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Convention (I) for the Amelioration of the Condition of the

Wounded and Sick in Armed Forces in the Field. Geneva, 12

Auust 1!"!.Full te#t[Display Introduction][Display articles][Display commentaries]

PreambleThe undersigned Plenipotentiaries of the Governments represented at theDiplomatic Conference held at Geneva from April 21 to August 12, 1949, for thepurpose of revising the Geneva Convention for the elief of the !ounded and"ic# in Armies in the $ield of %ul& 2', 1929, have agreed as follo(s)

Chapter *+ General Provisions

Art 1+ The igh Contracting Parties underta#e to respect and to ensure respectfor the present Convention in all circumstances+

Art+ 2+ *n addition to the provisions (hich shall be implemented in peacetime, thepresent Convention shall appl& to all cases of declared (ar or of an& other armedconflict (hich ma& arise bet(een t(o or more of the igh Contracting Parties,even if the state of (ar is not recogni-ed b& one of them+

The Convention shall also appl& to all cases of partial or total occupation of theterritor& of a igh Contracting Part&, even if the said occupation meets (ith noarmed resistance+

Although one of the Po(ers in conflict ma& not be a part& to the presentConvention, the Po(ers (ho are parties thereto shall remain bound b& it in their

mutual relations+ The& shall furthermore be bound b& the Convention in relationto the said Po(er, if the latter accepts and applies the provisions thereof+

Art+ .+ *n the case of armed conflict not of an international character occurring inthe territor& of one of the igh Contracting Parties, each Part& to the conflict shallbe bound to appl&, as a minimum, the follo(ing provisions)/10 Persons ta#ing no active part in the hostilities, including members of armedforces (ho have laid do(n their arms and those placed hors de combat b&sic#ness, (ounds, detention, or an& other cause, shall in all circumstances betreated humanel&, (ithout an& adverse distinction founded on race, colour,religion or faith, se, birth or (ealth, or an& other similar criteria+

To this end, the follo(ing acts are and shall remain prohibited at an& time and inan& place (hatsoever (ith respect to the abovementioned persons)/a0 violence to life and person, in particular murder of all #inds, mutilation, crueltreatment and torture3/b0 ta#ing of hostages3/c0 outrages upon personal dignit&, in particular humiliating and degradingtreatment3/d0 the passing of sentences and the carr&ing out of eecutions (ithout previous

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udgement pronounced b& a regularl& constituted court, affording all the udicialguarantees (hich are recogni-ed as indispensable b& civili-ed peoples+/20 The (ounded and sic# shall be collected and cared for+

An impartial humanitarian bod&, such as the *nternational Committee of the edCross, ma& offer its services to the Parties to the conflict+

The Parties to the conflict should further endeavour to bring into force, b& meansof special agreements, all or part of the other provisions of the presentConvention+

The application of the preceding provisions shall not affect the legal status of theParties to the conflict+

Art+ 4+ 5eutral Po(ers shall appl& b& analog& the provisions of the presentConvention to the (ounded and sic#, and to members of the medical personneland to chaplains of the armed forces of the Parties to the conflict, received or

interned in their territor&, as (ell as to dead persons found+

Art+ 6+ $or the protected persons (ho have fallen into the hands of the enem&,the present Convention shall appl& until their final repatriation+

Art+ 7+ *n addition to the agreements epressl& provided for in Articles 18, 16, 2.,2, .1, .7, .' and 62, the igh Contracting Parties ma& conclude other specialagreements for all matters concerning (hich the& ma& deem it suitable to ma#eseparate provision+ 5o special agreement shall adversel& affect the situation ofthe (ounded and sic#, of members of the medical personnel or of chaplains, asdefined b& the present Convention, nor restrict the rights (hich it confers upon

them+

!ounded and sic#, as (ell as medical personnel and chaplains, shall continue tohave the benefit of such agreements as long as the Convention is applicable tothem, ecept (here epress provisions to the contrar& are contained in theaforesaid or in subse:uent agreements, or (here more favourable measureshave been ta#en (ith regard to them b& one or other of the Parties to theconflict+

Art+ '+ !ounded and sic#, as (ell as members of the medical personnel andchaplains, ma& in no circumstances renounce in part or in entiret& the rightssecured to them b& the present Convention, and b& the special agreementsreferred to in the foregoing Article, if such there be+

Art+ + The present Convention shall be applied (ith the cooperation and underthe scrutin& of the Protecting Po(ers (hose dut& it is to safeguard the interestsof the Parties to the conflict+ $or this purpose, the Protecting Po(ers ma&appoint, apart from their diplomatic or consular staff, delegates from amongsttheir o(n nationals or the nationals of other neutral Po(ers+ The said delegates

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shall be subect to the approval of the Po(er (ith (hich the& are to carr& out theirduties+

The Parties to the conflict shall facilitate to the greatest etent possible, the tas#of the representatives or delegates of the Protecting Po(ers+

The representatives or delegates of the Protecting Po(ers shall not in an& caseeceed their mission under the present Convention+ The& shall, in particular, ta#eaccount of the imperative necessities of securit& of the "tate (herein the& carr&out their duties+ Their activities shall onl& be restricted as an eceptional andtemporar& measure (hen this is rendered necessar& b& imperative militar&necessities+

