I. Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded and Sick in Armed Forces in the Field, 1949

By José Manuel Ferro Veiga

Approved on August 12, 1949 by the Diplomatic Conference to Develop International Conventions for the Protection of War Victims, held in Geneva from April 12 to August 12, 1949. Entry into force: October 21, 1950.TheFirst Geneva Convention, which comprises theGeneva Convention for the improvement of the lot of wounded soldiers in armies in the fieldof 1864, updated in the following conventions of1906,1929and 1949.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Oct 4, 2020
• ISBN: 9781716534010

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1950.

CHAPTER I: General provisions

Article 1 - Respect for the Convention

The High Contracting Parties undertake to respect and enforce this Convention in all circumstances.

Article 2 - Application of the Convention

Apart from the provisions that must enter into force already in time of peace, this Convention shall apply in the event of declared war or any other armed conflict that arises between two or more High Contracting Parties, even if one of them has not recognized the state. of war.

The Convention shall also apply in all cases of total or partial occupation of the territory of a High Contracting Party, even if such occupation does not meet with military resistance.

If one of the Powers in conflict is not a party to this Convention, the Powers that are Parties to it shall, however, be bound by it in their reciprocal relations. They shall also be bound by the Convention with respect to said Power, if it accepts and applies its provisions.

Article 3 - Non-international conflicts

In the event of an armed conflict that is not of an international nature and that arises in the territory of one of the High Contracting Parties, each of the Parties to the conflict shall have the obligation to apply, as a minimum, the following provisions:

1) Persons who do not participate directly in hostilities, including members of the armed forces who have laid down their arms and persons put out of combat due to illness, injury, detention or for any other cause, will be, in all circumstances, treated humanely, without any unfavorable distinction based on race, color, religion or belief, sex, birth or fortune or any other similar criteria.

In this regard, the following are prohibited, at any time and place, as regards the persons mentioned above:

a) Attacks against life and bodily integrity, especially homicide in all its forms, mutilations, cruel treatment, torture and torture;

b) the taking of hostages;

c) attacks against personal dignity, especially humiliating and degrading treatment;

d) Convictions handed down and executions without prior trial before a legitimately constituted court, with judicial guarantees recognized as indispensable by civilized peoples.

2) The wounded and sick will be collected and cared for.

An impartial humanitarian body, such as the International Committee of the Red Cross, may offer its services to the Parties to the conflict.

Furthermore, the Parties to the conflict shall endeavor to enforce, through special agreements, all or part of the other provisions of this Agreement.

The application of the foregoing provisions will not affect the legal status of the parties to the conflict.

Article 4 - Application by Neutral Powers

The neutral Powers shall apply, by analogy,