THE THIRD GENEVA

CONVENTION &
THE ADDITIONAL

PROTOCOLS
Anastasiia Vlasiuk
 The Third Geneva Convention The

Geneva Convention Relative to the

Treatment of Prisoners of War (August

12, 1949)
 The Third Geneva Convention, also known as the

"Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War,"

is a humanitarian treaty that sets out the standards for the

treatment of prisoners of war (POWs) during armed conflicts.

The purpose of the convention is to protect the rights and

dignity of POWs and to ensure that they are treated

humanely. It establishes rules for the treatment of POWs,

including provisions for their protection, accommodation,

and medical care.

The Third Geneva Convention is an important tool for

protecting the rights and dignity of POWs during armed

conflicts. By establishing clear rules and standards for the

treatment of POWs, the convention helps to ensure that

they are treated humanely and with respect, even in the

midst of war.
 The Third Geneva Convention
 The Convention sets out specific rules for the

treatment of prisoners of war (POWs). The

Convention’s 143 articles require that POWs be

treated humanely, adequately housed and receive

sufficient food, clothing and medical care.

 Its provisions also establish guidelines on labor,

discipline, recreation and criminal trial.  Prisoners of

war may include:

 Members of the armed forces;
 Volunteer militia, including resistance movements;

Specific Provisions Arts. 13-14, 16 Prisoners of

war must not be subjected to torture or medical

experimentation and must be protected against

acts of violence, insults and public curiosity. Arts.

13, 16 Captors must not engage in any reprisals or

discriminate on the basis of race, nationality,

religious beliefs, political opinions or other

criteria.
HOW CAN IT HELP US?
The Third Geneva Convention can help to address a number of problems in society, including:
1. Protecting the rights and dignity of detainees and prisoners: The convention establishes rules
for the treatment of detainees and prisoners, including provisions for their protection,
accommodation, and medical care. It also prohibits certain types of treatment that are
considered to be degrading or inhumane, such as torture, murder, mutilation, or any form of
cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment.
2. Promoting fairness and justice: The convention requires that detainees and prisoners be
treated with respect and dignity and be protected from any act of violence or intimidation. It
also requires that they have access to adequate food, water, clothing, shelter, and medical
care, which can help to ensure that they are treated fairly and justly.
3. Reducing the risk of abuse and mistreatment: By establishing clear rules and standards for the
treatment of detainees and prisoners, the Third Geneva Convention can help to reduce the
risk of abuse and mistreatment, which can have serious consequences for both the
individuals involved and society as a whole.
4. Enhancing the rule of law: The Third Geneva Convention is an important part of the
international legal framework for protecting human rights. By adhering to the principles and
provisions of the convention, countries can demonstrate their commitment to the rule of law
and help to promote respect for human rights around the world.
Specific Provisions Art. 14, 25

Female POWs must be treated

with regard due to their sex.

Art. 17 POWs are required to

provide to their captors only

their name, rank, date of birth

and military service number

 Specific Provisions Arts. 22-29, 50, 54
POWs must be housed in clean, adequate shelter,

and receive the food, clothing and medical care

necessary to maintain good health. They must

not be held in combat areas where they are

exposed to fire, nor can they be used to

―shield‖ areas from military operations. They

may be required to do non-military jobs under

reasonable working conditions when paid at a

fair rate.
The Geneva Conventions broadly regulate

the rights of civilian prisoners of war and

military personnel, provide protection for

the wounded, sick and civilians in and

around the combat zone. In addition, the

Geneva Convention defines the rights of

non-combatants and the protections

afforded to them.
Thank you for your

attention!