Entry into Force: 21 October 1950
The undersigned Plenipotentiaries of the Governments represented at the Diplomatic Conference
held at Geneva from April 21 to August 12, 1949, for the purpose of revising the Convention
concluded at Geneva on July 27, 1929 relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War, have agreed as
follows:
PART I
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Article 1
The High Contracting Parties undertake to
respect and to ensure respect for the present
Convention in all circumstances.
Article 2
In addition to the provisions which shall be
implemented in peace time, the present
Convention shall apply to all cases of
declared war or of any other armed conflict
which may arise between two or more of the
High Contracting Parties, even if the state of
war is not recognized by one of them.
The Convention shall also apply to all cases
of partial or total occupation of the territory
of a High Contracting Party, even if the said
occupation meets with no armed resistance.
Although one of the Powers in conflict may
not be a party to the present Convention, the
Powers who are parties thereto shall remain
bound by it in their mutual relations. They
shall furthermore be bound by the
Convention in relation to the said Power, if
the latter accepts and applies the provisions
thereof.
Article 3
In the case of armed conflict not of an
international character occurring in the
territory of one of the High Contracting
Parties, each Party to the conflict shall be
bound to apply, as a minimum, the
following provisions:
(1) Persons taking no active part in the
hostilities, including members of armed
forces who have laid down their arms and
those placed hors de combat by sickness,
wounds, detention, or any other cause, shall
in all circumstances be treated humanely,
without any adverse distinction founded on
race, colour, religion or faith, sex, birth or
wealth, or any other similar criteria.
To this end the following acts are and
shall remain prohibited at any time and in
any place whatsoever with respect to the
above-mentioned persons:
(a) violence to life and person, in
particular murder of all kinds, mutilation,
cruel treatment and torture;
(b) taking of hostages;
(c) outrages upon personal
dignity, in particular, humiliating and
degrading treatment;
(d) he passing of sentences and
the carrying out of executions without
previous judgment pronounced by a
regularly constituted court affording all the
judicial guarantees which are recognized as
indispensable by civilized peoples.
(2) The wounded and sick shall be
collected and cared for.
An impartial humanitarian body, such as the
International Committee of the Red Cross,
may offer its services to the Parties to the
conflict.
The Parties to the conflict should further
endeavour to bring into force, by means of
special agreements, all or part of the other
provisions of the present Convention.
The application of the preceding provisions
shall not affect the legal status of the Parties
to the conflict.
Article 4
A. Prisoners of war, in the sense of the
present Convention, are persons belonging
to one of the following categories, who have
fallen into the power of the enemy:
(1) Members of the armed forces of a
Party to the conflict, as well as members of
militias or volunteer corps forming part of
such armed forces.
(2) Members of other militias and
members of other volunteer corps, including
those of organized resistance movements,
belonging to a Party to the conflict and
operating in or outside their own territory,
even if this territory is occupied, provided
that such militias or volunteer corps,
including such organized resistance
movements, fulfil the following conditions:
(a) that of being commanded by a
person responsible for his subordinates;
(b) that of having a fixed
distinctive sign recognizable at a distance;
(c) that of carrying arms openly;
(d) that of conducting their
operations in accordance with the laws and
customs of war.
(3) Members of regular armed forces
who profess allegiance to a government or
an authority not recognized by the Detaining
Power.
(4) Persons who accompany the armed
forces without actually being members
thereof, such as civilian members of
military aircraft crews, war correspondents,
supply contractors, members of labour units
or of services responsible for the welfare of
the armed forces, provided that they have
received authorization, from the armed
forces which they accompany, who shall
provide them for that purpose with an
identity card similar to the annexed model.
(5) Members of crews, including
masters, pilots and apprentices, of the
merchant marine and the crews of civil
aircraft of the Parties to the conflict, who do
not benefit by more favourable treatment
under any other provisions of international
law.
(6) Inhabitants of a non-occupied
territory, who on the approach of the enemy
spontaneously take up arms to resist the
invading forces, without having had time to
form themselves into regular armed units,
provided they carry arms openly and respect
the laws and customs of war.
B. The following shall likewise be treated
as prisoners of war under the present
Convention:
(1) Persons belonging, or having
belonged, to the armed forces of the
occupied country, if the occupying Power
considers it necessary by reason of such
allegiance to intern them, even though it has
originally liberated them while hostilities
were going on outside the territory it
occupies, in particular where such persons
have made an unsuccessful attempt to rejoin
the armed forces to which they belong and
which are engaged in combat, or where they
fail to comply with a summons made to
them with a view to internment.
