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Second Geneva Convention

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Hospital shipUSNSMercyof theUnited States Navy

TheSecond Geneva Conventionfor theAmeliorationof the Condition of Wounded, Sick and Shipwrecked Members of Armed Forces at Sea is one of the fourtreatiesof theGeneva Conventions.[1]The Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of Wounded, Sick and Shipwrecked Members of Armed Forces at Sea was first adopted in 1949, replacing theHague Convention(X) of 1907.[2]It adapts the main protective regime of theFirst Geneva Conventionto combat at sea.[3]

Summary of provisions[edit]

A political map of the world
Parties toGeneva ConventionsandProtocols
Parties to GC I–IV and P I–III
Parties to GC I–IV and P I–II
Parties to GC I–IV and P I and III
Parties to GC I–IV and P I
Parties to GC I–IV and P III
Parties to GC I–IV and no P

Thetreatyis a lengthy document consisting of 63 articles. The most essential provisions of the treaty are:

  • Articles 12 and 18 requires all parties to protect and care for the wounded, sick, andshipwrecked.
  • Article 14 clarifies that although a warship cannot capture a hospital ship's medical staff, it can hold the wounded, sick, and shipwrecked asprisoners of war.
  • Article 21 allows appeals to be made to neutral vessels to help collect and care for the wounded, sick, and shipwrecked. The neutral vessels cannot be captured.
  • Articles 36 and 37 protect religious and medical personnel serving on a combat ship.
  • Article 22 states thathospital shipscannot be used for any military purpose, and owing to their humanitarian mission, they cannot be attacked or captured.

For a detailed discussion of each article of the treaty, see the original text[4]and the commentary.[5]There are currently 196 countries party to the 1949Geneva Conventions,including this second treaty but also including the other three.[6]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^"Treaties, States parties, and Commentaries - Geneva Convention (II) on Wounded, Sick and Shipwrecked of Armed Forces at Sea, 1949 - -".ihl-databases.icrc.org.Retrieved13 April2022.
  2. ^ICRC."Convention (II) for the Amelioration of the Condition of Wounded, Sick and Shipwrecked Members of Armed Forces at Sea. Geneva, 12 August 1949".Retrieved5 March2017.The undersigned Plenipotentiaries of the Governments represented at the Diplomatic Conference held at Geneva from April 21 to August 12, 1949, for the purpose of revising the Xth Hague Convention of October 18, 1907 for the Adaptation to Maritime Warfare of the Principles of the Geneva Convention of 1906 [...]
  3. ^Fleck, Dietrich (2013).The Handbook of International Humanitarian Law.Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 322.ISBN978-0-19-872928-0.
  4. ^"Convention (II) for the Amelioration of the Condition of Wounded, Sick and Shipwrecked Members of Armed Forces at Sea. Geneva, 12 August 1949".The American National Red Cross.Retrieved20 November2009.
  5. ^Pictet, Jean (1958).Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949: Commentary.International Committee of the Red Cross.Retrieved20 November2009.
  6. ^"States party to the main treaties".The American National Red Cross.Retrieved5 December2009.

External links[edit]