CONVENTION (I) FOR THE AMELIORATION OF
THE CONDITION OF THE WOUNDED AND SICK
IN ARMED FORCES IN THE FIELD
Signed at Geneva, 12 August 1949
INTRODUCTORY NOTE: This Convention represents the fourth version of the Geneva Convention on the wounded and sick after those adopted in 1864, 1906 and 1929 (see Nos. 38, 42 and 45). The fundamental principles as well as the division into chapters remained the same as in the preceding version with the exception of the new introductory chapter on general provisions. Changes were made especially in Chapter IV (personnel). Hitherto, medical personnel and chaplains falling into enemy hands had to be immediately repatriated. The 1949 Convention, taking account of changed conditions of warfare, provides that they may in certain circumstances be retained to care for prisoners of war. The provisions on medical equipment were correspondingly altered. In the chapter on medical transports it was provided that medical aircraft may in certain circumstances fly over neutral territory. Some clarifications were made as regards the article on the use of the emblem (Article 44).
ENTRY INTO FORCE: 21 October 1950.
AUTHENTIC TEXTS: English and French. The text below is reprinted from the Final Record of the Diplomatic Conference of Geneva of 1949, Vol. I, Federal Political Department, Berne, pp. 205–224.
The marginal titles added to the articles of the present Convention have no official character and were not adopted by the Diplomatic Conference. They were drafted by the Conference Secretariat and are used in the edition of the Geneva Convention published by the International Committee of the Red Cross.
TEXT PUBLISHED IN: See indications under No. 48.
| Articles | |
| Preamble | |
| Chapter I. General provisions | 1–11 |
| Respect for the Convention | 1 |
| Application of the Conventions | 2 |
| Conflicts not of an international character | 3 |
| Application by neutral Powers | 4 |
| Duration of application | 5 |
| Special agreements | 6 |
| Non-renunciation of rights | 7 |
| Protecting Powers | 9 |
| Activities of the International Committee of the Red Cross | 9 |
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Questia, a part of Gale, Cengage Learning. www.questia.com
Publication information:
Book title: The Laws of Armed Conflicts: A Collection of Conventions, Resolutions, and Other Documents.
Edition: 4th.
Contributors: Dietrich Schindler - Editor, Jiri Toman - Editor.
Publisher: Martinus Nijhoff.
Place of publication: Boston.
Publication year: 2004.
Page number: 459.
This material is protected by copyright and, with the exception of fair use, may not be further copied, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means.
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