(2) The persons belonging to one of
the categories enumerated in the present
Article, who have been received by neutral
or non-belligerent Powers on their territory
and whom these Powers are required to
intern under international law, without
prejudice to any more favourable treatment
which these Powers may choose to give and
with the exception of Articles 8, 10, 15, 30,
fifth paragraph, 58-67, 92, 126 and, where
diplomatic relations exist between the
Parties to the conflict and the neutral or nonbelligerent
Power concerned, those Articles
concerning the Protecting Power. Where
such diplomatic relations exist, the Parties
to a conflict on whom these persons depend
shall be allowed to perform towards them
the functions of a Protecting Power as
provided in the present Convention, without
prejudice to the functions which these
Parties normally exercise in conformity with
diplomatic and consular usage and treaties.
C. This Article shall in no way affect the
status of medical personnel and chaplains as
provided for in Article 33 of the present
Convention.
Article 5
The present Convention shall apply to the
persons referred to in Article 4 from the
time they fall into the power of the enemy
and until their final release and repatriation.
Should any doubt arise as to whether
persons, having committed a belligerent act
and having fallen into the hands of the
enemy, belong to any of the categories
enumerated in Article 4, such persons shall
enjoy the protection of the present
Convention until such time as their status
has been determined by a competent
tribunal.
* * *
Article 7
Prisoners of war may in no circumstances
renounce in part or in entirety the rights
secured to them by the present Convention,
and by the special agreements referred to in
the foregoing Article, if such there be.
* * *
PART II
GENERAL PROTECTION
OF PRISONERS OF WAR
Article 12
Prisoners of war are in the hands of the
enemy Power, but not of the individuals or
military units who have captured them.
Irrespective of the individual responsibilities
that may exist, the Detaining Power is
responsible for the treatment given them.
Prisoners of war may only be transferred by
the Detaining Power to a Power which is a
party to the Convention and after the
Detaining Power has satisfied itself of the
willingness and ability of such transferee
Power to apply the Convention. When
prisoners of war are transferred under such
circumstances, responsibility for the
application of the Convention rests on the
Power accepting them while they are in its
custody.
Nevertheless, if that Power fails to carry out
the provisions of the Convention in any
important respect, the Power by whom the
prisoners of war were transferred shall,
upon being notified by the Protecting
Power, take effective measures to correct
the situation or shall request the return of
the prisoners of war. Such requests must be
complied with.
Article 13
Prisoners of war must at all times be
humanely treated. Any unlawful act or
omission by the Detaining Power causing
death or seriously endangering the health of
a prisoner of war in its custody is
prohibited, and will be regarded as a serious
breach of the present Convention. In
particular, no prisoner of war may be
subjected to physical mutilation or to
medical or scientific experiments of any
kind which are not justified by the medical,
dental or hospital treatment of the prisoner
concerned and carried out in his interest.
Likewise, prisoners of war must at all times
be protected, particularly against acts of
violence or intimidation and against insults
and public curiosity.
Measures of reprisal against prisoners of
war are prohibited.
Article 14
Prisoners of war are entitled in all
circumstances to respect for their persons
and their honour.
Women shall be treated with all the regard
due to their sex and shall in all cases benefit
by treatment as favourable as that granted to
men.
Prisoners of war shall retain the full civil
capacity which they enjoyed at the time of
their capture. The Detaining Power may not
restrict the exercise, either within or without
its own territory, of the rights such capacity
confers except in so far as the captivity
requires.
Article 15
The Power detaining prisoners of war shall
be bound to provide free of charge for their
maintenance and for the medical attention
required by their state of health.
Article 16
Taking into consideration the provisions of
the present Convention relating to rank and
sex, and subject to any privileged treatment
which may be accorded to them by reason
of their state of health, age or professional
qualifications, all prisoners of war shall be
treated alike by the Detaining Power,
without any adverse distinction based on
race, nationality, religious belief or political
opinions, or any other distinction founded
on similar criteria.
PART III
CAPTIVITY
SECTION I
BEGINNING OF CAPTIVITY
Article 17
Every prisoner of war, when questioned on
the subject, is bound to give only his
surname, first names and rank, date of birth,
and army, regimental, personal or serial
number, or failing this, equivalent
information.
If he wilfully infringes this rule, he may
render himself liable to a restriction of the
privileges accorded to his rank or status.
