Table Of ContentTHE GENEVA CONVENTIONS OF 12 AUGUST 1949
CO-MMENTARY
published under the general editorship of
Jean S. PICTET
Doctor of Laws
Director for General Affairs of the International Committee of the Red Cross
G E N E V A C O N V E N T I O N
FOR THE AMELIORATION OF THE CONDITION OF
WOUNDED, SICK AND SHIPWRECKED MEMBERS OF
ARMED FORCES AT SEA
+
Inter ama
caritas
GENEVA
INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS
1960
COMMEN TAR Y
published under the general editorship of
Jean S. PICTET
Doctor of Laws
Director for General Affairs of the International
Committee of the Red Cross
G E N E V A C O N V E N T I O N
FOR THE AMELIORAT~ONOF THE CONDITION OF
WOUNDED, SICK AND SHIPWRECKED MEMBERS OF
ARMED FORCES AT SEA
by
Jean S. PICTET
Doctor of Laws
with the co-operation of
Rear-Admiral Mi W. MOUTON
Doctor of Laws
and
FrBdBric SIORDET Claude PILLOUD
Advocate Advocate
Vim-President of the ICRC Assistant Director for General Affairs of the ICRC
Jean-Pierre SCHOENHOLZER RenB- Jean WILHELM
Member of the Legal Department Member of the Legal Department
of the ICRC of the ICRC
Oscar M. UHLER
Doctor of Laws
Former Member of the Legal Department of the ICRC
Translated into English from the original French by A. P. de HENEY
GENEVA
INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS
1960
CONTENTS
Page
FOREWOR. D. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1
INTRODUCT.IO.N. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
1. The Maritime Convention ": its origin and progressive
" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
development
2. Revision of the Geneva Conventions . . . . . . . . . . .
TITLEOF THE CONVENTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
PREAMBLE
CHAPTERI
GENERAL PROVISIONS
ARTICLE1.-Respect for the Convention . . . . . . . . . . .
ARTICLE2.-Apfilication of the Convention . . . . . . . . . .
Paragraph 1.-Armed conflicts involving the application of
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
the Convention
Paragraph 2.-Occupied territories . . . . . . . . . . .
Paragraph 3.-Conflicts in which the belligerents are not all
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
parties to the Convention
ARTICLE3.-Conflicts rtot of an international character . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . .
Paragraph 1.-Applicable provisions
Paragraph 2.-- Right of humanitarian initiative . . . . .
Paragraph 3.-Special agreements . . . . . . . . . . . .
Paragraph 4.-Lack of effect on the legal status of the Parties
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
to the conflict
ARTICLE4.-Field of application . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
ARTICLE5.-Application by neutral Powers . . . . . . . . . .
VI CONTENTS
Page
ARTICLE6.-Sfiecial agreements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
General Remarks and Historical Background . . . . . . . . 46
Paragraph 1. -Nature, form. and limitation of special agree-
ments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.
1 First sentence. Nature and form of special agreements
-
2. Second sentence. -Prohibited special agreements . .
Paragraph 2.-Duration of special agreements . . . . . .
ARTICLE7.-Non-renunciation of rights . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . .
1 Renunciation of protection under the Convention
2. Nature of the rights conferred on protected persons . . .
ARTICLE8.-Pyotecting Poweys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Paragraph 1.-General r81e of the Protecting Powers . . .
Paragraph 2 .-Facilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Paragraph 3.-Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Conclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
ARTICLE9..Activities of the International Committee of the Red
CYOSS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
ARTICLE10.-- Substitutes for Protecting Powers . . . . . . . .
Paragraph 1. -- Special international organization . . . . .
Paragraph 2.-Absence of Protecting Power . . . . . . .
Pdragraph 3.-- Absence of a substitute . . . . . . . . .
Paragraph 4.-- Requisite qualifications . . . . . . . . .
Paragraph 5.-Prohibition of derogations . . . . . . . .
Conclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
ARTICLE11.-- Conciliation 9rocedure . . . . . . . . . . . .
.-- . . .
Paragraph 1 Good offices of the Protecting Powers
Paragraph 2. .Meeting of representatives of the Parties to
the conflict . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
CHAPTERI1
WOUNDED. SICK AND SHIPWRECKED
ARTICLE12. Protection and care . . . . . . . . . . . . .
-
Paragraph 1. -Respect and protection . . . . . . . . . .
