identifier: Annex (I) AP (I), as amended in 1993

languages: English Arabic Chinese Spanish French Russian

reference: Annex (I) AP (I), as amended in 1993

title: Annex I to Protocol Additional I to the Geneva Conventions of 1949 : Regulations concerning identification, as amended on 30 November 1993.

text: Geneva Conventions

text: Geneva Conventions

text: Geneva Conventions

text: Geneva Conventions

text: (New article)

type: stycke

text: 1. The regulations concerning identification in this Annex implement the relevant provisions of the Geneva Conventions and the Protocol; they are intended to facilitate the identification of personnel, material, units, transports and installations protected under the Geneva Conventions and the Protocol.

text: 2. These rules do not in and of themselves establish the right to protection. This right is governed by the relevant articles in the Conventions and the Protocol.

text: 3. The competent authorities may, subject to the relevant provisions of the Geneva Conventions and the Protocol, at all times regulate the use, display, illumination and detectability of the distinctive emblems and signals.

text: 4. The High Contracting Parties and in particular the Parties to the conflict are invited at all times to agree upon additional or other signals, means or systems which enhance the possibility of identification and take full advantage of technological developments in this field.

text: Article 1 - General provisions

type: artikel

text: Chapter I - Identity Cards

type: rubrik

text: 1. The identity card for permanent civilian medical and religious personnel referred to in Article 18, paragraph 3, of the Protocol should:

text: (a) bear the distinctive emblem and be of such size that it can be carried in the pocket;

text: (b) be as durable as practicable;

text: (c) be worded in the national or official language and, in addition and when appropriate, in the local language of the region concerned;

text: (d) mention the name, the date of birth (or, if that date is not available, the age at the time of issue) and the identity number, if any, of the holder;

text: (e) state in what capacity the holder is entitled to the protection of the Conventions and of the Protocol;

text: (f) bear the photograph of the holder as well as his signature or his thumbprint, or both;

text: (g) bear the stamp and signature of the competent authority;

text: (h) state the date of issue and date of expiry of the card;

text: (i) indicate, whenever possible, the holder's blood group, on the reverse side of the card.

text: 2. The identity card shall be uniform throughout the territory of each High Contracting Party and, as far as possible, of the same type for all Parties to the conflict. The Parties to the conflict may be guided by the single-language model shown in Figure 1. At the outbreak of hostilities, they shall transmit to each other a specimen of the model they are using, if such model differs from that shown in Figure 1. The identity card shall be made out, if possible, in duplicate, one copy being kept by the issuing authority, which should maintain control of the cards which it has issued.

text: 3. In no circumstances may permanent civilian medical and religious personnel be deprived of their identity cards. In the event of the loss of a card, they shall be entitled to obtain a duplicate copy.

text: Fig. 1: Model of identity card (format: 74 mm x 105 mm)

text: Article 2 - Identity card for permanent civilian medical and religious personnel

text: 1. The identity card for temporary civilian medical and religious personnel should, whenever possible, be similar to that provided for in Article 1 of these Regulations. The Parties to the conflict may be guided by the model shown in Figure 1.

text: 2. When circumstances preclude the provision to temporary civilian medical and religious personnel of identity cards similar to those described in Article 2 of these Regulations, the said personnel may be provided with a certificate signed by the competent authority certifying that the person to whom it is issued is assigned to duty as temporary personnel and stating, if possible, the duration of such assignment and his right to wear the distinctive emblem. The certificate should mention the holder's name and date of birth (or if that is not available, his age at the time when the certificate was issued), his function and identity number, if any. It shall bear his signature or his thumbprint, or both.

text: Article 3 - Identity card for temporary civilian medical and religious personnel

text: Chapter II - The Distinctive Emblem

text: The distinctive emblem (red on a white ground) shall be as large as appropriate under the circumstances. For the shapes of the cross, the crescent or the lion and sun*, the High Contracting Parties may be guided by the models shown in Figure 2.

text: Fig. 2: Distinctive emblems in red on a white ground

text: * No State has used the emblem of the lion and sun since 1980.

text: Article 4 - Shape

text: 1. The distinctive emblem shall, whenever possible, be displayed on a flat surface, on flags or in any other way appropriate to the lay of the land, so that it is visible from as many directions and from as far away as possible, and in particular from the air.

text: 2. At night or when visibility is reduced, the distinctive emblem may be lighted or illuminated.

text: 3. The distinctive emblem may be made of materials which make it recognizable by technical means of detecting. The red part should be painted on top of black primer paint in order to facilitate its identification, in particular by infrared instruments.

text: 4. Medical and religious personnel carrying out their duties in the battle area shall, as far as possible, wear headgear and clothing bearing the distinctive emblem.

text: Article 5 - Use

text: Chapter III - Distinctive Signals

text: 1. All distinctive signals specified in this Chapter may be used by medical units or transports.

text: 2. These signals, at the exclusive disposal of medical units and transports, shall not be used for any other purpose, the use of the light signal being reserved (see paragraph 3 below).

text: 3. In the absence of a special agreement between the Parties to the conflict reserving the use of flashing blue lights for the identification of medical vehicles, ships and craft, the use of such signals for other vehicles, ships and craft is not prohibited.

text: 4. Temporary medical aircraft which cannot, either for lack of time or because of their characteristics, be marked with the distinctive emblem, may use the distinctive signals authorized in this Chapter.

text: Article 6 - Use

text: 1. The light signal, consisting of a flashing blue light as defined in the Airworthiness Technical Manual of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Doc. 9051, is established for the use of medical aircraft to signal their identity. No other aircraft shall use this signal. Medical aircraft using the flashing blue light should exhibit such lights as may be necessary to make the light signal visible from as many directions as possible.

text: 2. In accordance with the provisions of Chapter XIV, para. 4 of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) International Code of Signals, vessels protected by the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and the Protocol should exhibit one or more flashing blue lights visible from any direction.

text: 3. Medical vehicles should exhibit one or more flashing blue lights visible from as far away as possible. The High Contracting Parties and, in particular, the Parties to the conflict which use lights of other colours should give notification of this.

text: 4. The recommended blue colour is obtained when its chromaticity is within the boundaries of the International Commission on Illumination (ICI) chromaticity diagram defined by the following equations:

text: green boundary y = 0.065 + 0,805x;

text: white boundary y = 0.400 - x;

text: purple boundary x = 0.133 + 0,600y.

text: The recommended flashing rate of the blue light is between sixty and one hundred flashes per minute.

text: Article 7 - Light signal

text: 1. The radio signal shall consist of the urgency signal and the distinctive signal as described in the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Radio Regulations (RR Articles 40 and N 40). 2. The radio message preceded by the urgency and distinctive signals mentioned in paragraph 1 shall be transmitted in English at appropriate intervals on a frequency or frequencies specified for this purpose in the Radio Regulations, and shall convey the following data relating to the medical transports concerned:

text: (a) call sign or other recognized means of identification;

text: (b) position;

text: (c) number and type of vehicles;

text: (d) intended route;

text: (e) estimated time en route and of departure and arrival, as appropriate;

text: (f) any other information, such as flight altitude, guarded radio frequencies, languages used and secondary surveillance radar modes and codes.

text: 3. In order to facilitate the communications referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2, as well as the communications referred to in Articles 22, 23 and 25 to 31 of the Protocol, the High Contracting Parties, the Parties to a conflict, or one of the Parties to a conflict, acting in agreement or alone, may designate, in accordance with the Table of Frequency Allocations in the Radio Regulations annexed to the International Telecommunication Convention, and publish selected national frequencies to be used by them for such communications. The International Telecommunication Union shall be notified of these frequencies in accordance with procedures approved by a World Administrative Radio Conference.

text: Article 8 - Radio signal

text: 1. The Secondary Surveillance Radar (SSR) system, as specified in Annex 10 to the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation of 7 December 1944, as amended from time to time, may be used to identify and to follow the course of medical aircraft. The SSR mode and code to be reserved for the exclusive use of medical aircraft shall be established by the High Contracting Parties, the Parties to a conflict, or one of the Parties to a conflict, acting in agreement or alone, in accordance with procedures to be recommended by the International Civil Aviation Organization.

