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- Point in Time (01/09/2001)
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Point in time view as at 01/09/2001.
There are currently no known outstanding effects for the Geneva Conventions Act 1957,
PART V.
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Textual Amendments
F1Fifth and Sixth Schedules inserted (20.7.1998) by 1995 c. 27, s. 6, Sch.; S.I. 1998/1505, art. 2
F2Fifth and Sixth Schedules inserted (20.7.1998) by 1995 c. 27, s. 6, Sch.; S.I. 1998/1505, art. 2
Textual Amendments
F3Fifth and Sixth Schedules inserted (20.7.1998) by 1995 c. 27, s. 6, Sch.; S.I. 1998/1505, art. 2
Textual Amendments
F4Fifth and Sixth Schedules inserted (20.7.1998) by 1995 c. 27, s. 6, Sch.; S.I. 1998/1505, art. 2
F51U.K.The High Contracting Parties and the Parties to the conflict shall without delay take all necessary measures for the execution of their obligations under the Conventions and this Protocol.
Textual Amendments
F5Fifth and Sixth Schedules inserted (20.7.1998) by 1995 c. 27, s. 6, Sch.; S.I. 1998/1505, art. 2
F62U.K.The High Contracting Parties and the Parties to the conflict shall give orders and instructions to ensure observance of the Conventions and this Protocol, and shall supervise their execution.
Textual Amendments
F6Fifth and Sixth Schedules inserted (20.7.1998) by 1995 c. 27, s. 6, Sch.; S.I. 1998/1505, art. 2
Textual Amendments
F7Fifth and Sixth Schedules inserted (20.7.1998) by 1995 c. 27, s. 6, Sch.; S.I. 1998/1505, art. 2
F81U.K.The Parties to the conflict shall grant to the International Committee of the Red Cross all facilities within their power so as to enable it to carry out the humanitarian functions assigned to it by the Conventions and this Protocol in order to ensure protection and assistance to the victims of conflicts; the International Committee of the Red Cross may also carry out any other humanitarian activities in favour of these victims, subject to the consent of the Parties to the conflict concerned.
Textual Amendments
F8Fifth and Sixth Schedules inserted (20.7.1998) by 1995 c. 27, s. 6, Sch.; S.I. 1998/1505, art. 2
F92U.K.The Parties to the conflict shall grant to their respective Red Cross (Red Crescent, Red Lion and Sun) organisations the facilities necessary for carrying out their humanitarian activities in favour of the victims of the conflict, in accordance with the provisions of the Conventions and this Protocol and the fundamental principles of the Red Cross as formulated by the International Conferences of the Red Cross.
Textual Amendments
F9Fifth and Sixth Schedules inserted (20.7.1998) by 1995 c. 27, s. 6, Sch.; S.I. 1998/1505, art. 2
F103U.K.The High Contracting Parties and the Parties to the conflict shall facilitate in every possible way the assistance which Red Cross (Red Crescent, Red Lion and Sun) organisations and the League of Red Cross Societies extend to the victims of conflicts in accordance with the provisions of the Conventions and this Protocol and with the fundamental principles of the Red Cross as formulated by the International Conferences of the Red Cross.
Textual Amendments
F10Fifth and Sixth Schedules inserted (20.7.1998) by 1995 c. 27, s. 6, Sch.; S.I. 1998/1505, art. 2
F114U.K.The High Contracting Parties and the Parties to the conflict shall, as far as possible, make facilities similar to those mentioned in paragraphs 2 and 3 available to the other humanitarian organisations referred to in the Conventions and this Protocol which are duly authorised by the respective Parties to the conflict and which perform their humanitarian activities in accordance with the provisions of the Conventions and this Protocol.
Textual Amendments
F11Fifth and Sixth Schedules inserted (20.7.1998) by 1995 c. 27, s. 6, Sch.; S.I. 1998/1505, art. 2
Textual Amendments
F12Fifth and Sixth Schedules inserted (20.7.1998) by 1995 c. 27, s. 6, Sch.; S.I. 1998/1505, art. 2
The High Contracting Parties at all times, and the Parties to the conflict in time of armed conflict, shall ensure that legal advisers are available, when necessary, to advise military commanders at the appropriate level on the application of the Conventions and this Protocol and on the appropriate instruction to be given to the armed forces on this subject.
