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Protocol III is a 2005 amendment
Article 2 of this brief
Committee of the Red Cross: Full text of Protocol III with commentariesList of countries that have ratified Protocol IIIList of countries that have signed but not yet ratified Protocol IIIPress release from the International Committee of the Red Cross welcoming the signing of Protocol III
{{DEFAULTSORT:Protocol Iii Geneva Conventions Treaties concluded in 2005 Treaties entered into force in 2007 Treaties of Albania Treaties of Argentina Treaties of Armenia Treaties of Australia Treaties of Austria Treaties of Belarus Treaties of Belize Treaties of Brazil Treaties of Bulgaria Treaties of Canada Treaties of Chile Treaties of the Cook Islands Treaties of Costa Rica Treaties of Croatia Treaties of Cyprus Treaties of the Czech Republic Treaties of Denmark Treaties of the Dominican Republic Treaties of El Salvador Treaties of Estonia Treaties of Fiji Treaties of Finland Treaties of France Treaties of Georgia (country) Treaties of Germany Treaties of Greece Treaties of Guatemala Treaties of Guyana Treaties of Honduras Treaties of Hungary Treaties of Iceland Treaties of Israel Treaties of Italy Treaties of Kazakhstan Treaties of Kenya Treaties of Latvia Treaties of Liechtenstein Treaties of Lithuania Treaties of North Macedonia Treaties of Mexico Treaties of Moldova Treaties of Monaco Treaties of Nauru Treaties of the Netherlands Treaties of New Zealand Treaties of Nicaragua Treaties of Norway Treaties of the State of Palestine Treaties of Panama Treaties of Paraguay Treaties of the Philippines Treaties of Poland Treaties of Portugal Treaties of San Marino Treaties of Serbia Treaties of Singapore Treaties of Slovakia Treaties of Slovenia Treaties of South Sudan Treaties of Spain Treaties of Suriname Treaties of Sweden Treaties of Switzerland Treaties of East Timor Treaties of Uganda Treaties of Ukraine Treaties of the United Kingdom Treaties of the United States Treaties of Uruguay Treaties extended to Greenland Treaties extended to the Faroe Islands Treaties extended to the Netherlands Antilles Treaties extended to Aruba Treaties extended to Anguilla Treaties extended to Guernsey Treaties extended to Bermuda Treaties extended to the British Antarctic Territory Treaties extended to the British Indian Ocean Territory Treaties extended to the British Virgin Islands Treaties extended to the Cayman Islands Treaties extended to the Falkland Islands Treaties extended to the Isle of Man Treaties extended to Montserrat Treaties extended to the Pitcairn Islands Treaties extended to South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Treaties extended to Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Treaties extended to the Turks and Caicos Islands Treaties extended to Akrotiri and Dhekelia Treaties extended to Jersey
Protocol III is a 2005 amendment protocol
Protocol may refer to:
Sociology and politics
* Protocol (politics), a formal agreement between nation states
* Protocol (diplomacy), the etiquette of diplomacy and affairs of state
* Etiquette, a code of personal behavior
Science and technology
...
to the Geneva Conventions
upright=1.15, Original document in single pages, 1864
The Geneva Conventions are four treaties, and three additional protocols, that establish international legal standards for humanitarian treatment in war. The singular term ''Geneva Conv ...
relating to the Adoption of an Additional Distinctive Emblem. Under the protocol, the protective sign of the Red Crystal may be displayed by medical and religious personnel at times of war, instead of the traditional Red Cross or Red Crescent symbols. People displaying any of these protective emblems are performing a humanitarian service and must be protected by all parties to the conflict.
History
By the middle of the 19th century, modern warfare had become increasingly indiscriminate. It was not uncommon for acombat medic
A combat medic, or healthcare specialist, is responsible for providing emergency medical treatment at a point of wounding in a combat or training environment, as well as primary care and health protection and evacuation from a point of injur ...
on the field of battle to be fired upon and to die while collecting and caring for the wounded. There was a growing recognition of the need to distinguish medical personnel from combatants, to make it easier for military commanders to avoid and protect them. Allowing each country to develop its own emblem would have led to confusion. What was needed to save lives was a single neutral emblem that all countries recognized and used equally.