text: 2. Protected medical transports may, for their identification and location, use standard aeronautical radar transponders and/or maritime search and rescue radar transponders.

text: It should be possible for protected medical transports to be identified by other vessels or aircraft equipped with secondary surveillance radar by means of a code transmitted by a radar transponder, e.g. in mode 3/A, fitted on the medical transports.

text: The code transmitted by the medical transport transponder should be assigned to that transport by the competent authorities and notified to all the Parties to the conflict.

text: 3. It should be possible for medical transports to be identified by submarines by the appropriate underwater acoustic signals transmitted by the medical transports.

text: The underwater acoustic signal shall consist of the call sign (or any other recognized means of identification of medical transport) of the ship preceded by the single group YYY transmitted in morse on an appropriate acoustic frequency, e.g. 5kHz.

text: Parties to a conflict wishing to use the underwater acoustic identification signal described above shall inform the Parties concerned of the signal as soon as possible, and shall, when notifying the use of their hospital ships, confirm the frequency to be employed.

text: 4. Parties to a conflict may, by special agreement between them, establish for their use a similar electronic system for the identification of medical vehicles, and medical ships and craft.

text: Article 9 - Electronic identification

text: Chapter IV - Communications

text: 1. The urgency signal and the distinctive signal provided for in Article 8 may precede appropriate radio- communications by medical units and transports in the application of the procedures carried out under Articles 22, 23 and 25 to 31 of the Protocol.

text: 2. The medical transports referred to in Articles 40 (Section II, No. 3209) and N 40 (Section III, No. 3214) of the ITU Radio Regulations may also transmit their communications by satellite systems, in accordance with the provisions of Articles 37, N 37 and 59 of the ITU Radio Regulations for the Mobile-Satellite Services.

text: Article 10 - Radiocommunications

text: Medical units and transports may also use the codes and signals laid down by the International Telecommunication Union, the International Civil Aviation Organization and the International Maritime Organization. These codes and signals shall be used in accordance with the standards, practices and procedures established by these Organizations.

text: Article 11 - Use of international codes

text: When two-way radiocommunication is not possible, the signals provided for in the International Code of Signals adopted by the International Maritime Organization or in the appropriate Annex to the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation of 7 December 1944, as amended from time to time, may be used.

text: Article 12 - Other means of communication

text: The agreements and notifications relating to flight plans provided for in Article 29 of the Protocol shall as far as possible be formulated in accordance with procedures laid down by the International Civil Aviation Organization.

text: Article 13 - Flight plans

text: If an intercepting aircraft is used to verify the identity of a medical aircraft in flight or to require it to land in accordance with Articles 30 and 31 of the Protocol, the standard visual and radio interception procedures prescribed by Annex 2 to the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation of 7 December 1944, as amended from time to time, should be used by the intercepting and the medical aircraft.

text: Article 14 - Signals and procedures for the interception of medical aircraft

text: Chapter V - Civil Defence

text: 1. The identity card of the civil defence personnel provided for in Article 66, paragraph 3, of the Protocol is governed by the relevant provisions of Article 2 of these Regulations.

text: 2. The identity card for civil defence personnel may follow the model shown in Figure 3.

text: 3. If civil defence personnel are permitted to carry light individual weapons, an entry to that effect should be made on the card mentioned.

text: Fig. 3: Model of identity card for civil defence personnel (format: 74 mm x 105 mm)

text: Article 15 - Identity card

text: 1. The international distinctive sign of civil defence provided for in Article 66, paragraph 4, of the Protocol is an equilateral blue triangle on an orange ground. A model is shown in Figure 4:

text: Fig. 4: Blue triangle on an orange ground

text: 2. It is recommended that:

text: (a) if the blue triangle is on a flag or armlet or tabard, the ground to the triangle be the orange flag, armlet or tabard;

text: (b) one of the angles of the triangle be pointed vertically upwards;

text: (c) no angle of the triangle touch the edge of the orange ground.

text: 3. The international distinctive sign shall be as large as appropriate under the circumstances. The distinctive sign shall, whenever possible, be displayed on flat surfaces or on flags visible from as many directions and from as far away as possible. Subject to the instructions of the competent authority, civil defence personnel shall, as far as possible, wear headgear and clothing bearing the international distinctive sign. At night or when visibility is reduced, the sign may be lighted or illuminated; it may also be made of materials rendering it recognizable by technical means of detection.

text: Article 16 - International distinctive sign

text: Chapter VI - Works And Installations Containing Dangerous Forces

text: 1. The international special sign for works and installations containing dangerous forces, as provided for in Article 56, paragraph 7, of the Protocol, shall be a group of three bright orange circles of equal size, placed on the same axis, the distance between each circle being one radius, in accordance with Figure 5 illustrated below.

text: 2. The sign shall be as large as appropriate under the circumstances. When displayed over an extended surface it may be repeated as often as appropriate under the circumstances. It shall, whenever possible, be displayed on flat surfaces or on flags so as to be visible from as many directions and from as far away as possible.

text: 3. On a flag, the distance between the outer limits of the sign and the adjacent sides of the flag shall be one radius of a circle. The flag shall be rectangular and shall have a white ground.

text: 4. At night or when visibility is reduced, the sign may be lighted or illuminated. It may also be made of materials rendering it recognizable by technical means of detection.

text: Fig. 5: International special sign for works and installations containing dangerous forces

text: Article 17 - International special sign

summary: On the basis of Article 98 of 1977 Protocol I additional to the 1949 Geneva Conventions, and after consulting the States party to the said Protocol, in 1989 the ICRC called a meeting of technical experts to review Annex I (Regulations concerning identification) to this Protocol. At the end of the meeting, which was held in Geneva in August 1990, the experts proposed a number of amendments. In accordance with the provisions of Article 98 of Protocol I, the ICRC requested the Swiss Confederation, depositary State of the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols, to initiate the procedure laid down for inviting States party to adopt the proposed amendments. The main purpose of the latter was to incorporate into Annex I of Protocol I certain technical provisions already adopted by the competent international organizations. To simplify matters, and bearing in mind that these amendments reflect the points of view of a large number of experts from many countries, the depositary suggested that instead of holding a diplomatic conference the amendments be adopted by correspondence. After consultation, the States party to Protocol I agreed to the suggested procedure. These same States were then asked to declare whether they accepted or rejected the amendments to Annex I to Additional Protocol I proposed by the technical experts in 1990. On 21 October 1992, the Swiss Confederation informed the ICRC that, of the twenty-two States party to Protocol I which had replied, nineteen were in favour of the proposed amendments. Only Hungary, Jordan and Sweden had expressed reservations. When more than two thirds of the High Contracting Parties which replied (Article 98, para. 3) had decided in favour of the amendments, the latter would be considered to have been adopted at the end of a period of one year after the date on which they had been officially communicated by the Swiss Confederation to the States party, i.e. 30 November 1992, unless within that period a declaration of non-acceptance of the amendments had been communicated to the authorities by not less than one third of all the parties to Protocol I (Article 98, para. 4). This one-year period ended on 30 November 1993 and, since no further declarations of non-acceptance of the amendments were communicated to the depositary during the period, the amendments in the form proposed by the experts are accepted and entered into force on 1 March 1994 for all parties to Protocol I. With the exception of those parties which made reservations or declarations of non-acceptance during the one-year period, i.e. Sweden, which rejected the wording of Articles 7 and 8 (former Articles 6 and 7), and Jordan, which wishes to retain the original wording of paragraph I (c) of Article 2 (formerly Article I). Hungary has since withdrawn its reservation.