Textual Amendments
F13Fifth and Sixth Schedules inserted (20.7.1998) by 1995 c. 27, s. 6, Sch.; S.I. 1998/1505, art. 2
F141U.K.The High Contracting Parties undertake, in time of peace as in time of armed conflict, to disseminate the Conventions and this Protocol as widely as possible in their respective countries and, in particular, to include the study thereof in their programmes of military instruction and to encourage the study thereof by the civilian population, so that those instruments may become known to the armed forces and to the civilian population.
Textual Amendments
F14Fifth and Sixth Schedules inserted (20.7.1998) by 1995 c. 27, s. 6, Sch.; S.I. 1998/1505, art. 2
F152U.K.Any military or civilian authorities who, in time of armed conflict, assume responsibilities in respect of the application of the Conventions and this Protocol shall be fully acquainted with the text thereof.
Textual Amendments
F15Fifth and Sixth Schedules inserted (20.7.1998) by 1995 c. 27, s. 6, Sch.; S.I. 1998/1505, art. 2
Textual Amendments
F16Fifth and Sixth Schedules inserted (20.7.1998) by 1995 c. 27, s. 6, Sch.; S.I. 1998/1505, art. 2
The High Contracting Parties shall communicate to one another, as soon as possible, through the depositary and, as appropriate, through the Protecting Powers, their official translations of this Protocol, as well as the laws and regulations which they may adopt to ensure its application.
Textual Amendments
F17Fifth and Sixth Schedules inserted (20.7.1998) by 1995 c. 27, s. 6, Sch.; S.I. 1998/1505, art. 2
Textual Amendments
F18Fifth and Sixth Schedules inserted (20.7.1998) by 1995 c. 27, s. 6, Sch.; S.I. 1998/1505, art. 2
F191U.K.The provisions of the Conventions relating to the repression of breaches and grave breaches, supplemented by this Section, shall apply to the repression of breaches and grave breaches of this Protocol.
Textual Amendments
F19Fifth and Sixth Schedules inserted (20.7.1998) by 1995 c. 27, s. 6, Sch.; S.I. 1998/1505, art. 2
F202U.K.Acts described as grave breaches in the Conventions are grave breaches of this Protocol if committed against persons in the power of an adverse Party protected by Articles 44, 45 and 73 of this Protocol, or against the wounded, sick and shipwrecked of the adverse Party who are protected by this Protocol, or against those medical or religious personnel, medical units or medical transports which are under the control of the adverse Party and are protected by this Protocol.
Textual Amendments
F20Fifth and Sixth Schedules inserted (20.7.1998) by 1995 c. 27, s. 6, Sch.; S.I. 1998/1505, art. 2
F213U.K.In addition to the grave breaches defined in Article 11, the following acts shall be regarded as grave breaches of this Protocol, when committed wilfully, in violation of the relevant provisions of this Protocol, and causing death or serious injury to body or health:
(a)making the civilian population or individual civilians the object of attack;
(b)launching an indiscriminate attack affecting the civilian population or civilian objects in the knowledge that such attack will cause excessive loss of life, injury to civilians or damage to civilian objects, as defined in Article 57, paragraph 2(a)(iii);
(c)launching an attack against works or installations containing dangerous forces in the knowledge that such attack will cause excessive loss of life, injury to civilians or damage to civilian objects, as defined in Article 57, paragraph 2(a)(iii);
(d)making non-defended localities and demilitarised zones the object of attack;
(e)making a person the object of attack in the knowledge that he ishors de combat;
(f)the perfidious use, in violation of Article 37, of the distinctive emblem of the red cross, red crescent or red lion and sun or of other protective signs recognised by the Conventions or this Protocol.
