Protection of the wounded, sick and shipwrecked

2nd Geneva Convention

Protection of the

Wounded, Sick and

Shipwrecked

OUTLINE

I. The Idea of SolferinoWould it not be possible, in time of peace and quiet, to form relief societies for the purpose of having care given to the wounded in wartime by zealous, devoted and thoroughly qualified workers?

• In “A Memory of Solferino”, Henri Dunant did not merely describe a terrible battle and recall the events of the following days and the part which he played in them; he also put forward ideas and proposals for the future, aimed at preventing repetition of the suffering which he had witnessed at Solferino.

Dunant, Henry. A Memory of Solferino, Geneva, ICRC 1986 (1862).Hhtp://www.icrc.org

Dunant’s Twofold Proposal

1. To create in all countries voluntary “relief societies for the purpose of having care given to the wounded in wartime.”

2. To formulate an “international principle, sanctioned by a Convention inviolate in character,” which would serve as the basis and support for the relief societies.

Dunant, Henry. A Memory of Solferino, Geneva, ICRC 1986 (1862).Hhtp://www.icrc.org

II. Respect, Protection and Care for Wounded, Sick and Shipwrecked, without any Adverse Distinction

Wounded, Sick and Shipwrecked

Article 12Members of the armed forces and other persons mentioned in the following Article, who are at sea and who are wounded, sick or shipwrecked, shall be respected and protected in all circumstances, it being understood that the term "shipwreck" means shipwreck from any cause and includes forced landings at sea by or from aircraft.

Convention II: for the Amelioration of the Condition of Wounded, Sick and Shipwrecked Members of Armed Forces at Sea.

Geneva, 12 August 1949.

1. Beneficiaries2. Respect3. Protection4. Care

Beneficiaries

a. Under Conventions I and II: Military Personnel

1. Members of the armed forces of a Party to the conflict, as well as members of militias or volunteer corps forming part of such armed forces.

2. Members of other militias and members of other volunteer corps, including those of organized resistance movements, belonging to a Party to the conflict and operating in or outside their own territory, even if this territory is occupied, provided that such militias or volunteer corps, including such organized resistance movements, fulfil the following conditions:b. That of being commanded by a person responsible for his subordinatesc. That of having fixed distinctive sign recognizable at a distanced. That of carrying arms openlye. That of conducting their operations in accordance with the laws and customs of war.

3. Members of regular armed forces who profess all allegiance to a Government or an authority not recognized by the Detaining Power.

Article 13 of Conventions I and II

Beneficiaries

a. Under Conventions I and II: Military Personnel

4. Persons who accompany the armed forces without actually being members thereof, such as civil members of military aircraft crews, war correspondents, supply contractors, members of labour units of services responsible for the welfare of the armed forces, provided that they have received authorization from the armed forces which they accompany.

5. Members of crews, including masters, pilots and apprentices of the merchant marine and the crews of civil aircraft of the Parties to the conflict, who do not benefit by more favourable treatment under any other provisions in international law.

Article 13 of Conventions I and II

b. Under Protocol I: Extension to Civilian

Definition of “Wounded” and “Sick”Any persons, whether military or civilian, who, because of trauma, disease or other physical or mental disorder disability, are in need of medical care and who refrain from any act of hostility. These terms also cover maternity cases, new-born babies and other persons who may be in need of immediate medical assistance or care, such as the infirm or expectant mothers, and who refrain from any act of hostility;

Definition of “Shipwrecked”Any persons, whether military or civilian, who are in peril at sea or in other waters as a result of misfortune affecting them or the vessel or aircraft carrying them and who refrain from any act of hostility. These persons, provided that they continue to refrain from any act of hostility, shall continue to be considered shipwrecked during their rescue until they acquire another status under the Conventions or this Protocol;

Article 8 of Protocol 1

Beneficiaries

CareEqual Treatment

• Members of the armed forces and other persons who are wounded or sick, shall be respected and protected in all circumstances.

• They shall be treated humanely and care for by the Party to the conflict in whose power they may be, without any adverse distinction founded on sex, race nationality, religion, political opinions, or any other similar criteria. Any attempts upon their lives, or violence to their persons, shall be strictly prohibited.