CONTENTS VII
Page
Paragraph 2. -- Treatment and care . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Paragraph 3. -Order of treatment . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Paragraph 4. Treatment of women . . . . . . . . . . . 92
-
ARTICLE13.-Protected persons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
ARTICLE14.-- Handing over to a belligerent . . . . . . . . . 104
ARTICLE15.-- Wounded taken on board a neutral'warship . . . . 107
ARTICLE16.-- Wounded falling into enemy hands . . . . . . . 112
ARTICLE17.-Wounded landed in a neutral Port . . . . . . . . 116
1. General remarks and historical background . . . . . . . 117
2. Commentary on the Article . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
3. Cases not provided for . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
A. Hospital ships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
B. Belligerent merchant vessels . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
C. Solution by the commentator . . . . . . . . . . . 125
ARTICLE18.-- Search for casualties after an engagement . . . . . 129
Paragraph 1. Search, protection and first aid . . . . . . 130
-
Paragraph 2.-Evacuation of a besieged area . . . . . . . 134
ARTICLE19.-- Recording and forwarding of information . . . . 136
Paragraph 1. -Recording . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Paragraph 2 .-Forwarding of information . . . . . . . . 140
Paragraph 3..
Particulars of the dead . . . . . . . . . . 142
ARTICLE20.-P~escrifitionsy egarding the dead . . . . . . . . 146
Paragraph 1. -- Examination of bodies ;burial at sea . . . . 147
Paragraph 2 .-Reference to the First Convention . . . . . 149
ARTICLE21.-A$fieals to neutral vessels . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Paragraph 1. -Appeals to charity . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Paragraph 2. Protection and facilities . . . . . . . . . 152
-
Paragraph 3.' Exemption from capture . . . . . . . . . 153
--
VIII CONTENTS
HOSPITAL SHIPS
Page
INTRODUCTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
.
ARTICLE22 .Notification and protection of military hospital ships 155
Paragraph 1. -Protection and conditions therefor . . . . . 157
1. Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
2. Conditions for protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
A. Exclusive use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
B. Notification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Paragraph 2.-Characteristics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
ARTICLE2 3 .-- Protection of medical establishments ashore . . . 162
ARTICLE24.-Hospital ships utilized by relief societies and private
individuals of I .Parties to the conflict . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Paragraph 1.-Assimilation to hospital ships . . . . . . . 164
Paragraph 2.-Control certificate . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
ARTICLE2 5 .-Hospital ships utilized by relief societies and private
individuals of 11.neutral countries . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
ARTICLE2 6 .-Tonnage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
ARTICLE2 7 .-- Coastal rescue craft . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Paragraph 1. -- Rescue craft . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Paragraph 2.-- Installations on land . . . . . . . . . . .
ARTICLE2 8 .-- Protection of sick-bays . . . . . . . . . . . .
ARTICLE2 9 .-- Hospital ships in occupied ports . . . . . . . .
ARTICLE3 0 ..Employment of hospital ships and small craft . .
ARTICLE3 1 .-- Right of control and searclz . . . . . . . . . .
ARTICLE3 2 .-- Stay in a neutral port . . . . . . .
ARTICLE3 3. -Converted me~chantv essels . . . . . . . . . .
ARTICLE3 4. -Discontinuance of fwotection . . . . . . . . . .
ARTICLE3 5. .Conditions not depriving hospital ships of pro-
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
tection
CONTENTS IX
CHAPTERIV
PERSONNEL
Page
1. The various categories of personnel . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
2. The general principles applicable . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
ARTICLE36. -Protection of the personnel of hospital ships . . . 203
ARTICLE37. -Medical and religious flersonnel of other ships . . 206
Paragraph 1. -Protection and return . . . . . . . . . . 207
Paragraph 2. -Retention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
CHAPTERV
MEDICAL TRANSPORTS
ARTICLE38. -Ships used for the conveyance of medical equipment 212
ARTICLE39. -Medical aircraft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Paragraph 1.-Definition and protection . . . . . . . . . 216
Paragraph 2. -Marking and recognition . . . . . . . . . 217
. .