doctype: protocol

identifier: Annex (I) AP (I), 1977

depositary: Switzerland

publisher: International Committee of the Red Cross

reference: Annex (I) AP (I), 1977

title: Annex I (to Protocol Additional I to the Geneva Conventions of 1949) : Regulations concerning identification, 6 June 1977

text: Annex I : Regulations concerning identification -- General introduction

text: Annex I : Regulations concerning identification - Chapter I -- Identity cards

text: 1. The identity card for permanent civilian medical and religious personnel referred to in Article 18 , paragraph 3 , of the Protocol should:

text: (a) bear the distinctive emblem and be of such size that it can be carried in the pocket;

text: (b) be as durable as practicable;

text: (c) be worded in the national or official language (and may in addition be worded in other languages);

text: (d) mention the name, the date of birth (or, if that date is not available, the age at the time of issue) and the identity number, if any, of the holder;

text: (e) state in what capacity the holder is entitled to the protection of the Conventions and of the Protocol;

text: (f) bear the photograph of the holder as well as his signature or his thumbprint, or both;

text: (g) bear the stamp and signature of the competent authority;

text: (h) state the date of issue and date of expiry of the card.

text: 2. The identity card shall be uniform throughout the territory of each High Contracting Party and, as far as possible, of the same type for all Parties to the conflict. The Parties to the conflict may be guided by the single-language model shown in Figure 1. At the outbreak of hostilities, they shall transmit to each other a specimen of the model they are using, if such model differs from that shown in Figure 1. The identity card shall be made out, if possible, in duplicate, one copy being kept by the issuing authority, which should maintain control of the cards which it has issued.

text: 3. In no circumstances may permanent civilian medical and religious personnel be deprived of their identity cards. In the event of the loss of a card, they shall be entitled to obtain a duplicate copy.

text: Fig. 1: Model of identity card (format: 74 mm x 105 mm)

text: Article 1 - Identity card for permanent civilian medical and religious personnel

text: 1. The identity card for temporary civilian medical and religious personnel should, whenever possible, be similar to that provided for in Article 1 of these Regulations. The Parties to the conflict may be guided by the model shown in Figure 1.

text: 2. When circumstances preclude the provision to temporary civilian medical and religious personnel of identity cards similar to those described in Article 1 of these Regulations, the said personnel may be provided with a certificate signed by the competent authority certifying that the person to whom it is issued is assigned to duty as temporary personnel and stating, if possible, the duration of such assignment and his right to wear the distinctive emblem. The certificate should mention the holder's name and date of birth (or if that date is not available, his age at the time when the certificate was issued), his function and identity number, if any. It shall bear his

text: signature or his thumbprint, or both.

text: Fig.1 : Model of identity card (format: 74 mm x 105 mm)

text: Article 2 - Identity card for temporary civilian medical and religious personnel

text: Annex I : Regulations concerning identification - Chapter II -- The distinctive emblem

text: 1. The distinctive emblem (red on a white ground) shall be as large as appropriate under the circumstances. For the shapes of the cross, the crescent or the lion and sun, the High Contracting Parties may be guided by the models shown in Figure 2.

text: 2. At night or when visibility is reduced, the distinctive emblem may be lighted or illuminated; it may also be made of materials rendering it recognizable by technical means of detection.

text: Fig. 2: Distinctive emblems in red on a white ground

text: Article 3 - Shape and nature

text: 1. The distinctive emblem shall, whenever possible, be displayed on a flat surface or on flags visible from as many directions and from as far away as possible.

text: 2. Subject to the instructions of the competent authority, medical and religious personnel carrying out their duties in the battle area shall, as far as possible, wear headgear and clothing bearing the distinctive emblem.

text: Article 4 - Use

text: Annex I : Regulations concerning identification - Chapter III -- Distinctive signals

text: 1. Subject to the provisions of Article 6 of these Regulations, the signals specified in this Chapter for exclusive use by medical units and transports shall not be used for any other purpose. The use of all signals referred to in this Chapter is optional.

text: 2. Temporary medical aircraft which cannot, either for lack of time or because of their characteristics, be marked with the distinctive emblem, may use the distinctive signals authorized in this Chapter. The best method of effective identification and recognition of medical aircraft is, however, the use of a visual signal, either the distinctive emblem or the light signal specified in Article 6 , or both, supplemented by the other signals referred to in Articles 7 and 8 of these Regulations.

text: Article 5 - Optional Use

text: 1. The light signal, consisting of a flashing blue light, is established for the use of medical aircraft to signal their identity. No other aircraft shall use this signal. The recommended blue colour is obtained by using, as trichromatic co-ordinates:

text: green boundary y = 0.065 + 0.805x

text: white boundary y = 0.400 - x

text: purple boundary x = 0.133 + 0.600y

text: The recommended flashing rate of the blue light is between sixty and one hundred flashes per minute.

text: 2. Medical aircraft should be equipped with such lights as may be necessary to make the light signal visible in as many directions as possible.

text: 3. In the absence of a special agreement between the Parties to the conflict reserving the use of flashing blue lights for the identification of medical vehicles and ships and craft, the use of such signals for other vehicles or ships is not prohibited.

text: Article 6 - Light signal

text: 1. The radio signal shall consist of a radiotelephonic or radiotelegraphic message preceded by a distinctive priority signal to be designated and approved by a World Administrative Radio Conference of the International Telecommunication Union. It shall be transmitted three times before the call sign of the medical transport involved. This message shall be transmitted in English at appropriate intervals on a frequency or frequencies specified pursuant to paragraph 3. The use of the priority signal shall be restricted exclusively to medical units and transports.

text: 2. The radio message preceded by the distinctive priority signal mentioned in paragraph 1 shall convey the following data:

text: (a) call sign of the medical transport;

text: (b) position of the medical transport;

text: (c) number and type of medical transports;

text: (d) intended route;

text: (e) estimated time en route and of departure and arrival, as appropriate;

text: (f) any other information such as flight altitude, radio frequencies guarded, languages and secondary surveillance radar modes and codes.

text: 3. In order to facilitate the communications referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2, as well as the communications referred to in Articles 22 , 23 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 and 31 of the Protocol, the High Contracting Parties, the Parties to a conflict, or one of the Parties to a conflict, acting in agreement or alone, may designate, in accordance with the Table of Frequency Allocations in the Radio Regulations annexed to the International Telecommunication Convention, and publish selected national frequencies to be used by them for such communications. These frequencies shall be notified to the International Telecommunication Union in accordance with procedures to be approved by a World Administrative Radio Conference.

text: Article 7 - Radio signal

text: 1. The Secondary Surveillance Radar (SSR) system, as specified in Annex 10 to the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation of 7 December 1944, as amended from time to time, may be used to identify and to follow the course of medical aircraft. The SSR mode and code to be reserved for the exclusive use of medical aircraft shall be established by the High Contracting Parties, the Parties to a conflict, or one of the Parties to a conflict, acting in agreement or alone, in accordance with procedures to be recommended by the International Civil Aviation Organization.

text: 2. Parties to a conflict may, by special agreement between them, establish for their use a similar electronic system for the identification of medical vehicles, and medical ships and craft.

text: Article 8 - Electronic identification

text: Annex I : Regulations concerning identification - Chapter IV -- Communications

text: The priority signal provided for in Article 7 of these Regulations may precede appropriate radiocommunications by medical units and transports in the application of the procedures carried out under Articles 22 , 23 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 and 31 of the Protocol.

text: Article 9 - Radiocommunications

text: Medical units and transports may also use the codes and signals laid down by the International Telecommunication Union, the International Civil Aviation Organization and the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization. These codes and signals shall be used in accordance with the standards, practices and procedures established by these Organizations.

text: Article 10 - Use of international codes

text: When two-way radiocommunication is not possible, the signals provided for in the International Code of Signals adopted by the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization or in the appropriate Annex to the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation of 7 December 1944, as amended from time to time, may be used.

text: Article 11 - Other means of communication

text: The agreements and notifications relating to flight plans provided for in Article 29 of the Protocol shall as far as possible be formulated in accordance with procedures laid down by the International Civil Aviation Organization.

text: Article 12 - Flight plans

text: If an intercepting aircraft is used to verify the identity of a medical aircraft in flight or to require it to land in accordance with Articles 30 and 31 of the Protocol, the standard visual and radio interception procedures prescribed by Annex 2 to the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation of 7 December 1944, as amended from time to time, should be used by the intercepting and the medical aircraft.

text: Article 13 - Signals and procedures for the interception of medical aircraft

text: Annex I : Regulations concerning identification - Chapter V -- Civil defence

text: 1. The identity card of the civil defence personnel provided for in Article 66 , paragraph 3 , of the Protocol is governed by the relevant provisions of Article 1 of these Regulations.