• Women shall be treated with all consideration due to their sex. The Party to the conflict which is compelled to abandon wounded or sick to the enemy shall, as far as military consideration permit, leave with them a part of its medical personnel and material to assist in their care.

Article 12 of conventions I and II [Rule 110 of CIHL]

CareEvacuation

• At all times, and particularly after an engagement, Parties to the conflict shall, without delay, take all possible measures to search for and collect the wounded and sick, to protect them against pillage and ill-treatment, to ensure their adequate care, and to search for the dead and prevent their being despoiled.

• Whenever circumstances permit, an armistice or a suspension of fire shall be arranged, or local arrangements made, to permit the removal, exchange and transport of the wounded left on the battlefield.

Article 15 of Convention I

• If wounded, sick, or shipwrecked persons are taken on board a neutral warship or a neutral military aircraft, it shall be ensured, where so required by international law, that they can take no further part in operations of war.

Article 15 of Convention II

III. Medical and Religious Personnel

1. Definition

a. Military (permanent or temporary) medical personnelb. Civilian medical personnel assigned by a Party to the conflictc. Religious personnel attached to the armed forces or medical

unitsd. Medical personnel made available by third states or

organizations to a Party to the conflicte. Personnel of a National Society recognized and specifically

authorized by a Party to the conflict

2. Protection

3. Duties of the medical personnel

Definitiona. Military medical personnel

Medical personnel exclusively engaged in the search for, or in the collection, transport or treatment of the wounded or sick, or in the prevention of disease, staff exclusively engaged in the administration of medical units and establishments.


Members of the armed forces specially trained for employment, should the need arise, as hospital orderlies, nurses or auxiliary stretcher-bearers, in the search for or collection, transport or treatment of the wounded and sick shall likewise be respected and protected if they are carrying out these duties at the time when they come into contact with the enemy or fall into his hands.


Definition

Permanent Medical Personnel

TemporaryMedical Personnel

Assigned exclusively to medical purposes for an indeterminate period.

Devoted exclusively to medical purposes for limited periods during the whole of such periods.

Definitiona. Military medical personnel

The religious, medical and hospital personnel of hospitals ships and their crews shall be respected and protected; they may not be captured during the time they are in service of the hospital ship, whether or not there are wounded and sick on board.


The religious, medical and hospital personnel assigned to the medical or spiritual care of the persons shall, if they fall into the hands of the enemy, be respected and wounded; they may continue to carry out their duties as long as necessary for the care of the wounded and sick.


b. Civilian medical personnel assigned by a Party to the conflict

Definition

Persons regularly and solely engaged in the operation and administration of civilian hospitals, including the personnel engaged in the search for, removal and transporting of and caring for wounded and sick civilians, the infirm and maternity cases shall be respected and protected.

In occupied territory and in zones of military operations, the above personnel shall be recognizable by means of an identity card certifying their status, bearing the photograph of the holder and embossed with the stamp of the responsible authority, and also by means of a stamped, water-resistant armlet which they shall wear on the left arm while carrying out their duties.

Article 20 of Convention IV

Definition

“Religious personnel” means military or civilian persons, such as chaplains, who are exclusively engaged in the work of their ministry and attached:

i. To the armed forces of a Party to the conflict;

ii. To medical units or medical transports of a Party to the conflict;


c. Religious personnel attached to the armed forces or medical units

Definition

Medical personnel made available to a Party to the conflict for humanitarian purposes:a. By a neutral or other State which is not

a Party to that conflict;b. By a recognized and authorized aid of

such a State;c. By an impartial international

humanitarian organization

d. Medical personnel made available by third states or organizations to a Party to the conflict

Definition

The staff of National Red Cross Societies and that of other Voluntary Aid Societies, duly recognized and authorized by their Governments, who may be employed on the same duties as the personnel named in Article 24, provided that the staff of such societies are subject to military laws and regulations.


e. Personnel of a National Society recognized and specifically authorized by a Party to the conflict

1. Civilian medical personnel shall be respected and protected.

2. If needed, all available help shall be afforded to civilian medical personnel in an area where civilian medical services are disrupted by treason of combat activity.

