Each Party to the conflict shall endeavour to ensure that its civil defence organisations, their personnel, buildings andmategriel, are identifiable while they are exclusively devoted to the performance of civil defence tasks. Shelters provided for the civilian population should be similarly identifiable.

Each Party to the conflict shall also endeavour to adopt and implement methods and procedures which will make it possible to recognise civilian shelters as well as civil defence personnel, buildings andmategriel on which the international distinctive sign of civil defence is displayed.

In occupied territories and in areas where fighting is taking place or is likely to take place, civilian civil defence personnel should be recognisable by the international distinctive sign of civil defence and by an identity card certifying their status.

The international distinctive sign of civil defence is an equilateral blue triangle on an orange ground when used for the protection of civil defence organisations, their personnel, buildings andmategriel and for civilian shelters.

In addition to the distinctive sign, Parties to the conflict may agree upon the use of distinctive signals for civil defence identification purposes.

The application of the provisions of paragraphs 1 to 4 is governed by Chapter V of Annex I to this Protocol.

In time of peace, the sign described in paragraph 4 may, with the consent of the competent national authorities, be used for civil defence identification purposes.

The High Contracting Parties and the Parties to the conflict shall take the measures necessary to supervise the display of the international distinctive sign of civil defence and to prevent and repress any misuse thereof.

The identification of civil defence medical and religious personnel, medical units and medical transports is also governed by Article 18.