Art+ 9+ The provisions of the present Convention constitute no obstacle to thehumanitarian activities (hich the *nternational Committee of the ed Cross oran& other impartial humanitarian organi-ation ma&, subect to the consent of the

Parties to the conflict concerned, underta#e for the protection of (ounded andsic#, medical personnel and chaplains, and for their relief+

Art+ 18+ The igh Contracting Parties ma& at an& time agree to entrust to anorgani-ation (hich offers all guarantees of impartialit& and efficac& the dutiesincumbent on the Protecting Po(ers b& virtue of the present Convention+

!hen (ounded and sic#, or medical personnel and chaplains do not benefit orcease to benefit, no matter for (hat reason, b& the activities of a ProtectingPo(er or of an organi-ation provided for in the first paragraph above, theDetaining Po(er shall re:uest a neutral "tate, or such an organi-ation, to

underta#e the functions performed under the present Convention b& a ProtectingPo(er designated b& the Parties to a conflict+

*f protection cannot be arranged accordingl&, the Detaining Po(er shall re:uestor shall accept, subect to the provisions of this Article, the offer of the services ofa humanitarian organi-ation, such as the *nternational Committee of the edCross, to assume the humanitarian functions performed b& Protecting Po(ersunder the present Convention+

An& neutral Po(er, or an& organi-ation invited b& the Po(er concerned oroffering itself for these purposes, shall be re:uired to act (ith a sense ofresponsibilit& to(ards the Part& to the conflict on (hich persons protected b& thepresent Convention depend, and shall be re:uired to furnish sufficientassurances that it is in a position to underta#e the appropriate functions and todischarge them impartiall&+

5o derogation from the preceding provisions shall be made b& specialagreements bet(een Po(ers one of (hich is restricted, even temporaril&, in itsfreedom to negotiate (ith the other Po(er or its allies b& reason of militar&

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events, more particularl& (here the (hole, or a substantial part, of the territor& ofthe said Po(er is occupied+

!henever, in the present Convention, mention is made of a Protecting Po(er,such mention also applies to substitute organi-ations in the sense of the present

Article+

Art+ 11+ *n cases (here the& deem it advisable in the interest of protectedpersons, particularl& in cases of disagreement bet(een the Parties to the conflictas to the application or interpretation of the provisions of the present Convention,the Protecting Po(ers shall lend their good offices (ith a vie( to settling thedisagreement+

$or this purpose, each of the Protecting Po(ers ma&, either at the invitation ofone Part& or on its o(n initiative, propose to the Parties to the conflict a meetingof their representatives, in particular of the authorities responsible for the

(ounded and sic#, members of medical personnel and chaplains, possibl& onneutral territor& suitabl& chosen+ The Parties to the conflict shall be bound to giveeffect to the proposals made to them for this purpose+ The Protecting Po(ersma&, if necessar&, propose for approval b& the Parties to the conflict, a personbelonging to a neutral Po(er or delegated b& the *nternational Committee of theed Cross, (ho shall be invited to ta#e part in such a meeting

Chapter **+ !ounded and "ic#

Art+ 12+ ;embers of the armed forces and other persons mentioned in the

follo(ing Article, (ho are (ounded or sic#, shall be respected and protected in allcircumstances+

The& shall be treated humanel& and cared for b& the Part& to the conflict in(hose po(er the& ma& be, (ithout an& adverse distinction founded on se, race,nationalit&, religion, political opinions, or an& other similar criteria+ An& attemptsupon their lives, or violence to their persons, shall be strictl& prohibited3 inparticular, the& shall not be murdered or eterminated, subected to torture or tobiological eperiments3 the& shall not (ilfull& be left (ithout medical assistanceand care, nor shall conditions eposing them to contagion or infection be created+

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Art+ 1.+ The present Convention shall appl& to the (ounded and sic# belonging tothe follo(ing categories)

/10 ;embers of the armed forces of a Part& to the conflict, as (ell as members ofmilitias or volunteer corps forming part of such armed forces+

/20 ;embers of other militias and members of other volunteer corps, includingthose of organi-ed resistance movements, belonging to a Part& to the conflictand operating in or outside their o(n territor&, even if this territor& is occupied,provided that such militias or volunteer corps, including such organi-edresistance movements, fulfil the follo(ing conditions)/a0 that of being commanded b& a person responsible for his subordinates3/b0 that of having a fied distinctive sign recogni-able at a distance3/c0 that of carr&ing arms openl&3/d0 that of conducting their operations in accordance (ith the la(s and customsof (ar+/.0 ;embers of regular armed forces (ho profess allegiance to a Government or

an authorit& not recogni-ed b& the Detaining Po(er+/40 Persons (ho accompan& the armed forces (ithout actuall& being membersthereof, such as civil members of militar& aircraft cre(s, (ar correspondents,suppl& contractors, members of labour units or of services responsible for the(elfare of the armed forces, provided that the& have received authori-ation fromthe armed forces (hich the& accompan&+/60 ;embers of cre(s, including masters, pilots and apprentices, of the merchantmarine and the cre(s of civil aircraft of the Parties to the conflict, (ho do notbenefit b& more favourable treatment under an& other provisions in internationalla(+/70 *nhabitants of a nonoccupied territor&, (ho on the approach of the enem&,

spontaneousl& ta#e up arms to resist the invading forces, (ithout having hadtime to form themselves into regular armed units, provided the& carr& armsopenl& and respect the la(s and customs of (ar+