3. Civilian medical personnel shall have access to any place where their services are essential, subject to such supervisory and safety measures as the relevant Party to the conflict may deem necessary.

4. Civilian religious personnel shall be respected and protected. The provisions of the Convention and of this Protocol concerning the protection and identification of medical personnel shall apply equally to such persons.


a. On the battlefield (including the inhabitants of the combat zone)

Protection

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

2. Persons engaged in medical shall not be compelled to perform acts or to carry out work contrary to the rules of medical ethics or to other medical rules designed for the benefit of the wounded and sick or to the provisions of the Conventions or this Protocol, or to refrain from performing acts or from carrying out work required by those rules and provisions.



Protection

3. No person engaged in medical activities shall be compelled to give to anyone belonging either to an adverse Party, or to his own Party except as required by the law of the latter Party, any information concerning the wounded and sick who are, or who have been, under his care, if such information would, in his opinion, prove harmful to the patients concerned or to their families. Regulations for the compulsory notification of communicable diseases shall, however, be respected.



Protection

Protection

Personnel designated in Art. 24 and 26 who fall into the hands of the adverse Party, shall be retained only in so far as the state of health, the spiritual needs and number of prisoners of war require.

Personnel thus retained shall not be deemed prisoners of war. Within the framework of the military laws and regulations of the Detaining Power, and under the authority of its competent service they shall continue to carry out, in accordance with their professional ethics, their medical and spiritual duties on behalf of prisoners of war, preferably those of the armed forces to which they themselves belong. They shall further enjoy the following facilities or carrying out their medical or spiritual duties.


b. Once fallen into enemy hands

Protection

Members of the personnel designated in Article 25 who have fallen into the hands of the enemy, shall be prisoners of war, but shall be employed on their medical duties in so far as the need arises.


Personnel whose retention is not indispensable by virtue of the provisions of Art. 28 shall be returned to the Party to the conflict to whom they belong, as soon as a road is open for their return and military requirements permit.On their departure, they shall take with them the effects, personal belongings, valuables and instruments belonging to them.The selection of personnel for return under Article 30 shall be made irrespective of race, religion or political opinion, but preferably according to the chronological order of their capture and their state of health.



Protection

Military Medical Personnel Civilian Medical Personnel

Shall be deemed prisoners of war. Shall not be deemed prisoners of war.

Shall be retained only in so far as the state of health, the spiritual needs and number of prisoners of war require

Shall be employed on their medical duties in so far as the need arises.

Shall continue to carry out, in accordance with their professional ethics, their medical and spiritual duties on behalf of prisoners of war, preferably those of the armed forces to which they themselves belong.


The Occupying Power shall afford civilian medical personnel in occupied territories every assistance to enable them to perform, to the best of their ability, their humanitarian functions. The Occupying Power may not require that, in the performance of those functions, such personnel shall give priority to the treatment of any person except on medical grounds. They shall not be compelled to carry out tasks which are not compatible with their humanitarian mission.

Civilian medical personnel shall have access to any place where their services are essential, subject to such supervisory and safety measures as the relevant Party to the conflict may deem necessary.


c. Under control of the enemy

Persons engaged in medical activities shall not be compelled to perform acts or to carry out work contrary to the rules of medical ethics or to other medical rules designed for the benefit of the wounded and sick or to the provisions of the Conventions or of this Protocol, or to refrain from performing acts or from carrying out work required by those rules and provisions.

No person engaged in medical activities shall be compelled to give to anyone belonging either to an adverse Party, or to his own Party except as required by the law of the latter Party, any information concerning the wounded and sick who are, or who have been, under his care, if such information would, in his opinion, prove harmful to the patients concerned or to their families. Regulations for the compulsory notification of communicable diseases shall, however, be respected.


c. Under control of the enemy

Duties of the Medical Personnel

a. No direct participation in hostilities

b. Respect of Medical Ethicsc. Give care without discriminationd. Respect principle of neutralitye. Identification

Duties of the Medical Personnele. Identification

IV. Protection of Medical Goods and Objects (Including Hospitals, Ambulances, etc.)

General rule:Respected and protected by the Parties to the conflict at all times. Should not be subject to attackShall not be used in an attempt to shield military objects from attack

Exception:Protection shall end when medical goods and objects are used to commit acts harmful to the enemy There should be a warning given setting a reasonable time-limit in misuse and abuse of medical installations and only after such warning remains unheeded shall protection end.