Textual Amendments
F21Fifth and Sixth Schedules inserted (20.7.1998) by 1995 c. 27, s. 6, Sch.; S.I. 1998/1505, art. 2
F224U.K.In addition to the grave breaches defined in the preceding paragraphs and in the Conventions, the following shall be regarded as grave breaches of this Protocol, when committed wilfully and in violation of the Conventions or the Protocol:
(a)the transfer by the Occupying Power of parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies, or the deportation or transfer of all or parts of the population of the occupied territory within or outside this territory, in violation of Article 49 of the Fourth Convention;
(b)unjustifiable delay in the repatriation of prisoners of war or civilians;
(c)practices ofapartheid and other inhuman and degrading practices involving outrages upon personal dignity, based on racial discrimination;
(d)making the clearly recognised historic monuments, works of art or places of worship which constitute the cultural or spiritual heritage of peoples and to which special protection has been given by special arrangement, for example, within the framework of a competent international organisation, the object of attack, causing as a result extensive destruction thereof, where there is no evidence of the violation by the adverse Party of Article 53, sub-paragraph (b), and when such historic monuments, works of art and places of worship are not located in the immediate proximity of military objectives;
(e)depriving a person protected by the Conventions or referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article of the rights of fair and regular trial.
Textual Amendments
F22Fifth and Sixth Schedules inserted (20.7.1998) by 1995 c. 27, s. 6, Sch.; S.I. 1998/1505, art. 2
F235U.K.Without prejudice to the application of the Conventions and of this Protocol, grave breaches of these instruments shall be regarded as war crimes.
Textual Amendments
F23Fifth and Sixth Schedules inserted (20.7.1998) by 1995 c. 27, s. 6, Sch.; S.I. 1998/1505, art. 2
Textual Amendments
F24Fifth and Sixth Schedules inserted (20.7.1998) by 1995 c. 27, s. 6, Sch.; S.I. 1998/1505, art. 2
F251U.K.The High Contracting Parties and the Parties to the conflict shall repress grave breaches, and take measures necessary to suppress all other breaches, of the Conventions or of this Protocol which result from a failure to act when under a duty to do so.
Textual Amendments
F25Fifth and Sixth Schedules inserted (20.7.1998) by 1995 c. 27, s. 6, Sch.; S.I. 1998/1505, art. 2
F262U.K.The fact that a breach of the Conventions or of this Protocol was committed by a subordinate does not absolve his superiors from penal or disciplinary responsibility, as the case may be, if they knew, or had information which should have enabled them to conclude in the circumstances at the time, that he was committing or was going to commit such a breach and if they did not take all feasible measures within their power to prevent or repress the breach.
Textual Amendments
F26Fifth and Sixth Schedules inserted (20.7.1998) by 1995 c. 27, s. 6, Sch.; S.I. 1998/1505, art. 2
Textual Amendments
F27Fifth and Sixth Schedules inserted (20.7.1998) by 1995 c. 27, s. 6, Sch.; S.I. 1998/1505, art. 2
F281U.K.The High Contracting Parties and the Parties to the conflict shall require military commanders, with respect to members of the armed forces under their command and other persons under their control, to prevent and, where necessary, to suppress and to report to competent authorities breaches of the Conventions and of this Protocol.
Textual Amendments
F28Fifth and Sixth Schedules inserted (20.7.1998) by 1995 c. 27, s. 6, Sch.; S.I. 1998/1505, art. 2
F292U.K.In order to prevent and suppress breaches, High Contracting Parties and Parties to the conflict shall require that, commensurate with their level of responsibility, commanders ensure that members of the armed forces under their command are aware of their obligations under the Conventions and this Protocol.
Textual Amendments
F29Fifth and Sixth Schedules inserted (20.7.1998) by 1995 c. 27, s. 6, Sch.; S.I. 1998/1505, art. 2
F303U.K.The High Contracting Parties and Parties to the conflict shall require any commander who is aware that subordinates or other persons under his control are going to commit or have committed a breach of the Conventions or of this Protocol, to initiate such steps as are necessary to prevent such violations of the Conventions or this Protocol, and, where appropriate, to initiate disciplinary or penal action against violators thereof.