Art+ 14+ "ubect to the provisions of Article 12, the (ounded and sic# of abelligerent (ho fall into enem& hands shall be prisoners of (ar, and theprovisions of international la( concerning prisoners of (ar shall appl& to them+

Art+ 16+ At all times, and particularl& after an engagement, Parties to the conflictshall, (ithout dela&, ta#e all possible measures to search for and collect the(ounded and sic#, to protect them against pillage and illtreatment, to ensuretheir ade:uate care, and to search for the dead and prevent their beingdespoiled+

!henever circumstances permit, an armistice or a suspension of fire shall bearranged, or local arrangements made, to permit the removal, echange andtransport of the (ounded left on the battlefield+

=i#e(ise, local arrangements ma& be concluded bet(een Parties to the conflict

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for the removal or echange of (ounded and sic# from a besieged or encircledarea, and for the passage of medical and religious personnel and e:uipment ontheir (a& to that area+

Art+ 17+ Parties to the conflict shall record as soon as possible, in respect of each

(ounded, sic# or dead person of the adverse Part& falling into their hands, an&particulars (hich ma& assist in his identification+These records should if possible include)/a0 designation of the Po(er on (hich he depends3/b0 arm&, regimental, personal or serial number3/c0 surname3/d0 first name or names3/e0 date of birth3/f0 an& other particulars sho(n on his identit& card or disc3/g0 date and place of capture or death3/h0 particulars concerning (ounds or illness, or cause of death+

As soon as possible the above mentioned information shall be for(arded to the*nformation >ureau described in Article 122 of the Geneva Convention relative tothe Treatment of Prisoners of !ar of 12 August 1949, (hich shall transmit thisinformation to the Po(er on (hich these persons depend through theintermediar& of the Protecting Po(er and of the Central Prisoners of !ar Agenc&+

Parties to the conflict shall prepare and for(ard to each other through the samebureau, certificates of death or dul& authenticated lists of the dead+ The& shallli#e(ise collect and for(ard through the same bureau one half of a doubleidentit& disc, last (ills or other documents of importance to the net of #in, mone&

and in general all articles of an intrinsic or sentimental value, (hich are found onthe dead+ These articles, together (ith unidentified articles, shall be sent insealed pac#ets, accompanied b& statements giving all particulars necessar& forthe identification of the deceased o(ners, as (ell as b& a complete list of thecontents of the parcel+

Art+ 1'+ Parties to the conflict shall ensure that burial or cremation of the dead,carried out individuall& as far as circumstances permit, is preceded b& a carefuleamination, if possible b& a medical eamination, of the bodies, (ith a vie( toconfirming death, establishing identit& and enabling a report to be made+ odies shall not be cremated ecept for imperative reasons of h&giene or formotives based on the religion of the deceased+ *n case of cremation, thecircumstances and reasons for cremation shall be stated in detail in the deathcertificate or on the authenticated list of the dead+

The& shall further ensure that the dead are honourabl& interred, if possible

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according to the rites of the religion to (hich the& belonged, that their graves arerespected, grouped if possible according to the nationalit& of the deceased,properl& maintained and mar#ed so that the& ma& al(a&s be found+ $or thispurpose, the& shall organi-e at the commencement of hostilities an

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Art+ 28+ ospital ships entitled to the protection of the Geneva Convention for theAmelioration of the Condition of !ounded, "ic# and "hip(rec#ed ;embers ofArmed $orces at "ea of 12 August 1949, shall not be attac#ed from the land+

Art+ 21+ The protection to (hich fied establishments and mobile medical units of

the ;edical "ervice are entitled shall not cease unless the& are used to commit,outside their humanitarian duties, acts harmful to the enem&+ Protection ma&,ho(ever, cease onl& after a due (arning has been given, naming, in allappropriate cases, a reasonable time limit, and after such (arning has remainedunheeded+

Art+ 22+ The follo(ing conditions shall not be considered as depriving a medicalunit or establishment of the protection guaranteed b& Article 19)/10 That the personnel of the unit or establishment are armed, and that the& usethe arms in their o(n defence, or in that of the (ounded and sic# in their charge+/20 That in the absence of armed orderlies, the unit or establishment is protected

b& a pic#et or b& sentries or b& an escort+/.0 That small arms and ammunition ta#en from the (ounded and sic# and not&et handed to the proper service, are found in the unit or establishment+/40 That personnel and material of the veterinar& service are found in the unit orestablishment, (ithout forming an integral part thereof+/60 That the humanitarian activities of medical units and establishments or of theirpersonnel etend to the care of civilian (ounded or sic#+

Art+ 2.+ *n time of peace, the igh Contracting Parties and, after the outbrea# ofhostilities, the Parties thereto, ma& establish in their o(n territor& and, if the needarises, in occupied areas, hospital -ones and localities so organi-ed as to protect

the (ounded and sic# from the effects of (ar, as (ell as the personnel entrusted(ith the organi-ation and administration of these -ones and localities and (iththe care of the persons therein assembled+

