The Fourth Geneva Convention The Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War of August 12, 1949 Civilians in areas of armed conflict and occupied territories are protected by the 159 articles of the Fourth Geneva Convention. Specific provisions include:
Arts. 13, 32 Civilians are to be protected from murder, torture or brutality, and from discrimination on the basis of race, nationality, religion or political opinion.
Art. 14 Hospital and safety zones may be established for the wounded, sick, and aged, children under 15, expectant mothers and mothers of children under seven.
Art. 18 Civilian hospitals and their staff are to be protected.
Arts. 24, 25 This Convention provides for the care of children who are orphaned or separated from their families. The ICRC’s Central Tracing and Protection Agency is also authorized to transmit family news and assist with family reunifications, with the help of Red Cross and Red Crescent national societies.
Art. 27 The safety, honor, family rights, religious practices, manners and customs of civilians are to be respected.
Arts. 33-34 Pillage, reprisals, indiscriminate destruction of property and the taking of hostages are prohibited.
Arts. 33, 49 They are not to be subjected to collective punishment or deportation.
Art. 40 Civilians cannot be forced to do military-related work for an occupying force.
Art. 54 They are to be paid fairly for any assigned work.
Art. 55 Occupying powers are to provide food and medical supplies as necessary to the population and maintain medical and public health facilities.
Arts. 55, 58 Medical supplies and objects used for religious worship are to be allowed passage.
Art. 59 When that is not possible, they are to facilitate relief shipments by impartial humanitarian organizations such as the ICRC. Red Cross or other impartial humanitarian relief organizations authorized by the parties to the conflict are to be allowed to continue their activities.
Art. 64 Public officials will be permitted to continue their duties. Laws of the occupied territory will remain in force unless they present a security threat.
Arts. 79-135 If security allows, civilians must be permitted to lead normal lives. They are not to be deported or interned—except for imperative reasons of security. If internment is necessary, conditions should be at least comparable to those set forth for prisoners of war.
Arts. 89-91 Internees are to receive adequate food, clothing and medical care, and protected from the dangers of war.
Art. 106 Information about internees is to be sent to the Central Tracing Agency.
Arts. 108, 107 Internees have the right to send and receive mail and receive relief shipments.
Art. 132 Children, pregnant women, mothers with infants and young children, the wounded and sick and those who have been interned for a long time are to be released as soon as possible.