Textual Amendments
F30Fifth and Sixth Schedules inserted (20.7.1998) by 1995 c. 27, s. 6, Sch.; S.I. 1998/1505, art. 2
Textual Amendments
F31Fifth and Sixth Schedules inserted (20.7.1998) by 1995 c. 27, s. 6, Sch.; S.I. 1998/1505, art. 2
F321U.K.The High Contracting Parties shall afford one another the greatest measure of assistance in connection with criminal proceedings brought in respect of grave breaches of the Conventions or of this Protocol.
Textual Amendments
F32Fifth and Sixth Schedules inserted (20.7.1998) by 1995 c. 27, s. 6, Sch.; S.I. 1998/1505, art. 2
F332U.K.Subject to the rights and obligations established in the Conventions and in Article 85, paragraph 1, of this Protocol, and when circumstances permit, the High Contracting Parties shall co-operate in the matter of extradition. They shall give due consideration to the request of the State in whose territory the alleged offence has occurred.
Textual Amendments
F33Fifth and Sixth Schedules inserted (20.7.1998) by 1995 c. 27, s. 6, Sch.; S.I. 1998/1505, art. 2
F343U.K.The law of the High Contracting Party requested shall apply in all cases. The provisions of the preceding paragraphs shall not, however, affect the obligations arising from the provisions of any other treaty of a bilateral or multilateral nature which governs or will govern the whole or part of the subject of mutual assistance in criminal matters.
Textual Amendments
F34Fifth and Sixth Schedules inserted (20.7.1998) by 1995 c. 27, s. 6, Sch.; S.I. 1998/1505, art. 2
Textual Amendments
F35Fifth and Sixth Schedules inserted (20.7.1998) by 1995 c. 27, s. 6, Sch.; S.I. 1998/1505, art. 2
In situations of serious violations of the Conventions or of this Protocol, the High Contracting Parties undertake to act, jointly or individually, in co-operation with the United Nations and in conformity with the United Nations Charter.
Textual Amendments
F36Fifth and Sixth Schedules inserted (20.7.1998) by 1995 c. 27, s. 6, Sch.; S.I. 1998/1505, art. 2
F371(a)An International Fact-Finding Commission (hereinafter referred to as “the Commission”) consisting of fifteen members of high moral standing and acknowledged impartiality shall be established.U.K.
(b)When not less than twenty High Contracting Parties have agreed to accept the competence of the Commission pursuant to paragraph 2, the depositary shall then, and at intervals of five years thereafter, convene a meeting of representatives of those High Contracting Parties for the purpose of electing the members of the Commission. At the meeting, the representatives shall elect the members of the Commission by secret ballot from a list of persons to which each of those High Contracting Parties may nominate one person.
(c)The members of the Commission shall serve in their personal capacity and shall hold office until the election of new members at the ensuing meeting.
(d)At the election, the High Contracting Parties shall ensure that the persons to be elected to the Commission individually possess the qualifications required and that, in the Commission as a whole, equitable geographical representation is assured.
(e)In the case of a casual vacancy, the Commission itself shall fill the vacancy, having due regard to the provisions of the preceding sub-paragraphs.
(f)The depositary shall make available to the Commission the necessary administrative facilities for the performance of its functions.
Textual Amendments
F37Fifth and Sixth Schedules inserted (20.7.1998) by 1995 c. 27, s. 6, Sch.; S.I. 1998/1505, art. 2
F382(a)The High Contracting Parties may at the time of signing, ratifying or acceding to the Protocol, or at any other subsequent time, declare that they recogniseipso facto and without special agreement, in relation to any other High Contracting Party accepting the same obligation, the competence of the Commission to enquire into allegations by such other Party, as authorised by this Article.U.K.
(b)The declarations referred to above shall be deposited with the depositary, which shall transmit copies thereof to the High Contracting Parties.
(c)The Commission shall be competent to:
(i)enquire into any facts alleged to be a grave breach as defined in the Conventions and this Protocol or other serious violation of the Conventions or of this Protocol;
(ii)facilitate, through its good offices, the restoration of an attitude of respect for the Conventions and this Protocol.