text: Fig.3 : Model of identity card for civil defence personnel (format: 74 mm x 105 mm)

text: Article 14 - Identity card

text: 1. The international distinctive sign of civil defence provided for in Article 66 , paragraph 4 , of the Protocol is an equilateral blue triangle on an orange ground. A model is shown in Figure 4:

text: Fig.4 : Blue triangle on an orange ground

text: 2. It is recommended that:

text: (c) no angle of the triangle touch the edge of the orange ground

text: Article 15 - International distinctive sign

text: Annex I : Regulations concerning identification - Chapter VI - Works and installations containing dangerous forces

text: 1. The international special sign for works and installations containing dangerous forces, as provided for in Article 56 , paragraph 7 , of the Protocol, shall be a group of three bright orange circles of equal size, placed on the same axis, the distance between each circle being one radius, in accordance with Figure 5 illustrated below.

text: Fig.5 : International special sign for works and installations containing dangerous forces

text: Article 16 - International special sign

summary: For an introduction, see introduction to Protocol I . This annex is still in force for Jordan and Sweden, which deposited reservations to the amended Annex I .

type: internationell-overenskommelse


identifier: Annex (II) AP (I), 1977

reference: Annex (II) AP (I), 1977

title: Annex II to Protocol Additional I to the Geneva Conventions of 1949, 8 June 1977.

text: [ Link ] Identity card for journalists on dangerous professional missions

text: FRONT

text: REVERSE SIDE

text: ID card

summary: For an introduction, see introduction to Protocol I .


identifier: Additional Protocol (II) to the Geneva Conventions, 1977

reference: Additional Protocol (II) to the Geneva Conventions, 1977

title: Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and relating to the Protection of Victims of Non-International Armed Conflicts (Protocol II), 8 June 1977.

action: accession

country: Hungary

action: signature

country: Guinea

country: Uruguay

country: Lesotho

country: Cuba

country: Lao People's Democratic Republic

country: Botswana

country: Ethiopia

country: Philippines

country: Fiji

country: Greece

country: Kazakhstan

action: succession

country: Switzerland

country: Benin

country: Montenegro

country: Trinidad and Tobago

country: Paraguay

country: Dominica

country: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

action: declaration

reservation: Declaration: "Her Britannic Majesty's Embassy has the honour to declare, on behalf of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ("the UK Government"), that its ratification of the Additional Protocols shall be extended to the following territories for whose international relations it is responsible: Anguilla; Bermuda; British Antarctic Territory; British Indian Ocean Territory; British Virgin Islands; Cayman Islands; Falkland Islands; Montserrat; Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands; St Helena and Dependencies; South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands; ; Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia; Turks and Caicos Islands."

reservation: Declaration: "Her Britannic Majesty's Embassy also has the honor to declare, on behalf of the Government of the United Kingdom, that its ratification of Protocol I and II extends to the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Isle of Man, in addition to the territories for whose international relations the United Kingdom is responsible and to which these Protocols were extended on 2 July 2002."

reservation: Declaration: "Her Britannic Majesty's Embassy has the honor to declare, on behalf of the Government of the United Kingdom, that its ratification of the above Protocols extends to the Bailiwick of Jersey, in addition to the territories to which they have already been extended."

country: Bangladesh

country: Germany

reservation: Declarations made at the time of ratification. 1. It is the understanding of the Federal Republic of Germany that the rules relating to the use of weapons introduced by Additional Protocol I were intended to apply exclusively to conventional weapons without prejudice to any other rules of international law applicable to other types of weapons. 2. The Federal Republic of Germany understands the word "feasible" in Articles 41, 56, 57, 58, 78 and 86 of Additional Protocol I to mean that which is practicable or practically possible, taking into account all circumstances ruling at the time including humanitarian and military considerations. 3. The criteria contained in the second sentence of Article 44, paragraph 3, of Additional Protocol I for distinction between combatants and the civilian population are understood by the Federal Republic of Germany to apply only in occupied territories and in the other armed conflicts described in Article 1, paragraph 4. The term "military deployment" is interpreted to mean any movements towards the place from which an attack is to be launched. 4. It is the understanding of the Federal Republic of Germany that in the application of the provisions of Part IV, Section I, of Additional Protocol I, to military commanders and others responsible for planning, deciding upon or executing attacks, the decision taken by the person responsible has to be judged on the basis of all information available to him at the relevant time, and not on the basis of hindsight. 5. In applying the rule of proportionality in Article 51 and Article 57, "military advantage" is understood to refer to the advantage anticipated from the attack considered as a whole and not only from isolated or particular parts of the attack. 6. The Federal Republic of Germany will react against serious and systematic violations of the obligations imposed by Additional Protocol I and in particular its Articles 51 and 52 with all means admissible under international law in order to prevent any further violation. 7. Article 52 of Additional Protocol I is understood by the Federal Republic of Germany to mean that a specific area of land may also be a military objective if it meets all requirements of Article 52, paragraph 2. 8. Article 75, paragraph 4, subparagraph (e) of Additional Protocol I and Article 6, paragraph 2, subparagraph (e) of Additional Protocol II will be applied in such manner that it is for the court to decide whether an accused person held in custody must appear in person at the hearing before the court of review. Article 75, paragraph 4, subparagraph (h) of Additional Protocol I will only be applied to the extent that it is in conformity with legal provisions which permit under special circumstances the re-opening of proceedings that had led to final conviction or acquittal. 9. [Declaration of recognition according to Article 90, para.2 of Additional Protocol I.] 10. The Federal Republic of Germany understands paragraph 3 of Article 96 of Additional Protocol I to mean that only those declarations described in subparagraphs (a) and (c) of paragraph 3 of Article 96 that are issued by an authority which genuinely satisfies all the criteria contained in paragraph 4 of Article 1 can have legally binding effect. Source: Notification by the depositary addressed to the ICRC on 15 February 1991 (Translation provided by Germany upon ratification).

country: Cameroon

country: Tonga

country: Ireland

reservation: Declarations and Reservations in relation to Additional Protocol II 1. Ireland, in ratifying Protocol II Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 1949 adopted at Geneva on 8 June 1977, declares its belief that the provisions of this Protocol represent the minimum level of legal and actual protection bound to be afforded to persons and civilian and cultural objects in armed conflicts. 2. Article 6 paragraph 2(e) Article 6 will be applied in Ireland insofar as paragraph 2(e) is not incompatible with the power enabling a judge, in exceptional circumstances, to order the removal of an accused from the court who causes a disturbance at the trial.

country: Antigua and Barbuda

country: Cook Islands

country: Bolivia

country: Micronesia (Federated States of)

country: Palau

country: El Salvador

country: Uganda

country: Sierra Leone

country: Ukraine

country: Norway

country: Guinea-Bissau

country: Jordan

reservation: Reservations made at the time of ratification "Reservation concerning Article 75 of Protocol I Article 75 of Protocol I will be implemented provided that a) paragraph 4(e) is not incompatible with legislation under which any accused who causes a disturbance in court or whose presence could impede the questioning of another accused, a witness or expert may be excluded from the courtroom; b) paragraph 4(h) is not incompatible with legislation providing for the reopening of a trial which has already led to a person's conviction or acquittal; c) paragraph 4(i) is not incompatible with legislation relating to the public nature of hearings and of the pronouncement of judgement. Reservation concerning Article 6 of Protocol II Article 6, paragraph 2(e), of Protocol II will be implemented provided that it is not incompatible with legislation under which any accused who causes a disturbance in court or whose presence could impede the questioning of another accused or of a witness or expert may be excluded from the court room." SOURCE: Notification by the depositary addressed to the ICRC on 11 August 1989.