?pon the outbrea# and during the course of hostilities, the Parties concernedma& conclude agreements on mutual recognition of the hospital -ones andlocalities the& have created+ The& ma& for this purpose implement the provisionsof the Draft Agreement anneed to the present Convention, (ith suchamendments as the& ma& consider necessar&+

The Protecting Po(ers and the *nternational Committee of the ed Cross areinvited to lend their good offices in order to facilitate the institution andrecognition of these hospital -ones and localities+

Chapter *+ Personnel

Art+ 24+ ;edical personnel eclusivel& engaged in the search for, or thecollection, transport or treatment of the (ounded or sic#, or in the prevention of

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disease, staff eclusivel& engaged in the administration of medical units andestablishments, as (ell as chaplains attached to the armed forces, shall berespected and protected in all circumstances+

Art+ 26+ ;embers of the armed forces speciall& trained for emplo&ment, should

the need arise, as hospital orderlies, nurses or auiliar& stretcherbearers, in thesearch for or the collection, transport or treatment of the (ounded and sic# shallli#e(ise be respected and protected if the& are carr&ing out these duties at thetime (hen the& come into contact (ith the enem& or fall into his hands+

Art+ 27+ The staff of 5ational ed Cross "ocieties and that of other oluntar& Aid"ocieties, dul& recogni-ed and authori-ed b& their Governments, (ho ma& beemplo&ed on the same duties as the personnel named in Article 24, are placedon the same footing as the personnel named in the said Article, provided that thestaff of such societies are subect to militar& la(s and regulations+

@ach igh Contracting Part& shall notif& to the other, either in time of peace or atthe commencement of or during hostilities, but in an& case before actuall&emplo&ing them, the names of the societies (hich it has authori-ed, under itsresponsibilit&, to render assistance to the regular medical service of its armedforces+

Art+ 2'+ A recogni-ed "ociet& of a neutral countr& can onl& lend the assistance ofits medical personnel and units to a Part& to the conflict (ith the previousconsent of its o(n Government and the authori-ation of the Part& to the conflictconcerned+ That personnel and those units shall be placed under the control ofthat Part& to the conflict+

The neutral Government shall notif& this consent to the adversar& of the "tate(hich accepts such assistance+ The Part& to the conflict (ho accepts suchassistance is bound to notif& the adverse Part& thereof before ma#ing an& use ofit+

*n no circumstances shall this assistance be considered as interference in theconflict+

The members of the personnel named in the first paragraph shall be dul&furnished (ith the identit& cards provided for in Article 48 before leaving theneutral countr& to (hich the& belong+

Art+ 2+ Personnel designated in Articles 24 and 27 (ho fall into the hands of theadverse Part&, shall be retained onl& in so far as the state of health, the spiritualneeds and the number of prisoners of (ar re:uire+

Personnel thus retained shall not be deemed prisoners of (ar+ 5evertheless the&shall at least benefit b& all the provisions of the Geneva Convention relative to

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the Treatment of Prisoners of !ar of 12 August 1949+ !ithin the frame(or# ofthe militar& la(s and regulations of the Detaining Po(er, and under the authorit&of its competent service, the& shall continue to carr& out, in accordance (ith theirprofessional ethics, their medical and spiritual duties on behalf of prisoners of(ar, preferabl& those of the armed forces to (hich the& themselves belong+ The&

shall further eno& the follo(ing facilities for carr&ing out their medical or spiritualduties)

/a0 The& shall be authori-ed to visit periodicall& the prisoners of (ar in labourunits or hospitals outside the camp+ The Detaining Po(er shall put at theirdisposal the means of transport re:uired+/b0 *n each camp the senior medical officer of the highest ran# shall beresponsible to the militar& authorities of the camp for the professional activit& ofthe retained medical personnel+ $or this purpose, from the outbrea# of hostilities,the Parties to the conflict shall agree regarding the corresponding seniorit& of theran#s of their medical personnel, including those of the societies designated in

Article 27+ *n all :uestions arising out of their duties, this medical officer, and thechaplains, shall have direct access to the militar& and medical authorities of thecamp (ho shall grant them the facilities the& ma& re:uire for correspondencerelating to these :uestions+/c0 Although retained personnel in a camp shall be subect to its internaldiscipline, the& shall not, ho(ever, be re:uired to perform an& (or# outside theirmedical or religious duties+

During hostilities the Parties to the conflict shall ma#e arrangements for relieving(here possible retained personnel, and shall settle the procedure of such relief+

5one of the preceding provisions shall relieve the Detaining Po(er of theobligations imposed upon it (ith regard to the medical and spiritual (elfare of theprisoners of (ar+

Art+ 29+ ;embers of the personnel designated in Article 26 (ho have fallen intothe hands of the enem&, shall be prisoners of (ar, but shall be emplo&ed on theirmedical duties in so far as the need arises+

Art+ .8+ Personnel (hose retention is not indispensable b& virtue of theprovisions of Article 2 shall be returned to the Part& to the conflict to (hom the&belong, as soon as a road is open for their return and militar& re:uirementspermit+

Pending their return, the& shall not be deemed prisoners of (ar+ 5everthelessthe& shall at least benefit b& all the provisions of the Geneva Convention relativeto the Treatment of Prisoners of !ar of 12 August 1949+ The& shall continue tofulfil their duties under the orders of the adverse Part& and shall preferabl& beengaged in the care of the (ounded and sic# of the Part& to the conflict to (hichthe& themselves belong+