The 1864 Geneva Convention
The First Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded in Armies in the Field, held on 22 August 1864, is the first of four treaties of the Geneva Conventions. It defines "the basis on which rest the rules of internatio ...
establishes that a distinctive emblem should be worn by medical personnel on the field of battle as an indication of their humanitarian mission and their non-combatant status. At that time, the chosen symbol was a red cross on a white background. Muslim nations have objected to this symbol due to its resemblance to the Christian cross. As early as 1876, the Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman Empire, * ; is an archaic version. The definite article forms and were synonymous * and el, Оθωμανική Αυτοκρατορία, Othōmanikē Avtokratoria, label=none * info page on book at Martin Luther University ...
introduced the Red Crescent as an alternative, less Christian emblem. Additional emblems have been proposed, including the red lion and sun
The Lion and Sun ( fa, شیر و خورشید, Šir-o xoršid, ; Classical Persian: ) is one of the main emblems of Iran (Persia), and was an element in Iran's national flag until the 1979 Iranian Revolution and is still commonly used by oppo ...
of Persia
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...
, the double emblem (both the red cross and red crescent together) by the Red Cross Society of Eritrea
Eritrea ( ; ti, ኤርትራ, Ertra, ; ar, إرتريا, ʾIritriyā), officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa region of Eastern Africa, with its capital and largest city at Asmara. It is bordered by Ethiopi ...
, and the red shield of David by Magen David Adom of Israel.
Over time the adoption of a single, universal emblem has been met with two recurrent difficulties:
* They may be perceived as having religious, cultural or political connotations. This perception conflicts with neutral, humanitarian status of medical personnel in armed conflicts.
* These emblems are tied to membership in the National Societies. Members are required to use the red cross or red crescent emblem. Since Magen David Adom was unwilling to give up their red shield of David, they were not granted membership. Without membership, they were not eligible for certain protections under the Geneva Conventions
upright=1.15, Original document in single pages, 1864
The Geneva Conventions are four treaties, and three additional protocols, that establish international legal standards for humanitarian treatment in war. The singular term ''Geneva Conv ...
.
In 2005, an international delegation finally achieved a comprehensive solution to these difficulties with the adoption of Protocol III. Magen David Adom is granted protections under the Geneva Conventions as long as they display the Red Crystal in the context of international conflict. As of July 2020, Protocol III has been ratified
Ratification is a principal's approval of an act of its agent that lacked the authority to bind the principal legally. Ratification defines the international act in which a state indicates its consent to be bound to a treaty if the parties inten ...
or acceded to by 78 countries and signed by a further 20. The treaty came into force on 14 January 2007.
Governing rules
Article 2 of this brief protocol
Protocol may refer to:
Sociology and politics
* Protocol (politics), a formal agreement between nation states
* Protocol (diplomacy), the etiquette of diplomacy and affairs of state
* Etiquette, a code of personal behavior
Science and technology
...
recognizes an additional distinctive emblem, the Red Crystal, that may be used in addition to, and for the same purposes as, the Red Cross and Red Crescent symbols. All three emblems are appointed the same legal status.
There are two distinct uses that are recognized for all three emblems:
* Protective use. Medical and religious personnel may mark themselves, their vehicles, ships and buildings as a sign of their humanitarian mission and protected status under the Geneva Conventions
upright=1.15, Original document in single pages, 1864
The Geneva Conventions are four treaties, and three additional protocols, that establish international legal standards for humanitarian treatment in war. The singular term ''Geneva Conv ...
, particularly the First Geneva Convention
The First Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded in Armies in the Field, held on 22 August 1864, is the first of four treaties of the Geneva Conventions. It defines "the basis on which rest the rules of internati ...