Paragraph 3. -Prohibition of flight over enemy territory 219
Paragraph 4. -Summons to alight . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Paragraph 5. -Forced landing . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
ARTICLE40. -Flight over neutral countries ;landing of wounded 222
Paragraphs 1 and 2. - Conditions for flight and landing 223
Paragraph 3. -Landing of wounded . . . . . . . . . . . 224
CHAPTERVI
THE DISTINCTIVE EMBLEM
ARTICLE41. -Use of the emblem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Paragraph 1. -Use of the emblem . . . . . . . . . . . 226
1. Nature and use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
2. Control by the military authority . . . . . . . . . . 230
Paragraph 2. -Authorized exceptions . . . . . . . . . . 231
X CONTENTS
Page
ARTICLE42. .Identification of medical and religious #ersonnel 232
Paragraph 1.. The armlet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
3
Paragraphs 2 and 3.-- The identity card . . . . . . . . . 236
Paragraph 4.-Confiscation prohibited ;replacement . . . . 239
ARTICLE43.-- Marking of hosfiital shifis and small craft . . . . 240
Paragraph 1.-- Methods of marking . . . . . . . . . . . 241
'
Paragraph
2. . Flags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Paragraph 3.-Lifeboats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
ARTICLE44. Limitation in the use of markings . . . . . . . . 246
-
ARTICLE45.-Prevention of misuse . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
CHAPTERVII
EXECUTION OF THE CONVENTION
ARTICLE46.-- Detailed execution . Unforeseen cases . . . . . . . 251
ARTICLE47.-Prohibition of re#risals . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
ARTICLE48.-Dissemination of the Convention . . . . . . . . 257
ARTICLE4 9.-Translations.
Rules of afifilication . . . . . . . 259
CHAPTERVIII
REPRESSION OF ABUSES AND INFRACTIONS
Penal -sanctions (Articles 50 to 52) . . . . . . . . . . . . .
ARTICLE50.-Penal Sanctions :I . General observations . . . .
Paragraph 1.-Special legislation . . . . . . . . . . . .
Paragraph 2.-Search for and prosecution of persons who have
committed grave breaches . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Paragraph 3.-Suppression of other breaches . . . . . . .
Paragraph 4.-Procedural guarantees . . . . . . . . . . .
ARTICLE51.. Penal Sanctions :11.Grave breaches . . . . . .
ARTICLE52..Penal Sanctions :111.Resfionsibilities of the Con-
tracting Parties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
ARTICLE53.-Enquiry firocedure . . . . . . . . . .
CONTENTS XI
FINAL PROVISIONS
Page
ARTICLE5 4 .-- Languages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
ARTICLE5 5. . Signatwe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
4
ARTICLE5 6 .-Ratification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
ARTICLE5 7 .-Coming into force . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
ARTICLE58.-Relation to the 1907 Convention . . . . . . . .
ARTICLE5 9 .-- Accession . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
ARTICLE6 0 .-- Notification of accessions . . . . . . . . . . .
ARTICLE6 1. -- Immediate e8ect . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
ARTICLE6 2.. Denunciation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
ARTICLE63.-- Registration with the United Nations . . . . . .
ANNEX.-Model identity card for medical #ersonneZ and chaplains
FOREWORD
On August 12, 1949, Plenipotentiaries from almost every country
ifi the world, after four monthsJ continuous work.at the Diplomatic
Conference, approved the text of the new Geneva Conventions. All
the Powers represented at the Conference signed the Conventions
shortly afterwards and almost all have ratified them. Thus the
1949 Conventions, a decisive step in the work of protecting war victims,
are now attaining the universality which has always given the humani-
tarian law of Geneva its force.
Once the Conventions had been drawn up the International Com-
mittee of the Red Cross decided to undertake a Commentary. This task
was entrusted to members of the Committee's staff who had in most
cases been working ever since the end of the last world conflict-and
even before-on the revision of the Conventions, and were closely
associated with the discussions of the Diplomatic Conference of 1949
and the meetings of experts which preceded it.
The first volume of the Commentary, dealing with the First
Convention of 1949, appeared in 1952 ;it was followed in 1956 by a
second volume, concerning the Fourth Convention, and in 1958 by a
third, on the Third Convention l. The volume on the Second Con-
vention is now being Published, and with it the International Com-
mittee completes this undertaking.
Although published by the International Committee of the Red
Cross, the Commentary is the personal work of its authors. The
Committee moreover, whenever called upon for an opinion on a pro-
vision of an international Convention, always takes care to emphasize
that only the participant States are qualified, through consultation
between themselves, to give an o$cial and, as it were, authentic inter-
pretation of an intergovernmental treaty.
This Commentary has been written mainly by Mr. Jean S. Pictet,
who received constant and valuable assistance from Rear-Admiral
Dates of the original (French) edition. The English version of the
Commentary on the Fourth Convention appeared in 1958, and that on the
Third Convention in 1960.
