The Law of War

Rules relating to the conduct of combatants and the protection of prisoners of war
provisions.[III, 120; P. I, 35]
In case of death from suspicious causes, an enquiry is opened in order to determine responsibility,
particularly with a view to possible compensation for beneficiaries.[III, 121]
Death certificates must be forwarded as rapidly as possible to the Prisoner of War Information Bureaux.
9. Information bureaux and Central Tracing Agency
The services rendered to prisoners and their families by the Central Prisoner of War Agency (now known as
the Central Tracing Agency) during the two World Wars and the numerous conflicts since 1945 are well
known.
Created under the auspices of the ICRC, this Agency keeps in its archives over fifty million cards which
constitute a unique information system to establish the rights of prisoners or their families. In particular, it
contains all the information it can obtain through private or official sources concerning prisoners of war with
a view to determining their identity, and any particulars about them relating to transfers, releases,
repatriations, escapes, hospitalization and death.
These results have been consolidated by the Convention, which not only requires Governments to set up
official bureaux to collect and transmit information about prisoners of war, but provides for establishment of
a Central Prisoner of War Information Agency in a neutral country.[III, 122, 123; P. I, 34]
To facilitate the work of the national Bureaux and the Central Information Agency, States must grant them
free postage for mail, as well as all exemptions provided for in Article 74 and, as far as possible, exemption
from telegraphic charges or, at least, greatly reduced rates.(7) [III, 124]
Families have the right to know what has become of their relatives. As soon as circumstances permit and, at
the latest, from the end of hostilities, the Parties to the conflict should therefore search for persons reported
missing by an adverse Party and transmit all relevant information concerning such persons in order to
facilitate the search.[P. I, 33; III, 119]
10. Assistance by relief societies and the ICRC
Relief societies, the ICRC and the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies have played such an important role
in helping prisoners of war during the two World Wars that the Convention devotes an article to them, to
facilitate and encourage their activity.
This provision requires the Powers to grant them and their duly accredited delegates, all the necessary
facilitates to visit prisoners, distribute relief supplies and material from any source, for religious, educational
or recreative purposes, and help them organize their leisure activities within camps. The special status of
the ICRC in this sphere must be recognized and respected.[III, 125]
11. The right of Protecting Powers and the ICRC to visit
Furthermore, the Convention provides that representatives of the Protecting Powers shall have permission to
go to all places where prisoners of war may be, particularly to places of internment, imprisonment and
labour. They shall have access to all premises used by prisoners. ICRC delegates shall enjoy the same
prerogatives. The appointment of such delegates shall be submitted to the approval of the Power detaining
the prisoners of war to
be visited.[III, 126]
The Parties to the conflict shall grant the ICRC all facilities within their power to enable it to carry out the
humanitarian functions assigned to it by the Conventions and the Protocol, to assure protection and
assistance to the victims of conflicts. The ICRC may also carry out any other humanitarian activities for the
benefit of these victims, subject to the consent of the Parties to the conflict. The League of Red Cross
Societies and National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies shall also receive the necessary facilities to
carry out their humanitarian work.[P. I, 81; III, 9]
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