Commentary on the First Geneva Convention

Introduction; Preamble; Part I. General Provisions: Article 1. Respect for the Convention; Article 2. Application of the Convention; Article 3. Conflicts not of an international character; Article 4. Application by neutral powers; Article 5. Duration of application; Article 6. Special agreements; Article 7. Non-renunciation of rights; Article 8. Protecting Powers; Article 9. Activities of the ICRC and other impartial humanitarian organizations; Article 10. Substitutes for protecting powers; Article 11. Conciliation procedure; Part II. Wounded and Sick: Article 12. Protection and care of the wounded and sick; Article 13. Protected persons; Article 14. Status of the wounded and sick who have fallen into enemy hands; Article 15. Search for casualties. Evacuation; Article 16. Recording and forwarding of information; Article 17. Prescriptions regarding the dead. Graves Registration Service; Article 18. Role of the population; Part III. Medical Units and Establishments: Article 19. Protection of medical units and establishments; Article 20. Protection of hospital ships; Article 21. Discontinuance of protection of medical units and establishments; Article 22. Conditions not depriving medical units and establishments of protection; Article 23. Hospital zones and localities; Part IV. Personnel: Article 24. Protection of permanent personnel; Article 25. Protection of auxiliary personnel; Article 26. Personnel of aid societies; Article 27. Societies of neutral societies; Article 28. Retained personnel; Article 29. Status of auxiliary personnel who have fallen into enemy hands; Article 30. Return of medical and religious personnel; Article 31. Selection of personnel for return; Article 32. Return of personnel belonging to neutral countries; Part V. Buildings and Material: Article 33. Buildings and material of medical units and establishments; Article 34. Property of aid societies; Part VI. Medical Transports: Article 35. Protection of medical transports; Article 36. Medical aircraft; Article 37. Flight over neutral countries. Landing of the wounded and sick; Part VII. The Distinctive Emblem: Article 38. Emblem of the Convention; Article 39. Use of the emblem; Article 40. Identification of medical and religious personnel; Article 41. Identification of auxiliary personnel; Article 42. Marking of medical units and establishments; Article 43. Marking of units of neutral countries; Article 44. Restrictions in the use of the emblem. Exceptions; Part VIII. Execution of the Convention: Article 45. Detailed execution. Unforeseen cases; Article 46. Prohibition of reprisals; Article 47. Dissemination of the Convention; Article 48. Translations. Implementing laws and regulations; Part IX. Repression of Abuses and Infractions: Article 49. Penal sanctions; Article 50. Grave breaches; Article 51. Responsibilities of the contracting parties; Article 52. Enquiry procedure; Article 53. Misuse of the emblem; Article 54. Prevention of misuse of the emblem; Final provisions; Article 55. Languages; Article 56. Signature; Article 57. Ratification; Article 58. Coming into force; Article 59. Relation to previous conventions; Article 60. Accession; Article 61. Notification of accessions; Article 62. Immediate effect; Article 63. Denunciation; Article 64. Registration with the United Nations; Testimonium and signature clause.