Each Party to a conflict is required to
furnish the persons under its jurisdiction
who are liable to become prisoners of war,
with an identity card showing the owner’s
surname, first names, rank, army,
regimental, personal or serial number or
equivalent information, and date of birth.
The identity card may, furthermore, bear the
signature or the fingerprints, or both, of the
owner, and may bear, as well, any other
information the Party to the conflict may
wish to add concerning persons belonging to
its armed forces. As far as possible the card
shall measure 6.5 x 10 cm. and shall be
issued in duplicate. The identity card shall
be shown by the prisoner of war upon
demand, but may in no case be taken away
from him.
No physical or mental torture, nor any other
form of coercion, may be inflicted on
prisoners of war to secure from them
information of any kind whatever. Prisoners
of war who refuse to answer may not be
threatened, insulted, or exposed to
unpleasant or disadvantageous treatment of
any kind.
Prisoners of war who, owing to their
physical or mental condition, are unable to
state their identity, shall be handed over to
the medical service. The identity of such
prisoners shall be established by all possible
means, subject to the provisions of the
preceding paragraph.
The questioning of prisoners of war shall be
carried out in a language which they
understand.
Article 18
All effects and articles of personal use,
except arms, horses, military equipment and
military documents, shall remain in the
possession of prisoners of war, likewise
their metal helmets and gas masks and like
articles issued for personal protection.
Effects and articles used for their clothing or
feeding shall likewise remain in their
possession, even if such effects and articles
belong to their regulation military
equipment.
At no time should prisoners of war be
without identity documents. The Detaining
Power shall supply such documents to
prisoners of war who possess none.
Badges of rank and nationality, decorations
and articles having above all a personal or
sentimental value may not be taken from
prisoners of war.
Sums of money carried by prisoners of war
may not be taken away from them except by
order of an officer, and after the amount and
particulars of the owner have been recorded
in a special register and an itemized receipt
has been given, legibly inscribed with the
name, rank and unit of the person issuing
the said receipt. Sums in the currency of the
Detaining Power, or which are changed into
such currency at the prisoner’s request, shall
be placed to the credit of the prisoner’s
account as provided in Article 64.
The Detaining Power may withdraw articles
of value from prisoners of war only for
reasons of security; when such articles are
withdrawn, the procedure laid down for
sums of money impounded shall apply.
Such objects, likewise sums taken away in
any currency other than that of the
Detaining Power and the conversion of
which has not been asked for by the owners,
shall be kept in the custody of the Detaining
Power and shall be returned in their initial
shape to prisoners of war at the end of their
captivity.
Article 19
Prisoners of war shall be evacuated, as soon
as possible after their capture, to camps
situated in an area far enough from the
combat zone for them to be out of danger.
Only those prisoners of war who, owing to
wounds or sickness, would run greater risks
by being evacuated than by remaining
where they are, may be temporarily kept
back in a danger zone.
Prisoners of war shall not be unnecessarily
exposed to danger while awaiting
evacuation from a fighting zone.
Article 20
The evacuation of prisoners of war shall
always be effected humanely and in
conditions similar to those for the forces of
the Detaining Power in their changes of
station.
The Detaining Power shall supply prisoners
of war who are being evacuated with
sufficient food and potable water, and with
the necessary clothing and medical
attention. The Detaining Power shall take all
suitable precautions to ensure their safety
during evacuation, and shall establish as
soon as possible a list of the prisoners of
war who are evacuated.
If prisoners of war must, during evacuation,
pass through transit camps, their stay in
such camps shall be as brief as possible.
SECTION II
INTERNMENT OF PRISONERS
OF WAR
CHAPTER I
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS
Article 21
The Detaining Power may subject prisoners
of war to internment. It may impose on
them the obligation of not leaving, beyond
certain limits, the camp where they are
interned, or if the said camp is fenced in, of
not going outside its perimeter. Subject to
the provisions of the present Convention
relative to penal and disciplinary sanctions,
prisoners of war may not be held in close
confinement except where necessary to
safeguard their health and then only during
the continuation of the circumstances which
make such confinement necessary.
Prisoners of war may be partially or wholly
released on parole or promise, in so far as is
allowed by the laws of the Power on which
they depend. Such measures shall be taken
particularly in cases where this may
contribute to the improvement of their state
of health. No prisoner of war shall be
compelled to accept liberty on parole or
promise.
