Geneva Conventions Act, 1957 : 5 & 6 Eliz 2. Ch 52.

  • Great Britain.
Date:
1957
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Geneva Conventions Act, 1957 : 5 & 6 Eliz 2. Ch 52. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    48/142 (page 46)
    Sections 1, 2, 7. THIRD SCHEDULE GENEVA CONVENTION RELATIVE TO THE TREATMENT OF PRISONERS OF WAR Geneva, 12th August, 1949 The undersigned Plenipotentiaries of the Governments represented at the Diplomatic Conference held at Geneva from 21st April, to 12th August, 1949, for the purpose of revising the Convention concluded at Geneva on 27th July, 1929, relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War, have agreed as follows: PART I—GENERAL PROVISIONS ARTICLE 1 The High Contracting Parties undertake to respect and to ensure respect for the present Convention in all circumstances. ARTICLE 2 In addition to the provisions which shall be implemented in peace time, the present Convention shall apply to all cases of declared war or of any other armed conflict which may arise between two or more of the High Contracting Parties, even if the state of war is not recognised by one of them. The Convention shall also apply to all cases of partial or total occupation of the territory of a High Contracting Party, even if the said occupation meets with no armed resistance. Although one of the Powers in conflict may not be a party to the present Convention, the Powers who are parties thereto shall remain bound by it in their mutual relations. They shall furthermore be bound by the Convention in relation to the said Power, if the latter accepts and applies the provisions thereof. ARTICLE 3 In the case of armed conflict not of an international character occurring in the territory of one of the High Contracting Parties, each Party to the conflict shall be bound to apply, as a minimum, the following provisions : (1) Persons taking no active part in the hostilities, including members of armed forces who have laid down their arms and those placed hors de combat by sickness, wounds, deten- tion, or any other cause, shall in all circumstances be treated humanely, without any adverse distinction founded on race, colour, religion or faith, sex, birth or wealth, or any other similar criteria. To this end the following acts are and shall remain prohibited at any time and in any place whatsoever with respect to the above-mentioned persons: (a) violence to life and person, in particular, murder of all kinds, mutilation, cruel treatment and torture ; (b) taking of hostages ;