Art 122. Upon the outbreak of a conflict and in all cases of
occupation, each of the Parties to the conflict shall institute
an official Information Bureau for prisoners of war who are in
its power. Neutral or non-belligerent Powers who may have
received within their territory persons belonging to one of the
categories referred to in Article 4, shall take the same action
with respect to such persons. The Power concerned shall ensure
that the Prisoners of War Information Bureau is provided with the
necessary accommodation, equipment and staff to ensure its
efficient working. It shall be at liberty to employ prisoners of
war in such a Bureau under the conditions laid down in the
Section of the present Convention dealing with work by prisoners
of war.
Within the shortest possible period, each of the Parties to
the conflict shall give its Bureau the information referred to in
the fourth, fifth and sixth paragraphs of this Article regarding
any enemy person belonging to one of the categories referred to
in Article 4, who has fallen into its power. Neutral or
non-belligerent Powers shall take the same action with regard to
persons belonging to such categories whom they have received
within their territory.
The Bureau shall immediately forward such information by the
most rapid means to the Powers concerned, through the
intermediary of the Protecting Powers and likewise of the Central
Agency provided for in Article 123.
This information shall make it possible quickly to advise the
next of kin concerned. Subject to the provisions of Article 17,
the information shall include, in so far as available to the
Information Bureau, in respect of each prisoner of war, his
surname, first names, rank, army, regimental, personal or serial
number, place and full date of birth, indication of the Power on
which he depends, first name of the father and maiden name of the
mother, name and address of the person to be informed and the
address to which correspondence for the prisoner may be sent.
The Information Bureau shall receive from the various
departments concerned information regarding transfers, releases,
repatriations, escapes, admissions to hospital, and deaths, and
shall transmit such information in the manner described in the
third paragraph above.
Likewise, information regarding the state of health of
prisoners of war who are seriously ill or seriously wounded shall
be supplied regularly, every week if possible.
The Information Bureau shall also be responsible for replying
to all enquiries sent to it concerning prisoners of war,
including those who have died in captivity; it will make any
enquiries necessary to obtain the information which is asked for
if this is not in its possession.
All written communications made by the Bureau shall be
authenticated by a signature or a seal.
The Information Bureau shall furthermore be charged with
collecting all personal valuables, including sums in currencies
other than that of the Detaining Power and documents of
importance to the next of kin, left by prisoners of war who have
been repatriated or released, or who have escaped or died, and
shall forward the said valuables to the Powers concerned. Such
articles shall be sent by the Bureau in sealed packets which
shall be accompanied by statements giving clear and full
particulars of the identity of the person to whom the articles
belonged, and by a complete list of the contents of the parcel.
Other personal effects of such prisoners of war shall be
transmitted under arrangements agreed upon between the Parties to
the conflict concerned.
Art 123. A Central Prisoners of War Information Agency shall
be created in a neutral country. The International Committee of
the Red Cross shall, if it deems necessary, propose to the Powers
concerned the organization of such an Agency.
The function of the Agency shall be to collect all the
information it may obtain through official or private channels
respecting prisoners of war, and to transmit it as rapidly as
possible to the country of origin of the prisoners of war or to
the Power on which they depend. It shall receive from the Parties
to the conflict all facilities for effecting such transmissions.
The High Contracting Parties, and in particular those whose
nationals benefit by the services of the Central Agency, are
requested to give the said Agency the financial aid it may
require.
The foregoing provisions shall in no way be interpreted as
restricting the humanitarian activities of the International
Committee of the Red Cross, or of the relief societies provided
for in Article 125.
Art 124. The national Information Bureaux and the Central
Information Agency shall enjoy free postage for mail, likewise
all the exemptions provided for in Article 74, and further, so
far as possible, exemption from telegraphic charges or, at least,
greatly reduced rates.
Art 125. Subject to the measures which the Detaining Powers
may consider essential to ensure their security or to meet any
other reasonable need, the representatives of religious
organizations, relief societies, or any other organization
assisting prisoners of war, shall receive from the said Powers,
for themselves and their duly accredited agents, all necessary
facilities for visiting the prisoners, for distributing relief
supplies and material, from any source, intended for religious,
educational or recreative purposes, and for assisting them in
organizing their leisure time within the camps. Such societies or
organizations may be constituted in the territory of the
Detaining Power or in any other country, or they may have an
international character.
The Detaining Power may limit the number of societies and
organizations whose delegates are allowed to carry out their
activities in its territory and under its supervision, on
condition, however, that such limitation shall not hinder the
effective operation of adequate relief to all prisoners of war.
The special position of the International Committee of the Red
Cross in this field shall be recognized and respected at all
times.
As soon as relief supplies or material intended for the
above-mentioned purposes are handed over to prisoners of war, or
very shortly afterwards, receipts for each consignment, signed by
the prisoners' representative, shall be forwarded to the relief
society or organization making the shipment. At the same time,
receipts for these consignments shall be supplied by the
administrative authorities responsible for guarding the
prisoners.
Geneva Convention I | Geneva
Convention II | Geneva Convention
III |