Upon the outbreak of hostilities, each Party
to the conflict shall notify the adverse Party
of the laws and regulations allowing or
forbidding its own nationals to accept
liberty on parole or promise. Prisoners of
war who are paroled or who have given
their promise in conformity with the laws
and regulations so notified, are bound on
their personal honour scrupulously to fulfil,
both towards the Power on which they
depend and towards the Power which has
captured them, the engagements of their
paroles or promises. In such cases, the
Power on which they depend is bound
neither to require nor to accept from them
any service incompatible with the parole or
promise given.
Article 22
Prisoners of war may be interned only in
premises located on land and affording
every guarantee of hygiene and
healthfulness. Except in particular cases
which are justified by the interest of the
prisoners themselves, they shall not be
interned in penitentiaries.
Prisoners of war interned in unhealthy areas,
or where the climate is injurious for them,
shall be removed as soon as possible to a
more favourable climate.
The Detaining Power shall assemble
prisoners of war in camps or camp
compounds according to their nationality,
language and customs, provided that such
prisoners shall not be separated from
prisoners of war belonging to the armed
forces with which they were serving at the
time of their capture, except with their
consent.
Article 23
No prisoner of war may at any time be sent
to, or detained in areas where he may be
exposed to the fire of the combat zone, nor
may his presence be used to render certain
points or areas immune from military
operations.
Prisoners of war shall have shelters against
air bombardment and other hazards of war,
to the same extent as the local civilian
population. With the exception of those
engaged in the protection of their quarters
against the aforesaid hazards, they may
enter such shelters as soon as possible after
the giving of the alarm. Any other protective
measure taken in favour of the population
shall also apply to them.
Detaining Powers shall give the Powers
concerned, through the intermediary of the
Protecting Powers, all useful information
regarding the geographical location of
prisoner of war camps.
Whenever military considerations permit,
prisoner of war camps shall be indicated in
the day-time by the letters PW or PG,
placed so as to be clearly visible from the
air. The Powers concerned may, however,
agree upon any other system of marking.
Only prisoner of war camps shall be marked
as such.
Article 24
Transit or screening camps of a permanent
kind shall be fitted out under conditions
similar to those described in the present
Section, and the prisoners therein shall have
the same treatment as in other camps.
CHAPTER II
QUARTERS, FOOD AND
CLOTHING OF PRISONERS
OF WAR
Article 25
Prisoners of war shall be quartered under
conditions as favourable as those for the
forces of the Detaining Power who are
billeted in the same area. The said
conditions shall make allowance for the
habits and customs of the prisoners and
shall in no case be prejudicial to their
health.
The foregoing provisions shall apply in
particular to the dormitories of prisoners of
war as regards both total surface and
minimum cubic space, and the general
installations, bedding and blankets.
The premises provided for the use of
prisoners of war individually or collectively,
shall be entirely protected from dampness
and adequately heated and lighted, in
particular between dusk and lights out. All
precautions must be taken against the
danger of fire.
In any camps in which women prisoners of
war, as well as men, are accommodated,
separate dormitories shall be provided for
them.
Article 26
The basic daily food rations shall be
sufficient in quantity, quality and variety to
keep prisoners of war in good health and to
prevent loss of weight or the development
of nutritional deficiencies. Account shall
also be taken of the habitual diet of the
prisoners.
The Detaining Power shall supply prisoners
of war who work with such additional
rations as are necessary for the labour on
which they are employed.
Sufficient drinking water shall be supplied
to prisoners of war. The use of tobacco shall
be permitted.
Prisoners of war shall, as far as possible, be
associated with the preparation of their
meals; they may be employed for that
purpose in the kitchens. Furthermore, they
shall be given the means of preparing,
themselves, the additional food in their
possession.
Adequate premises shall be provided for
messing.
Collective disciplinary measures affecting
food are prohibited.
Article 27
Clothing, underwear and footwear shall be
supplied to prisoners of war in sufficient
quantities by the Detaining Power, which
shall make allowance for the climate of the
region where the prisoners are detained.
Uniforms of enemy armed forces captured
by the Detaining Power should, if suitable
for the climate, be made available to clothe
prisoners of war.
The regular replacement and repair of the
above articles shall be assured by the
Detaining Power. In addition, prisoners of
war who work shall receive appropriate
clothing, wherever the nature of the work
demands.
Article 28
Canteens shall be installed in all camps,
where prisoners of war may procure
foodstuffs, soap and tobacco and ordinary
articles in daily use. The tariff shall never
be in excess of local market prices.
