JEWELLLW@VM.CC.PURDUE.EDU (Larry W. Jewell) (02/05/91)
From: "Larry W. Jewell" <JEWELLLW@VM.CC.PURDUE.EDU>
There has been some questions about the Geneva convention on the net
and I had to pull the files up for the local net, so here are the articles
which seem to be most in doubt.
CONVENTION (III) RELATIVE TO THE TREATMENT OF
PRISONERS OF WAR
Signed at Geneva, 12 August 1949.
Taken from the Final Record of the Diplomatic Conference
of Geneva of 1949, Vol. I
Published in "The Laws of Armed Conflicts", Schindler/Toman.
Art. 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 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 protec-
tive measure taken in favour of the population shall also apply to them.
Detaining Powers shall give the Powers concerned, through the inter-
mediary 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.
Art. 13.
Prisoners of war must at all times be humanely treated. Any
unlawful act or omission by the Detaining Power causing death or
seriously endangering the health of a prisoner of war in its custody
is prohibited and will be regarded as a serious breach of the present
Convention. In particular, no prisoner of war may be subjected to
physical mutilation or to medical or scientific experiments of any kind
which are not justified by the medical, dental or hospital treatment of
the prisoner concerned and carried out in his interest.
Likewise, prisoners of war must at all times be protected,
particularly against acts of violence or intimidation and
against insults and public curiosity.
Measures or reprisal against prisoners of war are prohibited.
*Both articles reproduced in their entirety.
Art. 23.
Each High Contracting Party shall allow the free passage of all
consignments of medical and hospital stores and objects necessary for
religious worship intended only for civilians of another High Con-
tracting Party, even it the latter is its adversary. It shall like-
wise permit the free passage of all consignments of essential food-
stuffs, clothing and tonics intended for children under fifteen,
expectant mothers and maternity cases.
(Follows four paragraphs describing how one Party will make sure
that no military advantage is gained from the above article.)
Art. 34
The taking of hostages is prohibited.
(That's the whole article, folks.)
PROTOCOL ADDITIONAL TO THE GENEVA CONVENTIONS OF 12 AUGUST 1949.
AND RELATING TO THE PROTECTION OF VICTIMS OF INTERNATIONAL
ARMED CONFLICTS (PROTOCOL I)
ADOPTED AT GENEVA, 8 JUNE 1977.
Taken from the Final Act of the Diplomatic Conference on the
Reaffirmation and Development of International Humanitarian
Law applicable in Armed Conflicts.
published by the Swiss Federal Political Department,
26 September, 1977, pp. 115-183
Published in "The Laws of Armed Conflicts", Schindler/Toman.
Art. 55 - Protection of the natural environment
1. Care shall be taken in warfare to protect the natural environment
against widespread, long-term and severe damage. This protection
includes a prohibition of the use of methods or means of warfare which
are intended or may be expected to cause such damage to the natural
environment and thereby to prejudice the health or survival of the
population,
2. Attacks against the natural environment by way of reprisals are
prohibited.
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*Do not needlessly endanger you lives until I give you the order. *
**************************Dwight D. Eisenhower**************************
Larry W. Jewell JEWELLLW@VM.CC.PURDUE.EDU