Exception to the exception:

1. Armed and use the arms in their own defense or the wounded and sick in their charge.

2. Absence of armed orderlies, unit or establishment is protected by a picket, or by sentries or by an escort.

3. Small arms & ammunition taken from the wounded & sick and not yet handed to the proper service, are found in the unit or establishment.

4. Personnel and material of veterinary service are found in the unit, without forming an integral part thereof.

5. That the humanitarian activities of medical units and establishments or of their personnel extend to the care of civilian wounded or sick.

Protection

Transports of wounded and sick or of medical equipment shall be respected and protected in the same way as mobile medical units.

Should such transports or vehicles fall into the hands of the adverse Party, they shall be subject to the laws of war, on condition that the Party to the conflict who captures them shall in all cases ensure the care of the wounded and sick they contain.

The civilian personnel and all means of transport obtained by requisition shall be subject to the general rules of international law.

Article 35 of Convention 1 [Rules 28,29 and 30 of CIHL]

Protection

The protection to which fixed establishments and mobile medical units of the Medical Service are entitled shall not cease unless they are used to commit, outside their humanitarian duties, acts harmful to the enemy. Protection may, however, cease only after a due warning has been given, naming, in all appropriate cases, a reasonable time limit, and after such warning has remained unheeded.

Article 21 of Convention 1

Loss of Protection

V. Possible Constitution of Hospital, Safety, and Neutralized Zones

In time of peace, the High Contracting Parties and, after the outbreak of hostilities, the Parties thereto, may establish in their own territory and, if the need arises, in occupied areas, hospital zones and localities so organized as to protect the wounded and sick from the effects of war, as well as the personnel entrusted with the organization and administration of these zones and localities and with the care of the persons therein assembled.

Upon the outbreak and during the course of hostilities, the Parties concerned may conclude agreements on mutual recognition of the hospital zones and localities they have created. They may for this purpose implement the provisions of the Draft Agreement annexed to the present Convention, with such amendments as they may consider necessary.

The Protecting Powers and the International Committee of the Red Cross are invited to lend their good offices in order to facilitate the institution and recognition of these hospital zones and localities.


VI. The Emblem of the Red Cross/ Red Crescent

3 Emblems:Red CrossRed CrescentRed Lion and sun on a white background

Red Lion and Sun on the Background


1. Protective Use- Emblem should be Large and visible in times of armed conflict- Symbol of protection conferred by international humanitarian law- Used for medical purposes onlya. Distinguish medical personnel and units - shall use the emblem of the Red Cross/Red Crescent through armlets and carry identity cardsb. Displayed with permission and under control of competent authority c. ICRC and National Federations use the emblems at anytime for all their activities


2. Indicative use- Small in size- Used during peacetime- Does not signify protection- Shows that a person or object is linked to the National Society

Repression of Abuse and MisuseArt. 8: strict compliance with the rules governing the use of the emblem of the Red Cross or Red Crescent shall at all times be ensured.

There shall also be strict control over the persons authorized to use said emblem, name and signals


Abuse & misuse of these emblems constitute to war and crime.They should not be imitated nor used for private or commercial purposes.

Misuse and abuse of the emblem shall be punished by imprisonment and/or payment depending on the severity of the rules on usage of the emblem.

Authorities shall have the right to enforce necessary measure with regard to the misuse and abuse of the emblems.


The High Contracting Parties shall, if their legislation is not already adequate, take measures necessary for the prevention and repression, at all times, of the abuses referred to under Article 53.


“right of families to know the fate of their relatives”

VII. Provisions on the Dead and Missing

A lawfully detained person can not be missing for long, as detaining authorities are also under an obligation to answer inquiries about protected persons.

If alive- detained by the enemy or free, but separated from their families by frontlines or borders.

If dead-there is no obligation for each party to identify every dead body found.

Protection of the wounded, sick and shipwrecked

Health & Medicine