. The protections of the Geneva Convention do not depend on the wearing of the emblem. The emblems are merely a ''visible sign'' of the protected status of individuals. Members of the armed forces may use these markings at all times. Civilian institutions such as hospitals may use these markings temporarily, within the context of an armed conflict.
* Indicative use. Members of the movement may wear the emblems in both times of conflict and times of peace as an indication of their membership.
Misuse of these emblems is prohibited by international law
International law (also known as public international law and the law of nations) is the set of rules, norms, and standards generally recognized as binding between states. It establishes normative guidelines and a common conceptual framework for ...
. Misuse may diminish their protective value and undermine the effectiveness of humanitarian workers. Use of one of the emblems to protect combatants and military equipment with the intent of misleading an adversary is perfidy
In the context of war, perfidy is a form of deception in which one side promises to act in good faith (such as by raising a flag of truce) with the intention of breaking that promise once the unsuspecting enemy is exposed (such as by coming out ...
and is considered a war crime.
See also
* List of parties to the Geneva Conventions: includes a list of states that signed and a list of states that have ratified Protocol III *Protocol I
Protocol I (sometimes referred to as Additional Protocol I or AP 1) is a 1977 amendment protocol to the Geneva Conventions relating to the protection of victims of ''international conflicts'', extending to "armed conflicts in which peoples are ...
, a 1977 amendment adopted addressing the protection of victims in ''international'' conflicts.
* Protocol II, a 1977 amendment adopted relating to the protection of victims of ''non-international'' armed conflicts.
References
External links
Committee of the Red Cross: Full text of Protocol III with commentaries
{{DEFAULTSORT:Protocol Iii Geneva Conventions Treaties concluded in 2005 Treaties entered into force in 2007 Treaties of Albania Treaties of Argentina Treaties of Armenia Treaties of Australia Treaties of Austria Treaties of Belarus Treaties of Belize Treaties of Brazil Treaties of Bulgaria Treaties of Canada Treaties of Chile Treaties of the Cook Islands Treaties of Costa Rica Treaties of Croatia Treaties of Cyprus Treaties of the Czech Republic Treaties of Denmark Treaties of the Dominican Republic Treaties of El Salvador Treaties of Estonia Treaties of Fiji Treaties of Finland Treaties of France Treaties of Georgia (country) Treaties of Germany Treaties of Greece Treaties of Guatemala Treaties of Guyana Treaties of Honduras Treaties of Hungary Treaties of Iceland Treaties of Israel Treaties of Italy Treaties of Kazakhstan Treaties of Kenya Treaties of Latvia Treaties of Liechtenstein Treaties of Lithuania Treaties of North Macedonia Treaties of Mexico Treaties of Moldova Treaties of Monaco Treaties of Nauru Treaties of the Netherlands Treaties of New Zealand Treaties of Nicaragua Treaties of Norway Treaties of the State of Palestine Treaties of Panama Treaties of Paraguay Treaties of the Philippines Treaties of Poland Treaties of Portugal Treaties of San Marino Treaties of Serbia Treaties of Singapore Treaties of Slovakia Treaties of Slovenia Treaties of South Sudan Treaties of Spain Treaties of Suriname Treaties of Sweden Treaties of Switzerland Treaties of East Timor Treaties of Uganda Treaties of Ukraine Treaties of the United Kingdom Treaties of the United States Treaties of Uruguay Treaties extended to Greenland Treaties extended to the Faroe Islands Treaties extended to the Netherlands Antilles Treaties extended to Aruba Treaties extended to Anguilla Treaties extended to Guernsey Treaties extended to Bermuda Treaties extended to the British Antarctic Territory Treaties extended to the British Indian Ocean Territory Treaties extended to the British Virgin Islands Treaties extended to the Cayman Islands Treaties extended to the Falkland Islands Treaties extended to the Isle of Man Treaties extended to Montserrat Treaties extended to the Pitcairn Islands Treaties extended to South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Treaties extended to Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Treaties extended to the Turks and Caicos Islands Treaties extended to Akrotiri and Dhekelia Treaties extended to Jersey