The profits made by camp canteens shall be
used for the benefit of the prisoners; a
special fund shall be created for this
purpose. The prisoners’ representative shall
have the right to collaborate in the
management of the canteen and of this fund.
When a camp is closed down, the credit
balance of the special fund shall be handed
to an international welfare organization, to
be employed for the benefit of prisoners of
war of the same nationality as those who
have contributed to the fund. In case of a
general repatriation, such profits shall be
kept by the Detaining Power, subject to any
agreement to the contrary between the
Powers concerned.
CHAPTER III
HYGIENE AND MEDICAL
ATTENTION
Article 29
The Detaining Power shall be bound to take
all sanitary measures necessary to ensure the
cleanliness and healthfulness of camps and
to prevent epidemics.
Prisoners of war shall have for their use, day
and night, conveniences which conform to
the rules of hygiene and are maintained in a
constant state of cleanliness. In any camps
in which women prisoners of war are
accommodated, separate conveniences shall
be provided for them.
Also, apart from the baths and showers with
which the camps shall be furnished
prisoners of war shall be provided with
sufficient water and soap for their personal
toilet and for washing their personal
laundry; the necessary installations,
facilities and time shall be granted them for
that purpose.
Article 30
Every camp shall have an adequate
infirmary where prisoners of war may have
the attention they require, as well as
appropriate diet. Isolation wards shall, if
necessary, be set aside for cases of
contagious or mental disease.
Prisoners of war suffering from serious
disease, or whose condition necessitates
special treatment, a surgical operation or
hospital care, must be admitted to any
military or civilian medical unit where such
treatment can be given, even if their
repatriation is contemplated in the near
future. Special facilities shall be afforded for
the care to be given to the disabled, in
particular to the blind, and for their.
rehabilitation, pending repatriation.
Prisoners of war shall have the attention,
preferably, of medical personnel of the
Power on which they depend and, if
possible, of their nationality.
Prisoners of war may not be prevented from
presenting themselves to the medical
authorities for examination. The detaining
authorities shall, upon request, issue to
every prisoner who has undergone
treatment, an official certificate indicating
the nature of his illness or injury, and the
duration and kind of treatment received. A
duplicate of this certificate shall be
forwarded to the Central Prisoners of War
Agency.
The costs of treatment, including those of
any apparatus necessary for the maintenance
of prisoners of war in good health,
particularly dentures and other artificial
appliances, and spectacles, shall be borne by
the Detaining Power.
Article 31
Medical inspections of prisoners of war
shall be held at least once a month. They
shall include the checking and the recording
of the weight of each prisoner of war.
Their purpose shall be, in particular, to
supervise the general state of health,
nutrition and cleanliness of prisoners and to
detect contagious diseases, especially
tuberculosis, malaria and venereal disease.
For this purpose the most efficient methods
available shall be employed, e.g. periodic
mass miniature radiography for the early
detection of tuberculosis.
Article 32
Prisoners of war who, though not attached
to the medical service of their armed forces,
are physicians, surgeons, dentists, nurses or
medical orderlies, may be required by the
Detaining Power to exercise their medical
functions in the interests of prisoners of war
dependent on the same Power. In that case
they shall continue to be prisoners of war,
but shall receive the same treatment as
corresponding medical personnel retained
by the Detaining Power. They shall be
exempted from any other work under
Article 49.
* * *
CHAPTER V
RELIGIOUS, INTELLECTUAL
AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES
Article 34
Prisoners of war shall enjoy complete
latitude in the exercise of their religious
duties, including attendance at the service of
their faith, on condition that they comply
with the disciplinary routine prescribed by
the military authorities.
Adequate premises shall be provided where
religious services may be held.
* * *
Article 38
While respecting the individual preferences
of every prisoner, the Detaining Power shall
encourage the practice of intellectual,
educational, and recreational pursuits, sports
and games amongst prisoners, and shall take
the measures necessary to ensure the
exercise thereof by providing them with
adequate premises and necessary equipment.
Prisoners shall have opportunities for taking
physical exercise, including sports and
games, and for being out of doors.
Sufficient open spaces shall be provided for
this purpose in all camps.
CHAPTER VI
DISCIPLINE
Article 39
Every prisoner of war camp shall be put
under the immediate authority of a
responsible commissioned officer belonging
to the regular armed forces of the Detaining
Power. Such officer shall have in his
possession a copy of the present
Convention; he shall ensure that its
provisions are known to the camp staff and
the guard and shall be responsible, under the
direction of his government, for its
application.
