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ole of the Central Information Agency for protected persons has been performed in manyconflicts by the ICRC Central Tracing Agency, which has also performed this role for POWs. 57410.31.4 U.S. Practice in Reporting to the ICRC Central Tracing Agency. For the UnitedStates, the functions of the National Protected Person Information Bureau have been performedby the same entity that performs the functions of the National POW Information Bureau: theNational Prisoner of War Information Center or the National Detainee Reporting Center. 575 Thisorganization has provided information to the ICRC Central Tracing Agency, acting as theCentral Information Agency for protected persons under the GC.10.31.5 Exemption of National Protected Person Information Bureau and CentralInformation Agency for Protected Persons From Certain Charges. The National ProtectedPerson Information Bureau and the Central Information Agency for protected persons shall enjoyfree postage for mail, all the exemptions provided for in Article 110 of the GC, 576 and, further, sofar as possible, exemption from telegraphic charges or, at least, greatly reduced rates. 577The National Protected Person Information Bureau and the Central Information Agencyfor protected persons shall also enjoy exemption from postal charges in respect of letter-postitems, postal parcels, and monetary articles that concern internees, which they send or receive,either directly or as intermediaries, under the conditions laid down in the Universal PostalConvention. 578 Such items exempt from postal charges should be marked appropriately. 57910.32 ROLE OF THE PROTECTING POWER IN THE GCThe Protecting Power is an organ for ensuring implementation of the GC. The ProtectingPower has extensive duties under the GC. It transmits information between belligerents,573 GC art. 140 (“The International Committee of the Red Cross shall, if it deems necessary, propose to the Powersconcerned the organization of such an Agency, which may be the same as that provided for in Article 123 of theGeneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War of August 12, 1949.”).574 Refer to § 9.31.3 (Central POW Information Agency).575 Refer to § 9.31.4 (U.S. Practice in Reporting to the ICRC Central Tracing Agency).576 Refer to § 10.23.4 (Exemption From Postal and Shipping Charges for Shipments To and From Internees).577 GC art. 141 (“The national Information Bureaux and the Central Information Agency shall enjoy free postage forall mail, likewise the exemptions provided for in Article 110, and further, so far as possible, exemption fromtelegraphic charges or, at least, greatly reduced rates.”).578 Universal Postal Convention, art. 17(3), Dec. 14, 1989, 1687 UNTS 241, 252 (“The national InformationBureaux and the Central Information Agencies mentioned above shall also enjoy exemption from postal charges inrespect of letter-post items, postal parcels and monetary articles which concern the persons referred to in paragraphs1 and 2, which they send or receive, either direct or as intermediaries, under the conditions laid down in thoseparagraphs.”). Consider Letter Post Regulations, Article RL 111 to Article 7 of the Universal Postal Convention ofOct. 11, 2012, reprinted in INTERNATIONAL BUREAU OF THE UNIVERSAL POSTAL UNION, LETTER POST MANUAL,page C.10, C.10-11 (Berne 2013, Update 2 – Jan. 2015) (“The following shall enjoy exemption from postal chargeswithin the meaning of article 7.2 of the Convention: … 1.3 the Information Bureaux provided for in article 136 ofthe Geneva Convention of 12 August 1949 relative to the protection of civilian persons in time of war; 1.4 theCentral Information Agency provided for in article 140 of the latter Convention.”).579 Refer to § 10.23.4.3 (Exemption From Postal Charges Under the Universal Postal Convention).725