Geneva Convention (III)

PART V

INFORMATION BUREAUX AND RELIEF SOCIETIES
FOR PRISONERS OF WAR

ARTICLE 122

Upon the outbreak of a conflict and in all cases of occupation, each of
the Parties to the conflict shall institute an official Information
Bureau for prisoners of war who are in its power. Neutral or
non-belligerent Powers who may have received within their territory
persons belonging to one of the categories referred to in Article 4,
shall take the same action with respect to such persons. The Power
concerned shall ensure that the Prisoners of War Information Bureau is
provided with the necessary accommodation, equipment and staff to ensure
its efficient working. It shall be at liberty to employ prisoners of war
in such a Bureau under the conditions laid down in the Section of the
present Convention dealing with work by prisoners of war.

Within the shortest possible period, each of the Parties to the conflict
shall give its Bureau the information referred to in the fourth, fifth
and sixth paragraphs of this Article regarding any enemy person belonging
to one of the categories referred to in Article 4, who has fallen into
its power. Neutral or non-belligerent Powers shall take the same action
with regard to persons belonging to such categories whom they have
received within their territory.

The Bureau shall immediately forward such information by the most rapid
means to the Powers concerned, through the intermediary of the Protecting
Powers and likewise of the Central Agency provided for in Article 123.

This information shall make it possible quickly to advise the next of kin
concerned. Subject to the provisions of Article 17, the information shall
include, in so far as available to the Information Bureau, in respect of
each prisoner of war, his surname, first names, rank, army, regimental,
personal or serial number, place and full date of birth, indication of
the Power on which he depends, first name of the father and maiden name
of the mother, name and address of the person to be informed and the
address to which correspondence for the prisoner may be sent.

The Information Bureau shall receive from the various departments
concerned information regarding transfers, releases, repatriations,
escapes, admissions to hospital, and deaths, and shall transmit such
information in the manner described in the third paragraph above.

Likewise, information regarding the state of health of prisoners of war
who are seriously ill or seriously wounded shall be supplied regularly,
every week if possible.

The Information Bureau shall also be responsible for replying to all
enquiries sent to it concerning prisoners of war, including those who
have died in captivity; it will make any enquiries necessary to obtain
the information which is asked for if this is not in its possession.

All written communications made by the Bureau shall be authenticated by a
signature or a seal.

The Information Bureau shall furthermore be charged with collecting all
personal valuables, including sums in currencies other than that of the
Detaining Power and documents of importance to the next of kin, left by
prisoners of war who have been repatriated or released, or who have
escaped or died, and shall forward the said valuables to the Powers
concerned. Such articles shall be sent by the Bureau in sealed packets
which shall be accompanied by statements giving clear and full
particulars of the identity of the person to whom the articles belonged,
and by a complete list of the contents of the parcel. Other personal
effects of such prisoners of war shall be transmitted under arrangements
agreed upon between the Parties to the conflict concerned.

ARTICLE 123

A Central Prisoners of War Information Agency shall be created in a
neutral country . The International Committee of the Red Cross shall, if
it deems necessary, propose to the Powers concerned the organization of
such an Agency.

The function of the Agency shall be to collect all the information it may
obtain through official or private channels respecting prisoners of war,
and to transmit it as rapidly as possible to the country of origin of the
prisoners of war or to the Power on which they depend. It shall receive
from the Parties to the conflict all facilities for effecting such
transmissions.

The High Contracting Parties, and in particular those whose nationals
benefit by the services of the Central Agency, are requested to give the
said Agency the financial aid it may require.

The foregoing provisions shall in no way be interpreted as restricting
the humanitarian activities of the International Committee of the Red
Cross, or of the relief societies provided for in Article 125.

ARTICLE 124

The national Information Bureaux and the Central Information Agency shall
enjoy free postage for mail, likewise all the exemptions provided for in
Article 74, and further, so far as possible, exemption from telegraphic
charges or, at least, greatly reduced rates.

ARTICLE 125

Subject to the measures which the Detaining Powers may consider essential
to ensure their security or to meet any other reasonable need, the
representatives of religious organizations, relief societies, or any
other organization assisting prisoners of war, shall receive from the
said Powers, for themselves and their duly accredited agents, all
necessary facilities for visiting the prisoners, for distributing relief
supplies and material, from any source, intended for religious,
educational or recreative purposes, and for assisting them in organizing
their leisure time within the camps. Such societies or organizations may
be constituted in the territory of the Detaining Power or in any other
country, or they may have an international character.

The Detaining Power may limit the number of societies and organizations
whose delegates are allowed to carry out their activities in its
territory and under its supervision, on condition, however, that such
limitation shall not hinder the effective operation of adequate relief to
all prisoners of war.

The special position of the International Committee of the Red Cross in
this field shall be recognized and respected at all times.

As soon as relief supplies or material intended for the above-mentioned
purposes are handed over to prisoners of war, or very shortly afterwards,
receipts for each consignment, signed by the prisoners’ representative,
shall be forwarded to the relief society or organization making the
shipment. At the same time, receipts for these consignments shall be
supplied by the administrative authorities responsible for guarding the
prisoners.

PART VI

EXECUTION OF THE CONVENTION

SECTION I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

ARTICLE 126

Representatives or delegates of the Protecting Powers shall have
permission to go to all places where prisoners of war may be,
particularly to places of internment, imprisonment and labour, and shall
have access to all premises occupied by prisoners of war; they shall also
be allowed to go to the places of departure, passage and arrival of
prisoners who are being transferred. They shall be able to interview the
prisoners, and in particular the prisoners’ representatives, without
witnesses, either personally or through an interpreter.

Representatives and delegates of the Protecting Powers shall have full
liberty to select the places they wish to visit. The duration and
frequency of these visits shall not be restricted. Visits may not be
prohibited except for reasons of imperative military necessity, and then
only as an exceptional and temporary measure.

The Detaining Power and the Power on which the said prisoners of war
depend may agree, if necessary, that compatriots of these prisoners of
war be permitted to participate in the visits.

The delegates of the International Committee of the Red Cross shall enjoy
the same prerogatives. The appointment of such delegates shall be
submitted to the approval of the Power detaining the prisoners of war to
be visited.

Author: international