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The material and stores defined in the present Article shall not be intentionall&destro&ed+

Art+ .4+ The real and personal propert& of aid societies (hich are admitted to theprivileges of the Convention shall be regarded as private propert&+

The right of re:uisition recogni-ed for belligerents b& the la(s and customs of(ar shall not be eercised ecept in case of urgent necessit&, and onl& after the(elfare of the (ounded and sic# has been ensured+

Chapter *+ ;edical Transports

Art+ .6+ Transports of (ounded and sic# or of medical e:uipment shall berespected and protected in the same (a& as mobile medical units+

"hould such transports or vehicles fall into the hands of the adverse Part&, the&shall be subect to the la(s of (ar, on condition that the Part& to the conflict (hocaptures them shall in all cases ensure the care of the (ounded and sic# the&contain+

The civilian personnel and all means of transport obtained b& re:uisition shall besubect to the general rules of international la(+

Art+ .7+ ;edical aircraft, that is to sa&, aircraft eclusivel& emplo&ed for theremoval of (ounded and sic# and for the transport of medical personnel ande:uipment, shall not be attac#ed, but shall be respected b& the belligerents, (hile

fl&ing at heights, times and on routes specificall& agreed upon bet(een thebelligerents concerned+

The& shall bear, clearl& mar#ed, the distinctive emblem prescribed in Article .,together (ith their national colours on their lo(er, upper and lateral surfaces+The& shall be provided (ith an& other mar#ings or means of identification thatma& be agreed upon bet(een the belligerents upon the outbrea# or during thecourse of hostilities+

?nless agreed other(ise, flights over enem& or enem&occupied territor& areprohibited+

;edical aircraft shall obe& ever& summons to land+ *n the event of a landing thusimposed, the aircraft (ith its occupants ma& continue its flight after eamination,if an&+

*n the event of an involuntar& landing in enem& or enem&occupied territor&, the(ounded and sic#, as (ell as the cre( of the aircraft shall be prisoners of (ar+The medical personnel shall be treated according to Article 24 and the Articles

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follo(ing+

Art+ .'+ "ubect to the provisions of the second paragraph, medical aircraft ofParties to the conflict ma& fl& over the territor& of neutral Po(ers, land on it incase of necessit&, or use it as a port of call+ The& shall give the neutral Po(ers

previous notice of their passage over the said territor& and obe& all summons toalight, on land or (ater+ The& (ill be immune from attac# onl& (hen fl&ing onroutes, at heights and at times specificall& agreed upon bet(een the Parties tothe conflict and the neutral Po(er concerned+

The neutral Po(ers ma&, ho(ever, place conditions or restrictions on thepassage or landing of medical aircraft on their territor&+ "uch possible conditionsor restrictions shall be applied e:uall& to all Parties to the conflict+

?nless agreed other(ise bet(een the neutral Po(er and the Parties to theconflict, the (ounded and sic# (ho are disembar#ed, (ith the consent of the

local authorities, on neutral territor& b& medical aircraft, shall be detained b& theneutral Po(er, (here so re:uired b& international la(, in such a manner that the&cannot again ta#e part in operations of (ar+ The cost of their accommodation andinternment shall be borne b& the Po(er on (hich the& depend+

Chapter **+ The Distinctive @mblem

Art+ .+ As a compliment to "(it-erland, the heraldic emblem of the red cross ona (hite ground, formed b& reversing the $ederal colours, is retained as theemblem and distinctive sign of the ;edical "ervice of armed forces+

5evertheless, in the case of countries (hich alread& use as emblem, in place ofthe red cross, the red crescent or the red lion and sun on a (hite ground, thoseemblems are also recogni-ed b& the terms of the present Convention+

Art+ .9+ ?nder the direction of the competent militar& authorit&, the emblem shallbe displa&ed on the flags, armlets and on all e:uipment emplo&ed in the ;edical"ervice+

Art+ 48+ The personnel designated in Article 24 and in Articles 27 and 2' shall(ear, affied to the left arm, a (aterresistant armlet bearing the distinctiveemblem, issued and stamped b& the militar& authorit&+

"uch personnel, in addition to (earing the identit& disc mentioned in Article 17,shall also carr& a special identit& card bearing the distinctive emblem+ This cardshall be (aterresistant and of such si-e that it can be carried in the poc#et+ *tshall be (orded in the national language, shall mention at least the surname andfirst names, the date of birth, the ran# and the service number of the bearer, andshall state in (hat capacit& he is entitled to the protection of the present

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Convention+ The card shall bear the photograph of the o(ner and also either hissignature or his fingerprints or both+ *t shall be embossed (ith the stamp of themilitar& authorit&+

The identit& card shall be uniform throughout the same armed forces and, as far

as possible, of a similar t&pe in the armed forces of the igh Contracting Parties+The Parties to the conflict ma& be guided b& the model (hich is anneed, b& (a&of eample, to the present Convention+ The& shall inform each other, at theoutbrea# of hostilities, of the model the& are using+ *dentit& cards should be madeout, if possible, at least in duplicate, one cop& being #ept b& the home countr&+

