used in support of the military

effort.[P. II, 14; P. II, 16]

Installations such as dams, dykes and nuclear stations, containing dangerous forces, the release of which

could cause severe losses among the civilian population, must not be attacked even if they are military

objectives.[P. II, 15]

4. Humane treatment

a) Fundamental guarantees

All persons who do not take a direct part in hostilities will be treated humanely in all circumstances and will

benefit from the fundamental guarantees without any discrimination whatsoever. Whether or not they have

been deprived of their liberty, it is specified that their person, honour, convictions and religious practices

must be respected. The following acts against any person, whether committed by civilian or military agents,

and for any reason whatever, are prohibited.[P. II, 4]

a) violence to the life, health and physical or mental well-being, particularly:

- murder;

- torture in any form, whether mental or physical;

- corporal punishment;

- mutilations;

b) outrages upon personal dignity, in particular humiliating and degrading treatment, enforced prostitution

and

any form of indecent assault,.

c) the taking of hostages;

d) collective punishments;

e) threats to commit the foregoing acts.

Children must receive the care and aid they need, particularly with regard to education, including religious

and moral education, and steps must be taken to return them to their families when they have been

temporarily separated from them. Children under fifteen must not be recruited into the armed forces nor

allowed to take part in hostilities.

All measures must be taken, if necessary, with the consent of their parents or those responsible for them,

to evacuate them from an area where hostilities are taking place.

b) Persons deprived of their liberty

In addition to the fundamental guarantees and to those granted to the wounded and sick, persons detained

or interned for reasons related to the armed conflict must be accorded all guarantees with respect to

medical care, food, hygiene, safety, relief, the practice of their religion and working conditions.[P. II, 5]

Protection of victims of non-international armed conflicts

Page 4 of 4

The Protocol prescribes that men and women must be separated, except when they are members of the

same family; that they must be allowed to send and receive letters; that places of internment and detention

must not be located near the combat zone and that the physical or mental health and integrity of the

internees or detainees must not be endangered by any unjustified act or omission.

c) Penal prosecutions

Sentences may only be pronounced by a court offering the essential guarantees of independence and

impartiality: the accused to be informed without delay of the particulars of the offence alleged against him,

exclusion of collective responsibility and of conviction for an act or omission which did not constitute an

offence at the time it was committed, presumption of innocence, judgement passed in the presence of the

accused, no coercion to obtain confessions, information of the right of appeal. The death penalty must not

be pronounced on those who were under eighteen at the time of the offence nor on pregnant women or

mothers of dependent infants.[P. II, 6]

d) Non-discrimination

All these guarantees must be applied without any adverse distinction founded on any grounds whatever;

they continue to be applicable until the end of the deprivation or restriction of liberty.[P. II, 2]

31-12-1988