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Geneva Convention Protocol Flags

Last modified: 2004-07-10 by rob raeside
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Geneva Convention Protocol

 The "Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and relating to the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts" signed in December 1977, includes some interesting flag-related material not only on use of the Red Cross and related flags but also other use of flags in wartime. In particular it provides for two additional flags of protection, one for civil defense installations and units and one for installations containing "dangerous forces."

Here's a summary:

Art 37 prohibits the killing, injuring or capturing of an adversary by resort to perfidy. Examples of perfidy mentioned in the Protocol are the feigning of an intent to negotiate under a flag of truce or of a surrender and the feigning of protected status by the use of signs, emblems or uniforms of the United Nations or of neutral or other States not Parties to the conflict.

Art 38 prohibits the improper use of the emblems, etc., provided for by the conventions and the Protocol or other "internationally recognized protective emblems, signs or signals, including the flag of truce" or to make any use of the distinctive emblem of the UN without the UN's authorization.

Art 39 prohibits the use in an armed conflict of the flags or other emblems of states not parties to the conflict, or of those of adverse parties while engaging in attacks or in