reservation: Declaration and notification made upon ratification: DECLARATION The Arab Republic of Egypt, in ratifying Protocols I and II of 1977 additional to the Geneva Conventions of 1949, wishes to express its conviction that the provisions of Additional Protocols I and II represent the minimum level of legal and actual protection that must be afforded to persons and civilian and cultural objects in armed conflict. On the basis of its strong conviction of the principles of the great Islamic Sharia, the Arab Republic of Egypt wishes at the same time to emphasize that it is the duties of all nations alike to refrain from the involvement of innocent civilians in armed conflict; furthermore they should make all efforts, to the maximum extent possible, to that end as this is indispensable for the survival of humanity and the cultural heritage and civilization of all countries and nations. The Arab Republic of Egypt, while declaring its commitment to respecting all the provisions of Additional Protocols I and II, wishes to emphasize, on the basis of reciprocity, that it upholds the right to react against any violation by any party of the obligations imposed by Additional Protocols I and II with all means admissible under international law in order to prevent any further violation. In this context it wishes to assert that military commanders planning or executing attacks make their decisions on the basis of their assessment of all kinds of information available to them at the time of the military operations. NOTIFICATION The Arab Republic of Egypt, while welcoming the adoption by the Diplomatic Conference in June 1977 of Protocols I and II additional to the Geneva Conventions of 1949 in six languages, including the Arabic language, notes that all original texts are certified and equally authentic with no prevalence of one single language over the other. However, on comparison of the original Arabic text of Additional Protocols I and II with the other original texts, it became evident that in some respects the Arabic text does not fully correspond to the other original texts to the extent that it is at variance in terms of both expression and substance with some of the provisions of Additional Protocols I and II adopted by States in the field of international law and human relations. Hence the Arab Republic of Egypt, on the occasion of the deposit of its instrument of ratification of Protocols I and II additional to the Geneva Conventions of 1949 with the depositary, the Swiss Federal Council, wishes to declare that in that respect it shall adopt the meaning which best concurs with the original texts of Additional Protocols I and II.

reservation: Declarations made upon ratification: "The Government of New Zealand DECLARES that this ratification shall not extend to the Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau; AND FURTHER DECLARES as follows: 1- It is the understandi ng of the Government of New Zeal and that in relation to Article 44 of Protocol I, the situation described in the second sentence of paragraph 3 can exist only in occupied territory or in armed conflicts covered by paragraph 4 of Article 1. The Government of New Zealand will interpret the word "deployment" in paragraph 3(b) of the Article as meaning any movement towards a place from which an attack is to be launched. It will interpret the words "visible to the adversary" in the same paragraph as including visible with the aid of any form of surveillance, electronic or otherwise, available to help keep a member of the armed forces of the adversary under observation. 2 - In relation to Articles 51 to 58 inclusive, it is the understanding of the Government of New Zealand that military commanders and others responsible for planning, deciding upon, or executing attacks necessarily have to reach decisions on the basis of their assessment of the information from all sources which is reasonably available to them at the relevant time. 3 - In relation to paragraph 5(b) of Article 51 and to paragraph 2(a)(iii) of Article 57, the Government of New Zealand understands that the military advantage anticipated from an attack is intended to refer to the advantage anticipated from the attack considered as a whole and not only from isolated or particular parts of that attack and that the term "military advantage" involves a variety of considerations, including the security of attack i ng forces. It is further the under standi ng of the Government of New Zeal and that the term "concrete and direct military advantage anticipated", used in Articles 51 and 57, means a bona fide expectation that the attack will make a relevant and proportional contribution to the objective of the military attack involved. 4 - In relation to Article 52, it is the understanding of the Government of New Zealand that a specific area of land may be a military objective if, because of its location or other reasons specified in the Article, its total or partial destruction, capture or neutralisation in the circumstances ruling at the time offers a defi ni te mi 1 i tary advantage. The Government of New Zealand further understands that the first sentence of paragraph 2 of the Article is not intended to, and nor does it deal with, the question of incidental or collateral damage resulting from an attack directed against a military objective.

reservation: Declaration relative to each of the two Protocols made at the time of accession. "On accepting the said protocol, the Government of the United Arab Emirates takes the view that its acceptance of the said protocol does not, in any way, imply its recognition of Israel, nor does it oblige to apply the provisions of the protocol in respect of the said country. The Government of the United Arab Emirates wishes further to indicate that its understanding described above in conformity with general practice existing in the United Arab Emirates regarding signature, ratification, accession or acceptance of international conventions, treaties or protocols, of which a country not recognized by the United Arab Emirates is a party." SOURCE: Notification by the depositary addressed to the ICRC on 11 March 1983.

reservation: Declaration made at the time of ratification "The Soviet Union's ratification of the Protocols additional to the Geneva Conventions for the protection of the victims of war constitutes an unusual event in the recent diplomatic history of our country. It reflects the spirit of new political thinking and demonstrates the Soviet State's commitment to humanizing international affairs and strengthening the system of international law. At the same time, it exemplifies the spirit of continuity between Russian and Soviet diplomacy, extending back to the 1860s, in seeking to ensure that the principles of humanism and mercy are respected even in the tragic circumstances of war. The Additional Protocols, in whose drafting the Soviet Union played a universally recognized role, were among the first international instruments presented for ratification to the new Soviet Parliament. It should be pointed out that the Supreme Soviet of the USSR chose to ratify the Protocols without any reservation whatsoever. At the same time, our State recognized the competence of the International Fact-Finding Commission in cases where international humanitarian law is violated. We in the Soviet Union hope that the ratification of the Additional Protocols will be duly appreciated by all those involved in the noble cause of humanism and the endeavour to free mankind from the horrors of war." SOURCE: Additional Protocols of 8 June 1977 to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949; Reservations, Declarations and communications made at the time of or in reference to ratification or accession as at 30 June 1992, ICRC, 15 July 1992, pp.36-37.

reservation: "The Government of the Republic of Mauritius has the honour to declare that it objects to the inclusion of the so-called "British Indian Ocean Territory" in the list of territories mentioned in the Declaration deposited by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland with the Swiss Federal Council on 2 July 2002 concerning the applicability of the Protocols I and II Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, adopted at Geneva on 8 June 1977, and therefore rejects the said Declaration in so far as it purports to extend the ratification by the UK Government of the said Protocols to the so-called "British Indian Ocean Territory". The Government of the Republic of Mauritius does not recognise the competence of the British Government to adhere to any international instrument on behalf of the Chagos Archipelago, which forms an integral part of the territory of the Republic of Mauritius. The Government of the Republic of Mauritius wishes to reassert the unequivocal sovereignty of Mauritius over the Chagos Archipelago, including Diego Garcia."

reservation: Reservations made at the time of ratification. Protocol II Protocol relating to the Protection of Victims of Non- International Armed Conflicts. Statement of understanding The Government of Canada understands that the undefined terms used in Additional Protocol II which are defined in Additional Protocol I shall, so far as relevant, be construed in the same sense as those definitions. The understandings expressed by the Government of Canada with respect to Additional Protocol I shall, as far as relevant, be applicable to the comparable terms and provisions contained in Additional Protocol II. SOURCE: Notification by the depositary addressed to the ICRC on 22 November 1990.

reservation: Communication made at the time of accession. "On depositing France's instrument of accession to Protocol II of 8 June 1977 to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, I have the honour to specify that it is not the intention of the French Republic to accede to Protocol I of the same date to the said Conventions. This decision has been taken for the reasons mentioned by the representative of France during the fourth session of the Geneva Diplomatic Conference on the Reaffirmation and Development of International Humanitarian Law Applicable in Armed Conflicts and, more particularly, in view of the lack of consensus among the States signatory to Protocol I with regard to the precise extent of the obligations incurred by them in the matter of deterrence." SOURCE: Notification by the depositary addressed to the ICRC on 24 February 1984.

reservation: Reservation made at the time of accession. 1) "Article 75 of Protocol I will be applied insofar as: a) sub-paragraph (e) of paragraph 4 is not incompatible with legislation providing that any defendant, who causes a disturbance at the trial or whose presence is likely to impede the questioning of another defendant or the hearing or another witness or expert witness, may be removed from the courtroom; b) sub-paragraph (h) of paragraph 4 is not incompatible with legal provisions authorizing the reopening of proceedings that have resulted in a final declaration of conviction or acquittal." 2) Article 6, paragraph 2, sub-paragraph (e) of Protocol II will be applied insofar as it is not incompatible with legislation providing that any defendant, who causes a disturbance at the trial or whose presence is likely to impede the questioning of another defendant or the hearing of a witness or expert witness, may be removed from the courtroom." SOURCE: Notification by the depositary addressed to the ICRC on 19 April 1989.