*n no circumstances ma& the said personnel be deprived of their insignia oridentit& cards nor of the right to (ear the armlet+ *n case of loss, the& shall beentitled to receive duplicates of the cards and to have the insignia replaced+

Art+ 41+ The personnel designated in Article 26 shall (ear, but onl& (hile carr&ing

out medical duties, a (hite armlet bearing in its centre the distinctive sign inminiature3 the armlet shall be issued and stamped b& the militar& authorit&+

;ilitar& identit& documents to be carried b& this t&pe of personnel shall specif&(hat special training the& have received, the temporar& character of the dutiesthe& are engaged upon, and their authorit& for (earing the armlet+

Art+ 42+ The distinctive flag of the Convention shall be hoisted onl& over suchmedical units and establishments as are entitled to be respected under theConvention, and onl& (ith the consent of the militar& authorities+ *n mobile units,as in fied establishments, it ma& be accompanied b& the national flag of the

Part& to the conflict to (hich the unit or establishment belongs+

5evertheless, medical units (hich have fallen into the hands of the enem& shallnot fl& an& flag other than that of the Convention+ Parties to the conflict shall ta#ethe necessar& steps, in so far as militar& considerations permit, to ma#e thedistinctive emblems indicating medical units and establishments clearl& visible tothe enem& land, air or naval forces, in order to obviate the possibilit& of an&hostile action+

Art+ 4.+ The medical units belonging to neutral countries, (hich ma& have beenauthori-ed to lend their services to a belligerent under the conditions laid do(n in

Article 2', shall fl&, along (ith the flag of the Convention, the national flag of thatbelligerent, (herever the latter ma#es use of the facult& conferred on him b&

Article 42+

"ubect to orders to the contrar& b& the responsible militar& authorities, the& ma&on all occasions fl& their national flag, even if the& fall into the hands of theadverse Part&+

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Art+ 44+ !ith the eception of the cases mentioned in the follo(ing paragraphs ofthe present Article, the emblem of the red cross on a (hite ground and the (ordsB ed CrossB or B Geneva Cross B ma& not be emplo&ed, either in time of peaceor in time of (ar, ecept to indicate or to protect the medical units andestablishments, the personnel and material protected b& the present Convention

and other Conventions dealing (ith similar matters+ The same shall appl& to theemblems mentioned in Article ., second paragraph, in respect of the countries(hich use them+ The 5ational ed Cross "ocieties and other societiesdesignated in Article 27 shall have the right to use the distinctive emblemconferring the protection of the Convention onl& (ithin the frame(or# of thepresent paragraph+

$urthermore, 5ational ed Cross /ed Crescent, ed =ion and "un0 "ocietiesma&, in time of peace, in accordance (ith their national legislation, ma#e use ofthe name and emblem of the ed Cross for their other activities (hich are inconformit& (ith the principles laid do(n b& the *nternational ed Cross

Conferences+ !hen those activities are carried out in time of (ar, the conditionsfor the use of the emblem shall be such that it cannot be considered asconferring the protection of the Convention3 the emblem shall be comparativel&small in si-e and ma& not be placed on armlets or on the roofs of buildings+

The international ed Cross organi-ations and their dul& authori-ed personnelshall be permitted to ma#e use, at all times, of the emblem of the red cross on a(hite ground+

As an eceptional measure, in conformit& (ith national legislation and (ith theepress permission of one of the 5ational ed Cross /ed Crescent, ed =ion

and "un0 "ocieties, the emblem of the Convention ma& be emplo&ed in time ofpeace to identif& vehicles used as ambulances and to mar# the position of aidstations eclusivel& assigned to the purpose of giving free treatment to the(ounded or sic#+

Chapter ***+ @ecution of the Convention

Art+ 46+ @ach Part& to the conflict, acting through its CommandersinChief, shallensure the detailed eecution of the preceding Articles, and provide forunforeseen cases, in conformit& (ith the general principles of the presentConvention+

Art+ 47+ eprisals against the (ounded, sic#, personnel, buildings or e:uipmentprotected b& the Convention are prohibited+

Art+ 4'+ The igh Contracting Parties underta#e, in time of peace as in time of(ar, to disseminate the tet of the present Convention as (idel& as possible intheir respective countries, and, in particular, to include the stud& thereof in their

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programmes of militar& and, if possible, civil instruction, so that the principlesthereof ma& become #no(n to the entire population, in particular to the armedfighting forces, the medical personnel and the chaplains+

Art+ 4+ The igh Contracting Parties shall communicate to one another through

the "(iss $ederal Council and, during hostilities, through the Protecting Po(ers,the official translations of the present Convention, as (ell as the la(s andregulations (hich the& ma& adopt to ensure the application thereof+

Chapter *+ epression of Abuses and *nfractions

Art+ 49+ The igh Contracting Parties underta#e to enact an& legislationnecessar& to provide effective penal sanctions for persons committing, orordering to be committed, an& of the grave breaches of the present Conventiondefined in the follo(ing Article+

@ach igh Contracting Part& shall be under the obligation to search for personsalleged to have committed, or to have ordered to be committed, such gravebreaches, and shall bring such persons, regardless of their nationalit&, before itso(n courts+ *t ma& also, if it prefers, and in accordance (ith the provisions of itso(n legislation, hand such persons over for trial to another igh ContractingPart& concerned, provided such igh Contracting Part& has made out a primafacie case+

