Legal Background
Here we have gathered some of the articles of the
Geneva Convention III regarding the treatment of prisoners of war.
Please note that these articles are edited and shortened to focus on
information that is needed to complete the "Prisoner of War" game. At
the end, we have also added two articles from Convention I that might be
needed in the game. Links to the complete version of the Geneva
Convention III and other treaties can be found at the end of this
document.
Geneva Convention (III) Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War
Article 4
The following shall be treated as prisoners of war:
• Members of the opposing armed forces.
• Civilians on unoccupied territory that
haven't had the time to form regular fighting units but have taken to
arms to defend themselves against an approaching enemy.
• Persons that travel with the armed forces
without being actual members. For example, war correspondents, supply
contractors, or other labor or service personnel.
• Crews of merchant ships or aircraft.
• Members of militia/resistance groups
operating under a participant to the conflict as long as such a group
has a clear chain of command, carries a distinctive sign, carries its
arms openly, and follows the rules of war.
Article 5
If there is any uncertainty about the status of a
captured person, he or she shall be treated according to the Geneva
Convention until his or her status can be established by a competent
court.
Article 13
Prisoners of war must at all times be humanely
treated and shall not be subjected to abuse, torture, humiliation,
intimidation, physical mutilation, or to medical or scientific
experiments of any kind. The life of POWs may not be endangered and POWs
must at all times be protected against insults and public curiosity
(press, media, etc.).
Article 17
All POWs are to be given an identity card. If asked,
POWs must give only surname, first names and rank, date of birth, and
army, regimental, personal, or serial number. No physical or mental
torture may be inflicted on POWs to make them give up information of any
kind whatever.
Article 18
Every POW is allowed to keep his or her belongings
and sums of money. Anything removed must be registered so that it can be
returned to the prisoner upon release.
Article 23
Prisoners may not be used as human shields or
detained in areas where there is risk of being exposed to fire from the
combat zone. POW camps must be clearly indicated.
Article 25
POWs shall be quartered under satisfactory
conditions. If there are both women and men in the same camp, separate
dormitories shall be provided for them.
Article 26
Prisoners must be supplied with adequate food and drink. POWs are allowed to smoke and have tobacco.
Article 27
The detaining power is responsible for supplying the prisoners with clothing, underwear, and footwear that fit the climate.
Article 28
Canteens shall be made available in every POW camp.
These shall offer basic supplies at prices not surpassing the local
market. All profits made shall be invested in a fund and used for the
benefit of the prisoners.
Article 29
POW camps must have adequate hygiene facilities. If
there are both women and men in the same camp, separate hygiene
facilities shall be provided for them.
Article 30
Every camp shall have an adequate infirmary to take care of the prisoners in need of medical care.
Article 33
Medical personnel and chaplains are not given POW
status but are still to be treated in accordance with the Geneva
Convention III.
Article 34
Prisoners shall be free to exercise their religious
duties and, if needed, the detaining power shall provide room for
religious services.
Article 38
The prisoners shall be encouraged to participate in
recreational, educational, and intellectual activities. Space shall be
created for these activities in every camp.
Article 41
The Geneva Convention and its Annexes shall be posted
for the prisoners to read in every camp. The text must be available in
the prisoners' own language.
Articles 49-50
Prisoners of war may be used to perform labor as long as it is not dangerous or of military character or purpose.
Article 52
Only prisoners volunteering may be used for work of a dangerous or unhealthy nature as, for example, the removal of mines.
Article 53
Prisoners that are put to work are entitled to have at least one day per week free from work.
Article 62
If POWs are put to work, they shall be paid a fair wage by the detaining power.
Article 70.
Within a week of capture, all prisoners shall be
enabled to write an information card to their family and the Central
Prisoners of War Agency to inform them of their capture, address, and
state of health.
Article 71
Prisoners of war are allowed to send and receive letters.
Article 72
POWs are allowed to receive individual or collective
shipments containing food, clothing, medical supplies, or articles
allowing them to pursue intellectual, cultural, or physical activities.
Article 76
Mail and parcels may be censored by the despatching
and receiving state. Censoring must be done as quickly as possible and
only once by each side.
Article 87
Collective punishment for individual acts is strictly
forbidden. Disciplinary measures shall never be inhumane, brutal, or
dangerous to the life of the POW.
Article 90
A prisoner may be sentenced to confinement for a maximum of thirty days.
Article 92
A prisoner captured during an escape attempt shall
receive disciplinary punishment at the most, even if it is a repeated
offense.
Article 97
Prisoners may not be transferred to other penitentiary establishments such as prisons to serve their punishment there.
Article 110
Prisoners that are incurably sick or wounded, or not
likely to recover within one year, shall be released and sent home
immediately.
Article 120
If a POW dies, the Prisoner of War Information Bureau
must be informed as soon as possible. The identity of the deceased and
the cause of death must be established before burial. The grave must be
properly marked and registered.
Article 122
Each country that holds POWs must establish an
information bureau where the identity, whereabouts, and health status of
the prisoners shall be registered.
Article 126
Representatives from the ICRC are allowed to visit
all places where POWs are held. They are allowed to interview POWs
without witnesses and without restrictions regarding the length of the
interview.
Convention (I) for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded and Sick in Armed Forces in the Field
Article 24 + Article 26
The staff of National Red Cross Societies and that of
other voluntary aid societies duly recognized and authorized by their
governments shall be respected and protected in all circumstances.
Links to the Geneva Conventions
Links below to the Geneva Conventions at the web site
of the International Committee of the Red Cross. The first three Geneva
Conventions were revised at the diplomatic conference in Geneva in
1949, which is why today they are also referred to as the 1949 Geneva
Conventions.
Geneva Convention I (from 1864) »
Wounded and sick of the armed forces have the right
to protection and care. Medical personnel must maintain neutrality and
impartiality in their work.
Geneva Convention II (from 1899) »
The treaty includes protecting and caring for the wounded and sick in battles at sea.
Geneva Convention III (from 1929) »
All prisoners of war are to be treated humanely and have the right to get in touch with their relatives.
Geneva Convention IV (from 1949) »
The treaty protects civilians (citizens not belonging to an army) and civilian property.
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