(d)In other situations, the Commission shall institute an enquiry at the request of a Party to the conflict only with the consent of the other Party or Parties concerned.
(e)Subject to the foregoing provisions of this paragraph, the provisions of Article 52 of the First Convention, Article 53 of the Second Convention, Article 132 of the Third Convention and Article 149 of the Fourth Convention shall continue to apply to any alleged violation of the Conventions and shall extend to any alleged violation of this Protocol.
Textual Amendments
F38Fifth and Sixth Schedules inserted (20.7.1998) by 1995 c. 27, s. 6, Sch.; S.I. 1998/1505, art. 2
F393(a)Unless otherwise agreed by the Parties concerned, all enquiries shall be undertaken by a Chamber consisting of seven members appointed as follows:U.K.
(i)five members of the Commission, not nationals of any Party to the conflict, appointed by the President of the Commission on the basis of equitable representation of the geographical areas, after consultation with the Parties to the conflict;
(ii)twoad hoc members, not nationals of any Party to the conflict, one to be appointed by each side.
(b)Upon receipt of the request for an enquiry, the President of the Commission shall specify an appropriate time-limit for setting up a Chamber. If anyad hoc member has not been appointed within the time-limit, the President shall immediately appoint such additional member or members of the Commission as may be necessary to complete the membership of the Chamber.
Textual Amendments
F39Fifth and Sixth Schedules inserted (20.7.1998) by 1995 c. 27, s. 6, Sch.; S.I. 1998/1505, art. 2
F404(a)The Chamber set up under paragraph 3 to undertake an enquiry shall invite the Parties to the conflict to assist it and to present evidence. The Chamber may also seek such other evidence as it deems appropriate and may carry out an investigation of the situationin loco.U.K.
(b)All evidence shall be fully disclosed to the Parties, which shall have the right to comment on it to the Commission.
(c)Each Party shall have the right to challenge such evidence.
Textual Amendments
F40Fifth and Sixth Schedules inserted (20.7.1998) by 1995 c. 27, s. 6, Sch.; S.I. 1998/1505, art. 2
F415(a)The Commission shall submit to the Parties a report on the findings of fact of the Chamber, with such recommendations as it may deem appropriate.U.K.
(b)If the Chamber is unable to secure sufficient evidence for factual and impartial findings, the Commission shall state the reasons for that inability.
(c)The Commission shall not report its findings publicly, unless all the Parties to the conflict have requested the Commission to do so.
Textual Amendments
F41Fifth and Sixth Schedules inserted (20.7.1998) by 1995 c. 27, s. 6, Sch.; S.I. 1998/1505, art. 2
F426U.K.The Commission shall establish its own rules, including rules for the presidency of the Commission and the presidency of the Chamber. Those rules shall ensure that the functions of the President of the Commission are exercised at all times and that, in the case of an enquiry, they are exercised by a person who is not a national of a Party to the conflict.
Textual Amendments
F42Fifth and Sixth Schedules inserted (20.7.1998) by 1995 c. 27, s. 6, Sch.; S.I. 1998/1505, art. 2
F437U.K.The administrative expenses of the Commission shall be met by contributions from the High Contracting Parties which made declarations under paragraph 2, and by voluntary contributions. The Party or Parties to the conflict requesting an enquiry shall advance the necessary funds for expenses incurred by a Chamber and shall be reimbursed by the Party or Parties against which the allegations are made to the extent of fifty per cent of the costs of the Chamber. Where there are counter-allegations before the Chamber each side shall advance fifty per cent of the necessary funds.
Textual Amendments
F43Fifth and Sixth Schedules inserted (20.7.1998) by 1995 c. 27, s. 6, Sch.; S.I. 1998/1505, art. 2
Textual Amendments
F44Fifth and Sixth Schedules inserted (20.7.1998) by 1995 c. 27, s. 6, Sch.; S.I. 1998/1505, art. 2
A Party to the conflict which violates the provisions of the Conventions or of this Protocol shall, if the case demands, be liable to pay compensation. It shall be responsible for all acts committed by persons forming part of its armed forces.]
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