Geneva Convention (III)

 

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only for reasons of security; when such articles are withdrawn, the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 Prisioners 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 Prisioners 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.

 

Author: international