@ach igh Contracting Part& shall ta#e measures necessar& for the suppressionof all acts contrar& to the provisions of the present Convention other than the

grave breaches defined in the follo(ing Article+

*n all circumstances, the accused persons shall benefit b& safeguards of propertrial and defence, (hich shall not be less favourable than those provided b&

Article 186 and those follo(ing, of the Geneva Convention relative to theTreatment of Prisoners of !ar of 12 August 1949+

Art+ 68+ Grave breaches to (hich the preceding Article relates shall be thoseinvolving an& of the follo(ing acts, if committed against persons or propert&protected b& the Convention) (ilful #illing, torture or inhuman treatment, includingbiological eperiments, (ilfull& causing great suffering or serious inur& to bod& orhealth, and etensive destruction and appropriation of propert&, not ustified b&militar& necessit& and carried out unla(full& and (antonl&+

Art+ 61+ 5o igh Contracting Part& shall be allo(ed to absolve itself or an& otherigh Contracting Part& of an& liabilit& incurred b& itself or b& another ighContracting Part& in respect of breaches referred to in the preceding Article+

Art+ 62+ At the re:uest of a Part& to the conflict, an en:uir& shall be instituted, in a

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manner to be decided bet(een the interested Parties, concerning an& allegedviolation of the Convention+

*f agreement has not been reached concerning the procedure for the en:uir&, theParties should agree on the choice of an umpire (ho (ill decide upon the

procedure to be follo(ed+

& reason of the tribute paid to "(it-erland b& the adoption of the reversed$ederal colours, and of the confusion (hich ma& arise bet(een the arms of"(it-erland and the distinctive emblem of the Convention, the use b& privateindividuals, societies or firms, of the arms of the "(iss Confederation, or ofmar#s constituting an imitation thereof, (hether as trademar#s or commercialmar#s, or as parts of such mar#s, or for a purpose contrar& to commercialhonest&, or in circumstances capable of (ounding "(iss national sentiment, shallbe prohibited at all times+

5evertheless, such igh Contracting Parties as (ere not part& to the GenevaConvention of 2' %ul& 1929, ma& grant to prior users of the emblems,

designations, signs or mar#s designated in the first paragraph, a time limit not toeceed three &ears from the coming into force of the present Convention todiscontinue such use provided that the said use shall not be such as (ouldappear, in time of (ar, to confer the protection of the Convention+

The prohibition laid do(n in the first paragraph of the present Article shall alsoappl&, (ithout effect on an& rights ac:uired through prior use, to the emblemsand mar#s mentioned in the second paragraph of Article .+

Art+ 64+ The igh Contracting Parties shall, if their legislation is not alread&ade:uate, ta#e measures necessar& for the prevention and repression, at alltimes, of the abuses referred to under Article 6.

$inal Provisions

Art+ 66+ The present Convention is established in @nglish and in $rench+ >othtets are e:uall& authentic+

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The "(iss $ederal Council shall arrange for official translations of theConvention to be made in the ussian and "panish languages+

Art+ 67+ The present Convention, (hich bears the date of this da&, is open tosignature until 12 $ebruar& 1968, in the name of the Po(ers represented at the

Conference (hich opened at Geneva on 21 April 19493 furthermore, b& Po(ersnot represented at that Conference but (hich are Parties to the GenevaConventions of 174, 1987 or 1929 for the elief of the !ounded and "ic# in

Armies in the $ield+

Art+ 6'+ The present Convention shall be ratified as soon as possible and theratifications shall be deposited at >erne+ A record shall be dra(n up of thedeposit of each instrument of ratification and certified copies of this record shallbe transmitted b& the "(iss $ederal Council to all the Po(ers in (hose name theConvention has been signed, or (hose accession has been notified+

Art+ 6+ The present Convention shall come into force si months after not lessthan t(o instruments of ratification have been deposited+

Thereafter, it shall come into force for each igh Contracting Part& si monthsafter the deposit of the instrument of ratification+

Art+ 69+ The present Convention replaces the Conventions of 22 August 174, 7%ul& 1987, and 2' %ul& 1929, in relations bet(een the igh Contracting Parties+

Art+ 78+ $rom the date of its coming into force, it shall be open to an& Po(er in(hose name the present Convention has not been signed, to accede to this

Convention+

Art+ 71+ Accessions shall be notified in (riting to the "(iss $ederal Council, andshall ta#e effect si months after the date on (hich the& are received+

The "(iss $ederal Council shall communicate the accessions to all the Po(ersin (hose name the Convention has been signed, or (hose accession has beennotified+

Art+ 72+ The situations provided for in Articles 2 and . shall give immediate effectto ratifications deposited and accessions notified b& the Parties to the conflictbefore or after the beginning of hostilities or occupation+ The "(iss $ederalCouncil shall communicate b& the :uic#est method an& ratifications oraccessions received from Parties to the conflict+

Art+ 7.+ @ach of the igh Contracting Parties shall be at libert& to denounce thepresent Convention+

The denunciation shall be notified in (riting to the "(iss $ederal Council, (hich

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shall transmit it to the Governments of all the igh Contracting Parties+