reservation: Reservations made at the time of ratification. "Reservation with regard to Article 57, paragraph 2, of Protocol I: Article 57, paragraph 2, of Protocol I will be applied on the understanding that, with respect to any decision taken by a military commander, the information actually available at the time of the decision is determinative. Reservation with regard to Article 58 of Protocol I: In view of the fact that Article 58 of Protocol I contains the expression "to the maximum extent feasible", sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) will be applied subject to the requirements of national defence. Reservation with regard to Article 75 of Protocol I: Article 75 of Protocol I will be applied insofar as a) sub-paragraph (e) of paragraph 4 is not incompatible with legislation providing that any defendant, who causes a disturbance at the trial or whose presence is likely to impede the questioning of another defendant or the hearing of a witness or expert witness, may be removed from the courtroom; b) sub-paragraph (h) of paragraph 4 is not incompatible with legal provisions authorizing the reopening of proceedings that have resulted in a final declaration of conviction or acquittal. Reservation with regard to Articles 85 and 86 of Protocol I: For the purposes of judging any decision taken by a military commander, Articles 85 and 86 of Protocol I will be applied on the understanding that military imperatives, the reasonable possibility of recognizing them and the information actually available at the time that decision was taken, are determinative. [Declaration under Article 90 (2) of Protocol I] Reservation with regard to Article 6 of Protocol II: Article 6, paragraph 2, sub-paragraph (e) of Protocol II will be applied insofar as it is not incompatible with legislation providing that any defendant, who causes a disturbance at the trial or whose presence is likely to impede the questioning of another defendant or the hearing of a witness or expert witness, may be removed from the courtroom." SOURCE: Notification by the depositary addressed to the ICRC on 16 August 1982.

reservation: Declaration made at the time of accession. "While deposing these instruments, the Government of the Sultanate of Oman declares that these accessions shall in no way amount to recognition of nor the establishment of any relations with Israel with respect to the application of the provisions of the said protocols." SOURCE: Notification by the depositary addressed to the ICRC on 29 March 1984.

reservation: Declaration made at the time of ratification. "By ratifying the two Protocols additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, relating to the Protection of Victims of International (Protocol I) and Non-International (Protocol II) Armed Conflicts and adopted in Geneva on 8 June 1977, the Holy See wishes, first of all, to acknowledge the merits and the positive results obtained by the "Diplomatic Conference on the Reaffirmation and Development of International Humanitarian Law Applicable in Armed Conflicts", in which it played an active part. The Holy See believes that, from an overall historical and legal point of view, the two Protocols represent and confirm a significant advance in humanitarian law applicable in armed conflicts, an advance that deserves approval and support. At the same time, with regard to the provisions of the above-mentioned legal texts, the Holy See wishes to remind the Secretariat of the Conference of the considerations that were made known by its delegation at the end of the session. It is a source of great pleasure to recognize the value of provisions which, in certain sectors, increase the scope of humanitarian law, as for example: the protection of the civilian population, especially of women and children; the protection afforded to cultural objects and places of worship which are evidence and signs of the spiritual heritage of nations; the protection of objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population; the respect and protection of medical and religious personnel; the ban on retaliation. On the other hand, in the opinion of the Holy See, other provisions are less satisfactory in substance or are not very well formulated. Furthermore, uncertainties and omissions were found on important issues in relation to the development of humanitarian standards. With regard to Protocol II in particular, the Holy See regrets that, after having been stripped of a large part of its humanitarian substance by the plenary Assembly of the Conference, the Protocol has become the instrument of a rigorous legal system both in its text and in its spirit. Although the Holy See signed the Protocol, with serious reservations, and although it is now ratifying it, it is mainly because it looks upon the Protocol as an open door to future developments of humanitarian law in a crucial and, until now, much neglected sector. The Holy See also announces that it has taken note of the reservations and declarations formulated by some States that have deposited an instrument of ratification or of adhesion to the Protocols. Finally, the Holy See reasserts, on this occasion, its strong conviction as to the fundamentally inhumane nature of war. The humanization of the effects of armed conflicts, such as that undertaken by the two Protocols, is received with favour and encouraged by the Holy See in so far as it aims to alleviate human suffering and strives, amid unbridled passions and evil forces, to safeguard the basic principles of humanity and the supreme benefits of civilization. The Holy See expresses, moreover, its firm belief that the ultimate goal, that which is worthy of the calling of man and of human civilization, is the abolition of war. One cannot help thinking that the measures embodied in the Geneva Conventions and more recently by the two Additional Protocols - measures which are already in themselves frail instruments for the protection of victims of conventional armed conflicts - would prove to be not only insufficient but totally inadequate in the face of the ruinous devastation of a nuclear war. The Holy See, considering itself the spokesman for the fears and the hopes of nations, hopes that the encouraging start made in Geneva by the codification of humanitarian law in armed conflicts may not go unheeded or remain a purely formal commitment but that people may become aware of it, put it into practice and follow it to its final conclusion: the abolition of war, of any kind whatever."

reservation: Interpretative declarations made at the time of accession. "With reference to Article 43, paragraph 1, and Article 44, paragraph 1, of the Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 and relating to the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts (Protocol I), the Argentine Republic interprets these provisions as not implying any derogation of: a) the concept of the permanent regular armed forces of a Sovereign State; b) the conceptual distinction between regular armed forces, understood as being permanent army units under the authority of Governments of Sovereign States, and the resistance movements which are referred to in Article 4 of the Third Geneva Convention of 1949." "With reference to Article 44, paragraphs 2, 3 and 4, of the same Protocol, the Argentine Republic considers that these provisions cannot be interpreted: a) as conferring on persons who violate the rules of international law applicable in armed conflicts any kind of immunity exempting them from the system of sanctions which apply to each case; b) as specifically favouring anyone who violates the rules the aim of which is the distinction between combatants and the civilian population; c) as weakening respect for the fundamental principle of the international law of war which requires that a distinction be made between combatants and the civilian population, with the prime purpose of protecting the latter." "With reference to Article 1 of the Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and relating to the Protection of Victims of Non-International Armed Conflicts (Protocol II), taking its context into account, the Argentine Republic considers that the term "organized armed groups" which is used in Article 1 of the said Protocol is not to be understood as equivalent to that used in Article 43, Protocol I, to define the concept of armed forces, even if the aforementioned groups meet all the requirements set forth in the said Article 43." SOURCE: Notification by the depositary addressed to the ICRC on 1st December 1986 (Original Spanish).

reservation: Declaration made upon signature: The Portuguese Government defers until the time of respective ratification the formulation of reservations which it may deem appropriate. SOURCE: UNTS, vol.1125, 1979, p.431. Regarding Macao declaration see french database

reservation: Covers the Kingdom's territory within Europe, plus the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba

reservation: On 31 Mai 2000, the People's Republic of China deposited with the Swiss Federal Council a declaration on the applicability of the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 and the Additional Protocols I and II to the Special Administrative Region of Macao. Pursuant to this declaration, the Conventions and Protocols are applicable to the Special Administrative Region of Macao from 20 December 1999.

text: Geneva Conventions, article 1

text: Geneva Conventions, article 3

text: Geneva Conventions, article 1

text: Geneva Conventions, article 3

text: Geneva Conventions, article 1

text: Geneva Conventions, article 3

text: Geneva Conventions, article 1

text: Geneva Conventions, article 3

text: Protocol I

text: [ Link ]

text: ' The High Contracting Parties, '

text: ' Recalling ' that the humanitarian principles enshrined in Article 3 common to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, constitute the foundation of respect for the human person in cases of armed conflict not of an international character,

text: ' Recalling ' furthermore that international instruments relating to human rights offer a basic protection to the human person,

text: ' Emphasizing ' the need to ensure a better protection for the victims of those armed conflicts,

text: ' Recalling ' that, in cases not covered by the law in force, the human person remains under the protection of the principles of humanity and the dictates of the public conscience,

text: ' Have agreed ' on the following:

text: Preamble

text: Part I : Scope of this protocol

text: 1. This Protocol, which develops and supplements Article 3 common to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 without modifying its existing conditions of application, shall apply to all armed conflicts which are not covered by Article 1 of the Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and relating to the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts (

text: Protocol I

text: ) and which take place in the territory of a High Contracting Party between its armed forces and dissident armed forces or other organized armed groups which, under responsible command, exercise such control over a part of its territory as to enable them to carry out sustained and concerted military operations and to implement this Protocol.

