International Humanitarian Law

Wounded and sick

The First and Second Geneva Conventions protect the wounded and sick soldiers at land and at sea.

General principles of protection in both Conventions

Wounded and sick persons may never be attacked; they shall be protected and respected. In addition, they are entitled to medical attention and care. In order for the parties in a conflict to give medical care to all wounded and sick, medical staff, equipment, buildings, and vehicles are also protected.

The parties in a conflict have the obligation to search for wounded and sick. Wounded and sick can never be discriminated against; no distinction should be made between enemy soldiers or ones’ own since only medical reasons should prevail.

Medical personnel can never be hindered in their medical work. They should be allowed to be moved unharmed and with minimum delay. All parties in an armed conflict should facilitate the work of medical personnel. They shall carry out their work neutrally and impartially.

Wounded and sick persons, as well as medical personnel, have the right to protection as long as they do not take part in the hostilities. They can defend themselves and their patients, but in no other way use force. If ambulances or medical buildings are used in fighting they will loose their protection.

Additional Protocol further protects wounded and sick civilians

With the adoption of the Fourth Geneva Convention, and the First Additional Protocol (IAP), wounded and sick civilians were also included under the category of protected persons. IAP develops the rules and enhances the scope of protection of civilians.

To ICRC and the Fourth Geneva Convention

To ICRC and the First Additional Protocol

Origin of the Conventions

In 1859, Henry Dunant, a Swiss banker, witnessed a terrible battle in Solferino, Italy. Many thousands of soldiers died because of lack of medical care. Consequently, he initiated relief societies in each country to give medical care in times of war, later to be called the Red Cross, along with a legal basis for the protection and medical care for wounded and sick soldiers.

First Geneva Convention

The First Geneva Convention was adopted in 1864. It specifies the protection for wounded and sick soldiers at land.

To ICRC and the First Geneva Convention

Second Geneva Convention

The Second Geneva Convention is almost identical to the first except that it covers armed conflicts at sea and consequently also shipwrecked.

To ICRC and the Second Geneva Convention.

Revised
20/04/2011 Berenice Van Den Driessche ihl@diakonia.se