The denunciation shall ta#e effect one &ear after the notification thereof has beenmade to the "(iss $ederal Council+ o(ever, a denunciation of (hich notificationhas been made at a time (hen the denouncing Po(er is involved in a conflict

shall not ta#e effect until peace has been concluded, and until after operationsconnected (ith release and repatriation of the persons protected b& the presentConvention have been terminated+

The denunciation shall have effect onl& in respect of the denouncing Po(er+ *tshall in no (a& impair the obligations (hich the Parties to the conflict shallremain bound to fulfil b& virtue of the principles of the la( of nations, as the&result from the usages established among civili-ed peoples, from the la(s ofhumanit& and the dictates of the public conscience+

Art+ 74+ The "(iss $ederal Council shall register the present Convention (ith the

"ecretariat of the ?nited 5ations+ The "(iss $ederal Council shall also informthe "ecretariat of the ?nited 5ations of all ratifications, accessions anddenunciations received b& it (ith respect to the present Convention+

*n (itness (hereof the undersigned, having deposited their respective fullpo(ers, have signed the present Convention+

Done at Geneva this t(elfth da& of August 1949, in the @nglish and $renchlanguages+ The original shall be deposited in the archives of the "(issConfederation+ The "(iss $ederal Council shall transmit certified copies thereofto each of the "ignator& and Acceding "tates+

Anne *+ Draft Agreement elating to ospital ones and =ocalities

Article 1+ ospital -ones shall be strictl& observed for the persons named inArticle 2. of the Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of the!ounded and "ic# in the Armed $orces in the $ield of 12 August 1949, and forthe personnel entrusted (ith the organi-ation and administration of these -onesand localities, and (ith the care of the persons therein assembled+

5evertheless, persons (hose permanent residence is (ithin such -ones shallhave the right to sta& there+

Art+ 2+ 5o persons residing, in (hatever capacit&, in a hospital -one shall performan& (or#, either (ithin or (ithout the -one, directl& connected (ith militar&operations or the production of (ar material+

Art+ .+ The Po(er establishing a hospital -one shall ta#e all necessar& measuresto prohibit access to all persons (ho have no right of residence or entr& therein+

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Art+ 4+ ospital -ones shall fulfil the follo(ing conditions)/a0 The& shall comprise onl& a small part of the territor& governed b& the Po(er(hich has established them+/b0 The& shall be thinl& populated in relation to the possibilities of

accommodation+/c0 The& shall be far removed and free from all militar& obectives, or largeindustrial or administrative establishments+/d0 The& shall not be situated in areas (hich, according to ever& probabilit&, ma&become important for the conduct of the (ar+

Art+ 6+ ospital -ones shall be subect to the follo(ing obligations)/a0 The lines of communication and means of transport (hich the& possess shallnot be used for the transport of militar& personnel or material, even in transit+/b0 The& shall in no case be defended b& militar& means+

Art+ 7+ ospital -ones shall be mar#ed b& means of red crosses /red crescents,red lions and suns0 on a (hite bac#ground placed on the outer precincts and onthe buildings+ The& ma& be similarl& mar#ed at night b& means of appropriateillumination+

Art+ '+ The Po(ers shall communicate to all igh Contracting Parties inpeacetime or on the outbrea# of hostilities, a list of the hospital -ones in theterritories governed b& them+ The& shall also give notice of an& ne( -ones set upduring hostilities+

As soon as the adverse Part& has receive the abovementioned notification, the

-one shall be regularl& constituted+

*f, ho(ever, the adverse Part& considers that the conditions of the presentagreement have not been fulfilled, it ma& refuse to recogni-e the -one b& givingimmediate notice thereof to the Part& responsible for the said one, or ma& ma#eits recognition of such -one dependent upon the institution of the control providedfor in Article +

Art+ + An& Po(er having recogni-ed one of several hospital -ones instituted b&the adverse Part& shall be entitled to demand control b& one or more "pecialCommissioners, for the purpose of ascertaining if the -ones fulfil the conditionsand obligations stipulated in the present agreement+

$or this purpose, the members of the "pecial Commissions shall at all timeshave free access to the various -ones and ma& even reside there permanentl&+The& shall be given all facilities for their duties of inspection+

Art+ 9+ "hould the "pecial Commissions note an& facts (hich the& considercontrar& to the stipulations of the present agreement, the& shall at once dra( the

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attention of the Po(er governing the said -one to these facts, and shall fi a timelimit of five da&s (ithin (hich the matter should be rectified+ The& shall dul& notif&the Po(er (ho has recogni-ed the -one+

*f, (hen the time limit has epired, the Po(er governing the -one has not

complied (ith the (arning, the adverse Part& ma& declare that it is no longerbound b& the present agreement in respect of the said -one+

Art+ 18+ An& Po(er setting up one or more hospital -ones and localities, and theadverse Parties to (hom their eistence has been notified, shall nominate orhave nominated b& neutral Po(ers, the persons (ho shall be members of the"pecial Commissions mentioned in Articles and 9,

Art+ 11+ *n no circumstances ma& hospital -ones be the obect of attac#+ The&shall be protected and respected at all times b& the Parties to the conflict+

Art+ 12+ *n the case of occupation of a territor&, the hospital -ones therein shallcontinue to be respected and utili-ed as such+

Their purpose ma&, ho(ever, be modified b& the