text: 2. This Protocol shall not apply to situations of internal disturbances and tensions, such as riots, isolated and sporadic acts of violence and other acts of a similar nature, as not being armed conflicts.

text: Article 1 - Material field of application

text: 1. This Protocol shall be applied without any adverse distinction founded on race, colour, sex, language, religion or belief, political or other opinion, national or social origin, wealth, birth or other status, or on any other similar criteria (hereinafter referred to as "adverse distinction") to all persons affected by an armed conflict as defined in Article 1 .

text: 2. At the end of the armed conflict, all the persons who have been deprived of their liberty or whose liberty has been restricted for reasons related to such conflict, as well as those deprived of their liberty or whose liberty is restricted after the conflict for the same reasons, shall enjoy the protection of Articles 5 and 6 until the end of such deprivation or restriction of liberty.

text: Article 2 - Personal field of application

text: 1. Nothing in this Protocol shall be invoked for the purpose of affecting the sovereignty of a State or the responsibility of the government, by all legitimate means, to maintain or re-establish law and order in the State or to defend the national unity and territorial integrity of the State.

text: 2. Nothing in this Protocol shall be invoked as a justification for intervening, directly or indirectly, for any reason whatever, in the armed conflict or in the internal or external affairs of the High Contracting Party in the territory of which that conflict occurs.

text: Article 3 - Non-intervention

text: Part II : Humane treatment

text: 1. All persons who do not take a direct part or who have ceased to take part in hostilities, whether or not their liberty has been restricted, are entitled to respect for their person, honour and convictions and religious practices. They shall in all circumstances be treated humanely, without any adverse distinction. It is prohibited to order that there shall be no survivors.

text: 2. Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, the following acts against the persons referred to in paragraph 1 are and shall remain prohibited at any time and in any place whatsoever:

text: (a) violence to the life, health and physical or mental well-being of persons, in particular murder as well as cruel treatment such as torture, mutilation or any form of corporal punishment;

text: (b) collective punishments;

text: (c) taking of hostages;

text: (d) acts of terrorism;

text: (e) outrages upon personal dignity, in particular humiliating and degrading treatment, rape, enforced prostitution and any form of indecent assault;

text: (f) slavery and the slave trade in all their forms;

text: (g) pillage;

text: (h) threats to commit any of the foregoing acts.

text: 3. Children shall be provided with the care and aid they require, and in particular:

text: (a) they shall receive an education, including religious and moral education, in keeping with the wishes of their parents, or in the absence of parents, of those responsible for their care;

text: (b) all appropriate steps shall be taken to facilitate the reunion of families temporarily separated;

text: (c) children who have not attained the age of fifteen years shall neither be recruited in the armed forces or groups nor allowed to take part in hostilities;

text: (d) the special protection provided by this Article to children who have not attained the age of fifteen years shall remain applicable to them if they take a direct part in hostilities despite the provisions of sub-paragraph (c) and are captured;

text: (e) measures shall be taken, if necessary, and whenever possible with the consent of their parents or persons who by law or custom are primarily responsible for their care, to remove children temporarily from the area in which hostilities are taking place to a safer area within the country and ensure that they are accompanied by persons responsible for their safety and well-being.

text: Article 4 - Fundamental guarantees

text: 1. In addition to the provisions of Article 4 , the following provisions shall be respected as a minimum with regard to persons deprived of their liberty for reasons related to the armed conflict, whether they are interned or detained:

text: (a) the wounded and the sick shall be treated in accordance with Article 7 ; (b) the persons referred to in this paragraph shall, to the same extent as the local civilian population, be provided with food and drinking water and be afforded safeguards as regards health and hygiene and protection against the rigours of the climate and the dangers of the armed conflict; (c) they shall be allowed to receive individual or collective relief; (d) they shall be allowed to practise their religion and, if requested and appropriate, to receive spiritual assistance from persons, such as chaplains, performing religious functions; (e) they shall, if made to work, have the benefit of working conditions and safeguards similar to those enjoyed by the local civilian population.

text: 2. Those who are responsible for the internment or detention of the persons referred to in paragraph 1 shall also, within the limits of their capabilities, respect the following provisions relating to such persons:

text: (a) except when men and women of a family are accommodated together, women shall be held in quarters separated from those of men and shall be under the immediate supervision of women; (b) they shall be allowed to send and receive letters and cards, the number of which may be limited by competent authority if it deems necessary; (c) places of internment and detention shall not be located close to the combat zone. The persons referred to in paragraph 1 shall be evacuated when the places where they are interned or detained become particularly exposed to danger arising out of the armed conflict, if their evacuation can be carried out under adequate conditions of safety; (d) they shall have the benefit of medical examinations; (e) their physical or mental health and integrity shall not be endangered by any unjustified act or omission. Accordingly, it is prohibited to subject the persons described in this Article to any medical procedure which is not indicated by the state of health of the person concerned, and which is not consistent with the generally accepted medical standards applied to free persons under similar medical circumstances.

text: 3. Persons who are not covered by paragraph 1 but whose liberty has been restricted in any way whatsoever for reasons related to the armed conflict shall be treated humanely in accordance with Article 4 and with paragraphs 1 (a), (c) and (d), and 2 (b) of this Article.

text: 4. If it is decided to release persons deprived of their liberty, necessary measures to ensure their safety shall be taken by those so deciding.

text: Article 5 - Persons whose liberty has been restricted

text: 1. This Article applies to the prosecution and punishment of criminal offences related to the armed conflict.

text: 2. No sentence shall be passed and no penalty shall be executed on a person found guilty of an offence except pursuant to a conviction pronounced by a court offering the essential guarantees of independence and impartiality. In particular: (a) the procedure shall provide for an accused to be informed without delay of the particulars of the offence alleged against him and shall afford the accused before and during his trial all necessary rights and means of defence; (b) no one shall be convicted of an offence except on the basis of individual penal responsibility; (c) no one shall be held guilty of any criminal offence on account of any act or omission which did not constitute a criminal offence, under the law, at the time when it was committed; nor shall a heavier penalty be imposed than that which was applicable at the time when the criminal offence was committed; if, after the commission of the offence, provision is made by law for the imposition of a lighter penalty, the offender shall benefit thereby; (d) anyone charged with an offence is presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law; (e) anyone charged with an offence shall have the right to be tried in his presence; (f) no one shall be compelled to testify against himself or to confess guilt.

text: 3. A convicted person shall be advised on conviction of his judicial and other remedies and of the time-limits within which they may be exercised.

text: 4. The death penalty shall not be pronounced on persons who were under the age of eighteen years at the time of the offence and shall not be carried out on pregnant women or mothers of young children.

text: 5. At the end of hostilities, the authorities in power shall endeavour to grant the broadest possible amnesty to persons who have participated in the armed conflict, or those deprived of their liberty for reasons related to the armed conflict, whether they are interned or detained.

text: Article 6 - Penal prosecutions

text: Part III : Wounded, sick and shipwrecked

text: 1. All the wounded, sick and shipwrecked, whether or not they have taken part in the armed conflict, shall be respected and protected.

text: 2. In all circumstances they shall be treated humanely and shall receive, to the fullest extent practicable and with the least possible delay, the medical care and attention required by their condition. There shall be no distinction among them founded on any grounds other than medical ones.

text: Article 7 - Protection and care

text: Whenever circumstances permit, and particularly after an engagement, all possible measure shall be taken, without delay, to search for and collect the wounded, sick and shipwrecked, to protect them against pillage and ill-treatment, to ensure their adequate care, and to search for the dead, prevent their being despoiled, and decently dispose of them.

text: Article 8 - Search

text: 1. Medical and religious personnel shall be respected and protected and shall be granted all available help for the performance of their duties. They shall not be compelled to carry out tasks which are not compatible with their humanitarian mission.

