THE GENEVA CONVENTIONS OF 12 AUGUST 1949

1 THE GENEVA CONVENTIONS OF 12 AUGUST 1949 THE GENEVA CONVENTIONS OF 12 AUGUST 1949 ICRC0173/002 10,000 MissionThe International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is an impartial, neutral and independent organization whose exclusively humanitarian mission is to protect the lives and dignity of victims of armed conflict and other situations of violence and to provide them with assistance. The ICRC also endeavours to prevent suffering by promoting and strengthening humanitarian law and universal humanitarian principles. Established in 1863, the ICRC is at the origin of the GENEVA CONVENTIONS and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

2 It directs and coordinates the international activities conducted by the Movement in armed conflicts and other situations of GENEVA CONVENTIONS OF 12 AUGUST 1949 THE GENEVA CONVENTIONS OF 1949 1 ContentsPreliminary remarks .. 19 GENEVA convention FOR THE AMELIORATION OF THE CONDITION OF THE WOUNDED AND SICK IN ARMED FORCES IN THE FIELD OF 12 AUGUST 1949 CHAPTER I General Provisions .. 35 Article 1 Respect for the convention .. 35 Article 2 Application of the convention .. 35 Article 3 Conflicts not of an international character .. 35 Article 4 Application by neutral Powers.

3 36 Article 5 Duration of application .. 36 Article 6 Special agreements .. 36 Article 7 Non-renunciation of rights .. 37 Article 8 Protecting Powers .. 37 Article 9 Activities of the International Committee of the Red Cross .. 37 Article 10 Substitutes for Protecting Powers .. 37 Article 11 Conciliation 38 CHAPTER IIWounded and sick .. 39 Article 12 Protection and care .. 39 Article 13 Protected persons .. 39 Article 14 Status .. 40 Article 15 Search for casualties. Evacuation .. 40 Article 16 Recording and forwarding of information .. 40 Article 17 Prescriptions regarding the dead.

4 Graves Registration Service .. 41 Article 18 Role of the population .. 42 CHAPTER IIIM edical units and establishMents .. 42 Article 19 Protection .. 42 Article 20 Protection of hospital ships .. 42 Article 21 Discontinuance of protection of medical establishments and units .. 43 Article 22 Conditions not depriving medical units and establishments of protection .. 43 Article 23 Hospital zones and localities .. 43 2 CONTENTSCHAPTER IVPersonnel .. 44 Article 24 Protection of permanent personnel .. 44 Article 25 Protection of auxiliary personnel .. 44 Article 26 Personnel of aid societies.

5 44 Article 27 Societies of neutral 44 Article 28 Retained personnel .. 45 Article 29 Status of auxiliary personnel .. 46 Article 30 Return of medical and religious personnel .. 46 Article 31 Selection of personnel for return .. 46 Article 32 Return of personnel belonging to neutral countries .. 46 CHAPTER VbuildinGs and Material .. 47 Article 33 Buildings and stores .. 47 Article 34 Property of aid societies .. 47 CHAPTER VIMedical transPorts .. 47 Article 35 Protection .. 47 Article 36 Medical aircraft .. 48 Article 37 Flight over neutral countries. Landing of wounded.

6 48 CHAPTER VIIthe distinctive eMbleM .. 49 Article 38 Emblem of the convention .. 49 Article 39 Use of the 49 Article 40 Identification of medical and religious personnel .. 49 Article 41 Identification of auxiliary personnel .. 50 Article 42 Marking of medical units and establishments .. 50 Article 43 Marking of units of neutral countries .. 50 Article 44 Restrictions in the use of the emblem. Exceptions .. 50 CHAPTER VIII execution of the convention .. 51 Article 45 Detailed execution. Unforeseen cases .. 51 Article 46 Prohibition of reprisals .. 51 Article 47 Dissemination of the convention .

7 51 Article 48 Translations. Rules of application .. 52 THE GENEVA CONVENTIONS OF 1949 3 CHAPTER IXrePression of abuses and infractions .. 52 Article 49 Penal sanctions: I. General observations .. 52 Article 50 II. Grave breaches .. 52 Article 51 III. Responsibilities of the Contracting Parties .. 53 Article 52 Enquiry procedure .. 53 Article 53 Misuse of the emblem .. 53 Article 54 Prevention of misuse .. 54final Provisions .. 54 Article 55 Languages .. 54 Article 56 Signature .. 54 Article 57 Ratification .. 54 Article 58 Coming into force .. 54 Article 59 Relation to previous CONVENTIONS .

8 54 Article 60 Accession .. 55 Article 61 Notification of accessions .. 55 Article 62 Immediate effect .. 55 Article 63 Denunciation .. 55 Article 64 Registration with the United Nations .. 55 ANNEX I Draft Agreement Relating to Hospital Zones and Localities .. 57 ANNEX II Identity Card for Members of Medical and Religious Personnel attached to the Armed Forces .. 60 4 CONTENTSGENEVA convention FOR THE AMELIORATION OF THE CONDITION OF WOUNDED, SICK AND SHIPWRECKED MEMBERS OF ARMED FORCES AT SEA OF 12 AUGUST 1949 CHAPTER IGeneral Provisions .. 61 Article 1 Respect for the convention .

9 61 Article 2 Application of the convention .. 61 Article 3 Conflicts not of an international character .. 61 Article 4 Field of 62 Article 5 Application by neutral Powers .. 62 Article 6 Special agreements .. 62 Article 7 Non-renunciation of rights .. 63 Article 8 Protecting Powers .. 63 Article 9 Activities of the International Committee of the Red Cross .. 63 Article 10 Substitutes for Protecting Powers .. 64 Article 11 Conciliation 64 CHAPTER IIWounded, sick and 65 Article 12 Protection and care .. 65 Article 13 Protected persons .. 65 Article 14 Handing over to a belligerent.

10 66 Article 15 Wounded taken on board a neutral warship .. 66 Article 16 Wounded falling into enemy hands .. 66 Article 17 Wounded landed in a neutral 67 Article 18 Search for casualties after an engagement .. 67 Article 19 Recording and forwarding of information .. 67 Article 20 Prescriptions regarding the dead .. 68 Article 21 Appeals to neutral 68 CHAPTER IIIhosPital shiPs .. 68 Article 22 Notification and protection of military hospital ships .. 68 Article 23 Protection of medical establishments ashore .. 69 Article 24 Hospital ships utilized by relief societies and private individuals of: I.