Convention (IV) Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War
Signed at Geneva, 12 August 1949

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Articles

PART I
General Provisions
Respect for the Convention 1
Application of the Convention 2
Conflicts not of an international character 3
Definition of protected persons 4
Derogations 5
Beginning and end of application 6
Special agreements 7
Non-renunciation of rights 8
Protecting Powers 9

Activities of the International Committee of the Red Cross 10
Substitutes for Protecting Powers 11
Conciliation procedure 12

PART II
General Protection of Populations against certain consequences of war
Field of application of Part II 13
Hospital and safety zones and localities 14
Neutralized zones 15
Wounded and sick: 16

I. General protection
II. Evacuation 17
III. Protection of hospitals 18
IV. Discontinuance of protection of hospitals 19
V. Hospital staff 20
VI. Land and sea transport 21
VII. Air transport 22

Consignments of medical supplies, food and clothing 23
Measures relating to child welfare 24
Family news 25
Dispersed families 26

PART III
Status and Treatment of Protected Persons
Section I. Provisions common to the Territories of the Parties to the Conflict and to Occupied Territories
Treatment: 27
I. General observations
II. Danger zones 28
III. Responsibilities 29
Applications to Protecting Powers and relief organizations 30
Prohibition of coercion 31
Prohibition of corporal punishment, torture, etc.
Individual responsibility, collective penalties pillage, reprisals 33
Hostages 34

Section II. Aliens in the Territory of a Party to the Conflict
Right to leave the territory 35
Method of repatriation 36
Persons in confinement 37
Non-repatriated persons: 38
I. General observations
II. Means of existence 39
III. Employment 40
IV. Assigned residence. Internment 41
V. Grounds for internment or assigned residence.
Voluntary internment 42
VI. Procedure 43
VII. Refugees 44
VIII.Transfer to another Power 45
Cancellation of restrictive measures 46

Section III. Occupied Territories
Inviolability of rights 47
Special cases of repatriation 48
Deportations, transfers, evacuations 49
Children 50
Enlistment. Labour 51
Protection of workers 52
Prohibited destruction 53
Judges and public officials 54
Food and medical supplies for the population 55
Hygiene and public health 56
Requisition of hospitals 57
Spiritual assistance 58
Relief: 59
I. Collective relief
II. Responsibilities of the Occupying Power 60
III. Distribution 61
IV. Individual relief 62
National Red Cross and other relief societies 63
Penal legislation: 64
I. General observations
II. Publication 65
III. Competent courts 66
IV. Applicable provisions 67
V. Penalties. Death penalty 68

VI. Deduction from sentence of period spent under arrest 69
VII. Offences committed before occupation 70
Penal procedure: 71
I. General observations
II.Right of defence 72
III.Right of appeal 73
IV.Assistance by the Protecting Power 74
V.Death sentence 75
Treatment of detainees 76
Handing over of detainees at the close of occupation 77
Security measures. Internment and assigned residence. Right of appeal 78
Section IV. Regulations for the Treatment of Internees

Chapter I. General provisions
Cases of internment and applicable provisions 79
Civil capacity 80
Maintenance 81
Grouping of internees 82

Chapter II. Places of internment
Location of places of internment. Marking of camps 83
Separate internment 84
Accommodation, hygiene 85
Premises for religious services 86
Canteens 87
Air raid shelters. Protective measures 88

Chapter III. Food and clothing
Food 89
Clothing 90

Chapter IV. Hygiene and medical attention
Medical attention 91
Medical inspections 92

Chapter V. Religious, intellectual and physical activities
Religious duties 93
Recreation, study, sports and games 94
Working conditions 95
Labour detachments 96

Chapter VI. Personal property and financial resources
Valuables and personal effects 97
Financial resources and individual accounts 98

Chapter VII. Administration and discipline
Camp administration. Posting of the Convention and of orders 99
General discipline 100
Complaints and petitions 101
Internee committees: 102
I. Election of members
II. Duties 103
III. Prerogatives 104

Chapter VIII. Relations with the exterior
Notification of measure taken
Internment card 106
Correspondence 107
Relief shipments: 108

I. General principles 108
II. Collective relief 109
III. Exemption from postal and transport charges 110
Special means of transport 111
Censorship and examination 112
Execution and transmission of legal documents 113
Management of property 114
Facilities for preparation and conduct of cases 115
Visits 116

Chapter IX. Penal and disciplinary sanctions
General provisions. Applicable legislation 117
Penalties 118
Disciplinary punishments 119
Escapes 120
Connected offences 121
Investigations. Confinement awaiting hearing 122
Competent authorities. Procedure 123
Premises for disciplinary punishments 124
Essential safeguards 125
Provisions applicable to judicial proceedings 126

Chapter X. Transfers of internees
Conditions 127
Method 128

Chapter XI. Deaths
Wills. Death certificates 129
Burial. Cremation 130
Internees killed or injured in special circumstances 131

Chapter XII. Release, repatriation and accommodation in Neutral Countries
During hostilities or occupation 132
After the close of hostilities 133
Repatriation and return to last place of residence 134
Costs 135

Section V. Information Bureaux and Central Agency
National Bureaux 136
Transmission of information 137
Particulars required 138
Forwarding of personal valuables 139
Central Agency 140
Exemption from charges 141

PART IV
Execution of the Convention
Section 1. General Provisions
Relief societies and other organizations 142
Supervision 143
Dissemination of the Convention 144