Prisoners of war, with the exception of
officers, must salute and show to all officers
of the Detaining Power the external marks
of respect provided for by the regulations
applying in their own forces.
Officer prisoners of war are bound to salute
only officers of a higher rank of the
Detaining Power; they must, however,
salute the camp commander regardless of
his rank.
Article 40
The wearing of badges of rank and
nationality, as well as of decorations, shall
be permitted.
Article 41
In every camp the text of the present
Convention and its Annexes and the
contents of any special agreement provided
for in Article 6, shall be posted, in the
prisoners’ own language, in places where all
may read them. Copies shall be supplied, on
request, to the prisoners who cannot have
access to the copy which has been posted.
Regulations, orders, notices and
publications of every kind relating to the
conduct of prisoners of war shall be issued
to them in a language which they
understand. Such regulations, orders and
publications shall be posted in the manner
described above and copies shall be handed
to the prisoners’ representative. Every order
and command addressed to prisoners of war
individually must likewise be given in a
language which they understand.
Article 42
The use of weapons against prisoners of
war, especially against those who are
escaping or attempting to escape, shall
constitute an extreme measure, which shall
always be preceded by warnings appropriate
to the circumstances.
CHAPTER VII
RANK OF PRISONERS OF
WAR
Article 43
Upon the outbreak of hostilities, the Parties
to the conflict shall communicate to one
another the titles and ranks of all the persons
mentioned in Article 4 of the present
Convention, in order to ensure equality of
treatment between prisoners of equivalent
rank. Titles and ranks which are
subsequently created shall form the subject
of similar communications.
The Detaining Power shall recognize
promotions in rank which have been
accorded to prisoners of war and which have
been duly notified by the Power on which
these prisoners depend.
Article 44
Officers and prisoners of equivalent status
shall be treated with the regard due to their
rank and age.
In order to ensure service in officers’ camps,
other ranks of the same armed forces who,
as far as possible, speak the same language,
shall be assigned in sufficient numbers,
account being taken of the rank of officers
and prisoners of equivalent status. Such
orderlies shall not be required to perform
any other work.
Supervision of the mess by the officers
themselves shall be facilitated in every way.
Article 45
Prisoners of war other than officers and
prisoners of equivalent status shall be
treated with the regard due to their rank and
age.
Supervision of the mess by the prisoners
themselves shall be facilitated in every way.
* * *
SECTION III
LABOUR OF PRISONERS OF
WAR
Article 49
The Detaining Power may utilize the labour
of prisoners of war who are physically fit,
taking into account their age, sex, rank and
physical aptitude, and with a view
particularly to maintaining them in a good
state of physical and mental health.
Non-commissioned officers who are
prisoners of war shall only be required to do
supervisory work. Those not so required
may ask for other suitable work which shall,
so far as possible, be found for them.
If officers or persons of equivalent status
ask for suitable work, it shall be found for
them, so far as possible, but they may in no
circumstances be compelled to work.
Article 50
Besides work connected with camp
administration, installation or maintenance,
prisoners of war may be compelled to do
only such work as is included in the
following classes:
(a) agriculture;
(b) industries connected with the
production or the extraction of raw
materials, and manufacturing industries,
with the exception of metallurgical,
machinery and chemical industries; public
works and building operations which have
no military character or purpose;
(c) transport and handling of stores
which are not military in character or
purpose;
(d) commercial business, and arts and
crafts;
(e) domestic service;
(f) public utility services having no
military character or purpose.
Should the above provisions be infringed,
prisoners of war shall be allowed to exercise
their right of complaint, in conformity with
Article 78.
Article 51
Prisoners of war must be granted suitable
working conditions, especially as regards
accommodation, food, clothing and
equipment; such conditions shall not be
inferior to those enjoyed by nationals of the
Detaining Power employed in similar work;
account shall also be taken of climatic
conditions.
The Detaining Power, in utilizing the labour
of prisoners of war, shall ensure that in
areas in which such prisoners are employed,
the national legislation concerning the
protection of labour, and, more particularly,
the regulations for the safety of workers, are
duly applied.
Prisoners of war shall receive training and
be provided with the means of protection
suitable to the work they will have to do and
similar to those accorded to the nationals of
the Detaining Power. Subject to the
provisions of Article 52, prisoners may be
submitted to the normal risks run by these
civilian workers.
Conditions of labour shall in no case be
rendered more arduous by disciplinary
measures.
Article 52