text: 2. In the performance of their duties medical personnel may not be required to give priority to any person except on medical grounds.

text: Article 9 - Protection of medical and religious personnel

text: 1. Under no circumstances shall any person be punished for having carried out medical activities compatible with medical ethics, regardless of the person benefiting therefrom.

text: 2. Persons engaged in medical activities shall neither be compelled to perform acts or to carry out work contrary to, nor be compelled to refrain from acts required by, the rules of medical ethics or other rules designed for the benefit of the wounded and sick, or this Protocol.

text: 3. The professional obligations of persons engaged in medical activities regarding information which they may acquire concerning the wounded and sick under their care shall, subject to national law, be respected.

text: 4. Subject to national law, no person engaged in medical activities may be penalized in anyway for refusing or failing to give information concerning the wounded and sick who are, or who have been, under his care.

text: Article 10 - General protection of medical duties

text: 1. Medical units and transports shall be respected and protected at all times and shall not be the object of attack.

text: 2. The protection to which medical units and transports are entitled shall not cease unless they are used to commit hostile acts, outside their humanitarian function. Protection may, however, cease only after a warning has been given setting, whenever appropriate, a reasonable time-limit, and after such warning has remained unheeded.

text: Article 11 - Protection of medical units and transports

text: Under the direction of the competent authority concerned, the distinctive emblem of the red cross, red crescent or red lion and sun on a white ground shall be displayed by medical and religious personnel and medical units, and on medical transports. It shall be respected in all circumstances. It shall not be used improperly.

text: Article 12 - The distinctive emblem

text: Part IV : Civilian population

text: 1. The civilian population and individual civilians shall enjoy general protection against the dangers arising from military operations. To give effect to this protection, the following rules shall be observed in all circumstances.

text: 2. The civilian population as such, as well as individual civilians, shall not be the object of attack. Acts or threats of violence the primary purpose of which is to spread terror among the civilian population are prohibited.

text: 3. Civilians shall enjoy the protection afforded by this Part, unless and for such time as they take a direct part in hostilities.

text: Article 13 - Protection of the civilian population

text: Starvation of civilians as a method of combat is prohibited. It is therefore prohibited to attack, destroy, remove or render useless, for that purpose, objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population, such as foodstuffs, agricultural areas for the production of foodstuffs, crops, livestock, drinking water installations and supplies and irrigation works.

text: Article 14 - Protection of objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population

text: Works or installations containing dangerous forces, namely dams, dykes and nuclear electrical generating stations, shall not be made the object of attack, even where these objects are military objectives, if such attack may cause the release of dangerous forces and consequent severe losses among the civilian population.

text: Article 15 - Protection of works and installations containing dangerous forces

text: Without prejudice to the provisions of the Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict of 14 May 1954, it is prohibited to commit any acts of hostility directed against historic monuments, works of art or places of worship which constitute the cultural or spiritual heritage of peoples, and to use them in support of the military effort.

text: Article 16 - Protection of cultural objects and of places of worship

text: 1. The displacement of the civilian population shall not be ordered for reasons related to the conflict unless the security of the civilians involved or imperative military reasons so demand. Should such displacements have to be carried out, all possible measures shall be taken in order that the civilian population may be received under satisfactory conditions of shelter, hygiene, health, safety and nutrition.

text: 2. Civilians shall not be compelled to leave their own territory for reasons connected with the conflict.

text: Article 17 - Prohibition of forced movement of civilians

text: 1. Relief societies located in the territory of the High Contracting Party, such as Red Cross (Red Crescent, Red Lion and Sun) organizations, may offer their services for the performance of their traditional functions in relation to the victims of the armed conflict. The civilian population may, even on its own initiative, offer to collect and care for the wounded, sick and shipwrecked.

text: 2. If the civilian population is suffering undue hardship owing to a lack of the supplies essential for its survival, such as foodstuffs and medical supplies, relief actions for the civilian population which are of an exclusively humanitarian and impartial nature and which are conducted without any adverse distinction shall be undertaken subject to the consent of the High Contracting Party concerned.

text: Article 18 - Relief societies and relief actions

text: Part V : Final provisions

text: This Protocol shall be disseminated as widely as possible.

text: Article 19 - Dissemination

text: This Protocol shall be open for signature by the Parties to the Conventions six months after the signing of the Final Act and will remain open for a period of twelve months.

text: Article 20 - Signature

text: This Protocol shall be ratified as soon as possible. The instruments of ratification shall be deposited with the Swiss Federal Council, depositary of the Conventions.

text: Article 21 - Ratification

text: This Protocol shall be open for accession by any Party to the Conventions which has not signed it. The instruments of accession shall be deposited with the depositary.

text: Article 22 - Accession

text: 1. This Protocol shall enter into force six months after two instruments of ratification or accession have been deposited.

text: 2. For each Party to the Conventions thereafter ratifying or acceding to this Protocol, it shall enter into force six months after the deposit by such Party of its instrument of ratification or accession.

text: Article 23 - Entry into force

text: 1. Any High Contracting Party may propose amendments to this Protocol. The text of any proposed amendment shall be communicated to the depositary which shall decide, after consultation with all the High Contracting Parties and the International Committee of the Red Cross, whether a conference should be convened to consider the proposed amendment.

text: 2. The depositary shall invite to that conference all the High Contracting Parties as well as the Parties to the Conventions, whether or not they are signatories of this Protocol.

text: Article 24 - Amendment

text: 1. In case a High Contracting Party should denounce this Protocol, the denunciation shall only take effect six months after receipt of the instrument of denunciation. If, however, on the expiry of six months, the denouncing Party is engaged in the situation referred to in Article 1 , the denunciation shall not take effect before the end of the armed conflict. Persons who have been deprived of liberty, or whose liberty has been restricted, for reasons related to the conflict shall nevertheless continue to benefit from the provisions of this Protocol until their final release.

text: 2. The denunciation shall be notified in writing to the depositary, which shall transmit it to all the High Contracting Parties.

text: Article 25 - Denunciation

text: The depositary shall inform the High Contracting Parties as well as the Parties to the Conventions, whether or not they are signatories of this Protocol, of:

text: (a) signatures affixed to this Protocol and the deposit of instruments of ratification and accession under Articles 21 and 22 ;

text: (b) the date of entry into force of this Protocol under Article 23 ; and

text: (c) communications and declarations received under Article 24 .

text: Article 26 - Notifications

text: 1. After its entry into force, this Protocol shall be transmitted by the depositary to the Secretariat of the United Nations for registration and publication, in accordance with Article 102 of the Charter of the United Nations.

text: 2. The depositary shall also inform the Secretariat of the United Nations of all ratifications and accessions received by it with respect to this Protocol.

text: Article 27 - Registration

text: The original of this Protocol, of which the Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish texts are equally authentic, shall be deposited with the depositary, which shall transmit certified true copies thereof to all the Parties to the Conventions.

text: Article 28 - Authentic texts

summary: The only provision applicable to non-international armed conflicts before the adoption of the present Protocol was Article 3 common to all four Geneva Conventions of 1949. This Article proved to be inadequate in view of the fact that about 80% of the victims of armed conflicts since 1945 have been victims of non-international conflicts and that non-international conflicts are often fought with more cruelty than international conflicts. The aim of the present Protocol is to extend the essential rules of the law of armed conflicts to internal wars. The fear that the Protocol might affect State sovereignty, prevent governments from effectively maintaining law and order within their borders and that it might be invoked to justify outside intervention led to the decision of the Diplomatic Conference at its fourth session to shorten and simplify the Protocol. Instead of the 47 Articles proposed by the ICRC the Conference adopted only 28. The essential substance of the draft was, however, maintained. While the part on methods and means of combat was deleted, the prohibition to order that there shall be no survivors was retained in Article 4 (fundamental guarantees), and six articles remain dedicated to the protection of the civilian population (Part IV (Civilian Population) Articles 13 to 18). The restrictive definition of the material field of application in Article 1 will have the effect that Protocol II will be applicable to a smaller range of internal conflicts than Article 3 common to the Conventions of 1949.