Geneva Conventions Act 1957

ARTICLE 13U.K.

The present Convention shall apply to the wounded, sick and shipwrecked at sea belonging to the following categories:

(1)Members of the armed forces of a Party to the conflict as well as members of militias or volunteer corps forming part of such armed forces;

(2)Members of other militias and members of other volunteer corps, including those of organised resistance movements, belonging to a Party to the conflict and operating in or outside their own territory, even if this territory is occupied, provided that such militias or volunteer corps, including such organised resistance movements, fulfil the following conditions:

(a)that of being commanded by a person responsible for his subordinates;

(b)that of having a fixed distinctive sign recognisable at a distance;

(c)that of carrying arms openly;

(d)that of conducting their operations in accordance with the laws and customs of war;

(3)Members of regular armed forces who profess allegiance to a Government or an authority not recognised by the Detaining Power;

(4)Persons who accompany the armed forces without actually being members thereof, such as civil members of military aircraft crews, war correspondents, supply contractors, members of labour units or of services responsible for the welfare of the armed forces, provided that they have received authorisation from the armed forces which they accompany;

(5)Members of crews, including masters, pilots and apprentices, of the merchant marine and the crews of civil aircraft of the Parties to the conflict, who do not benefit by more favourable treatment under any other provisions of international law;

(6)Inhabitants of a non-occupied territory who, on the approach of the enemy, spontaneously take up arms to resist the invading forces, without having had time to form themselves into regular armed units, provided they carry arms openly and respect the laws and customs of war.