Article 19.
The protection to which civilian hospitals are entitled shall not
cease unless they are used to commit, outside their humanitarian
duties, acts harmful to the enemy. Protection may, however, cease
only after due warning has been given, naming, in all appropriate
cases, a reasonable time limit and after such warning has remained
unheeded.
The fact that sick or wounded members of the armed forces are nursed
in these hospitals, or the presence of small arms and ammunition
taken from such combatants and not yet been handed to the proper
service, shall not be considered to be acts harmful to the enemy.
Article 20.
Persons regularly and solely engaged in the operation and administration
of civilian hospitals, including the personnel engaged in the search
for, removal and transporting of and caring for wounded and sick
civilians, the infirm and maternity cases shall be respected and
protected.
In occupied territory and in zones of military operations, the above
personnel shall be recognizable by means of an identity card certifying
their status, bearing the photograph of the holder and embossed
with the stamp of the responsible authority, and also by means of
a stamped, water-resistant armlet which they shall wear on the left
arm while carrying out their duties. This armlet shall be issued
by the State and shall bear the emblem provided for in Article 38
of the Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of
the Wounded and Sick in Armed Forces in the Field of 12 August 1949.
Other personnel who are engaged in the operation and administration
of civilian hospitals shall be entitled to respect and protection
and to wear the armlet, as provided in and under the conditions
prescribed in this Article, while they are employed on such duties.
The identity card shall state the duties on which they are employed.
The management of each hospital shall at all times hold at the disposal
of the competent national or occupying authorities an up-to-date
list of such personnel.
Article 21.
Convoys of vehicles or hospital trains on
land or specially provided vessels on sea, conveying wounded and
sick civilians, the infirm and maternity cases, shall be respected
and protected in the same manner as the hospitals provided for in
Article 18, and shall be marked, with the consent of the State,
by the display of the distinctive emblem provided for in Article
38 of the Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition
of the Wounded and Sick in Armed Forces in the Field of 12 August
1949.
Article22.
Aircraft exclusively employed for the removal of wounded and sick
civilians, the infirm and maternity cases or for the transport of
medical personnel and equipment, shall not be attacked, but shall
be respected while flying at heights, times and on routes specifically
agreed upon between all the Parties to the conflict concerned.
They may be marked with the distinctive emblem provided for in Article
38 of the Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition
of the Wounded and Sick in Armed Forces in the Field of 12 August
1949.
Unless agreed otherwise, flights over enemy or enemy occupied territory
are prohibited.
Such aircraft shall obey every summons to land. In the event of
a landing thus imposed, the aircraft with its occupants may continue
its flight after examination, if any.
Article 23.
Each High Contracting Party shall allow the free passage of all
consignments of medical and hospital stores and objects necessary
for religious worship intended only for civilians of another High
Contracting Party, even if the latter is its adversary. It shall
likewise permit the free passage of all consignments of essential
foodstuffs, clothing and tonics intended for children under fifteen,
expectant mothers and maternity cases.
The obligation of a High Contracting Party to allow the free passage
of the consignments indicated in the preceding paragraph is subject
to the condition that this Party is satisfied that there are no
serious reasons
for fearing:
(a) that the consignments may be diverted from their destination,
(b) that the control may not be effective, or
(c) that a definite advantage may accrue to the military efforts
or economy of the enemy through the substitution of the above-mentioned
consignments for goods which would otherwise be provided or produced
by the enemy or through the release of such material, services or
facilities as would otherwise be required for the production of
such goods.
The Power which allows the passage of the consignments indicated
in the first paragraph of this Article may make such permission
conditional on the distribution to the persons benefited thereby
being made under the local supervision of the Protecting Powers.
Such consignments shall be forwarded as rapidly as possible, and
the Power which permits their free passage shall have the right
to prescribe the technical arrangements under which such passage
is allowed. |