[The Human Rights Library wishes to express its gratitude to the Institute Henry Dunant for its contribution of this document.]
The Conference convened by the Swiss Federal Council with a view to the revision of the Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded and Sick in Armies in the Field of 6 July 1906, and the elaboration of a Code relating to Prisoners of War, deliberated at Geneva from 1 - 27 July 1929, on the basis of two draft Conventions which had been examined-and approved by the 10th and 11th International Conferences of the Red Cross. The countries enumerated below took part in the Conference for which the Delegates hereinafter named had been appointed:
(Here follow the names of delegates)
The Conference was presided over by Mr. Paul Dinichert, Minister Plenipotentiary, Delegate of Switzerland.
The Conference appointed two Commissions.
The First Commission, charged with the revision of the Geneva Convention, was presided over by M. Paul Dinichert, the Second, charged with the elaboration of a Code relating to Prisoners of War, by M. Harald Scavenius. The Second Commission was divided into two Sub-Commissions, one presided over by Mr. Hugh R. Wilson, Delegate of the United States of America, the other by the Right Honourable Sir Horace Rumbold, Delegate of Great Britain. The Conference has drawn up for signature by the Plenipotentiaries, two Conventions bearing this day's date:
The Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded and Sick in Armies in the Field; and
The Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War.
The Conference further made the following
recommendations and expressed the following views:
I. The Conference recommends that the question be examined whether fresh safeguards lasting until the end of their treatment in hospital could not be established for the benefit of persons who are badly wounded or seriously ill land have fallen into the hands of the enemy.
II. In view of a request by the Sovereign and Military Order of the Hospitallers of St. John of Jerusalem, called the Order of Malta, the Conference considers that the provisions laid down by the Geneva Convention governing the position of Aid Societies with armies in the field are applicable to the national organizations of this Order. The same applies as regards the Grand Priory of St. John of Jerusalem in England, the Orders of St. John (Johanniter) and of St. George in Germany, and similar nursing Orders in all countries.
III.The Conference recommends that the countries participating in the Geneva Conventions should meet in conference in the near future, with the view to regulate as comprehensively as may be necessary the use of medical aircraft in time of war.
IV. The Conference recommends that the consideration and establishment of an uniform pattern of identity certificate for all Red Cross personnel not provided with military uniform should be referred to the International Commission for the Standardization of Medical Material.
V. The Conference, recognizing the importance of the mission entrusted to the National Societies of the Red Moss and the voluntary aid societies in their work of solidarity among nations, considers that it is highly desirable that all facilities and immunities for the exercise of their functions in time of peace should be accorded in the widest measure permissible under the national legislations, particularly as regards their establishment, the circulation of their personnel and material, and their nursing activities. VI. The Conference, adopting the unanimous resolutions of its two Commissions, recommends that an exhaustive study should be made with a view to the conclusion of an international Convention regarding the condition and protection of civilians of enemy nationality in the territory of a belligerent or in territory occupied by a belligerent.
In witness whereof the delegates have signed the present Final Act.
Done at Geneva, 27 July 1929, in a single copy, which shall be deposited in the archives of the Swiss Federation, and of which copies, certified to be correct, shall be transmitted to all the countries represented at the Conference.
(Here follow signatures)
