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Download XMLGeneva Convention for the amelioration of the condition of wounded, sick and shipwrecked members of armed forces at sea
Parties with reservations, declarations and objections
| Party | Reservations / Declarations | Objections |
|---|---|---|
| Albania | Yes | No |
| Bangladesh | Yes | No |
| China | Yes | No |
| Democratic People's Republic of Korea | Yes | No |
| Guinea-Bissau | Yes | Yes |
| Iran | Yes | No |
| Israel | Yes | No |
| Kuwait | Yes | Yes |
| North Macedonia | Yes | No |
| Portugal | Yes | No |
| Republic of Korea, the | Yes | No |
| Russian Federation | Yes | No |
| United Kingdom | Yes | No |
| United States of America | Yes | No |
| Vietnam | Yes | No |
| Yemen | Yes | Yes |
Albania
27-05-1957
Article 10:
The People's Republic of Albania will not recognize a request by a Detaining Power
to a humanitarian organization or a to neutral State to take the place of a Protecting
Power, as being in order, unless the Power of which the protected persons are nationals
has given its consent.
Bangladesh
20-12-1988
[...] the decision of the Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh to use
henceforth the red crescent instead of the red cross as the emblem and distinctive
sign.
China
28-12-1956
Regarding Article 10 the People's Republic of China will not recognize as valid a
request by the Detaining Power of the wounded, sick and shipwrecked, or medical personnel
and chaplains to a neutral State or to a humanitarian organization, to undertake the
functions which should be performed by a Protecting Power, unless the consent has
been obtained of the government of the State of which the protected persons are nationals.
Democratic People's Republic of Korea
27-08-1957
On Article 10:
In the event of a Power detaining wounded and sick, or medical personnel, requesting
a neutral State, or a humanitarian organization, to undertake the functions incumbent
on a Protecting Power, the Government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea
will not consider it a legal request unless an approval is obtained from the Government
of the State on which the protected persons concerned depend.
Guinea-Bissau
21-02-1974
Article 10
The Council of State of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau does not recognize as legal
the request addressed by the Detaining Power to a neutral country or a humanitarian
organization to undertake the functions performed by a Protecting Power, unless the
State on which the wounded, sick and shipwrecked persons depend has already agreed
to that request.
Article 13
The Council of State of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau does not recognize the conditions
provided for in subparagraph (2) of this article concerning "members of other militias
and members of other volunteer corps, including those of organized resistance movements",
because these conditions are not suited to the people's wars waged today.
Objection Germany, 03-03-1975
Objection to the reservation made upon accession by Guinea-Bissau to the Geneva Convention
II concerning Article 13 (2):
[...] exceed, in the opinion of the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany,
the purpose and intent of these Conventions and are therefore unacceptable to it.
This declaration shall not otherwise affect the validity of the said Geneva Conventions
under international law as between the Federal Republic of Germany and the Republic
of Guinea-Bissau.
Objection United States of America, 04-03-1975
The reservations are similar to reservations expressed by others previously with respect
to the same or different conventions and concerning which the Government of the United
States has previously declared its views. The attitude of the Government of the United
States with respect to all the reservations by the Republic of Guinea-Bissau parallels
its attitude toward such other reservations. The Government of the United States,
while rejecting the reservations, accepts treaty relations with the Republic of Guinea-Bissau.
Objection United Kingdom, 19-11-1975
In relation to the reservation made [....] by the Republic of Guinea-Bissau to [...]
and Article 13 of the Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of Wounded,
Sick and Shipwrecked Members of Armed Forces at Sea, the Government of the United
Kingdom wish to state that they are likewise unable to accept those reservations.
Iran
04-09-1980
The Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran declared that henceforth it wishes
to use the red crescent as the distinctive emblem and sign instead of the red lion
and sun.
Israel
22-01-1986
Subject to the reservation that, while respecting the inviolability of the distinctive
signs and emblems of the Convention, Israel will use the Red Shield of David on the
flags, armlets and on all equipment (including hospital ships), employed in the medical
service.
Kuwait
02-09-1967
This Accession does not imply recognition of Israel or entering with it into relations governed by the Conventions thereto acceded.
Objection Israel, 22-01-1968
Israel has taken note of the political character of the declaration made by Kuwait
[ ]. In the view of the Government of Israel, this declaration is inadmissible and
the Government of Israel formally expresses its objections to this declaration and
as far as its relations with Kuwait are concerned, it reserves the right to act on
the basis of strict reciprocity with regard to issues that are subject to these Conventions.
North Macedonia
18-10-1996
[...] decided on to adhere to the reservations made by the Former Republic of Yugoslavia.
Article 10
The Government of the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia will not consider as
legal a request by the Detaining Power that a neutral State or an international organization
or a humanitarian organization should undertake the functions performed under the
present Convention by the Protecting Powers, on behalf of the wounded, sick and shipwrecked,
or medical personnel and chaplains, unless the Government whose nationals they are
has given its consent.
Portugal
14-03-1961
The Portuguese Government only accepts article 10 of Conventions I, II and III […] with the reservation that requests by the Detaining Power to a neutral State or to a humanitarian organization to undertake the functions normally performed by Protecting Powers are made with the consent or agreement of the Government of the country of which the persons to be protected are nationals (Countries of origin).
22-11-1999
[...] the Portuguese Republic will cease to assume the rights and obligations arising
from the Conventions and Protocols for Macao from 20 December 1999.
Republic of Korea, the
16-08-1966
The Government of the Republic of Korea do hereby declare that it is the only lawful
Government in Korea, as set forth in General Assembly Resolution 195 (III) of 12 December
1948, and its accession shall not be construed as recognizing any Contracting Party
thereto which the Republic of Korea has not hitherto recognized.
Russian Federation
10-05-1954
Article 10:
The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics will not recognize the validity of requests
by the Detaining Power to a neutral State or to a humanitarian organization, to undertake
the functions performed by a Protecting Power, unless the consent of the Government
of the country of which the protected persons are nationals has been obtained.
United Kingdom
13-06-1997
In accordance with the Joint Declaration of the Government of the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the People's Republic of
China on the Question of Hong Kong signed on 19 December 1984, the Government of the
United Kingdom will restore Hong Kong to the People's Republic of China with effect
from 1 July 1997. The Government of the United Kingdom will continue to have international
responsibility for Hong Kong until that date. Therefore, from that date the Government
of the United Kingdom will cease to be responsible for the international rights and
obligations arising from application of the Convention to Hong Kong.
United States of America
02-08-1955
Rejecting the reservations which States have made with respect to the Geneva Convention
for the amelioration of the condition of wounded, sick and shipwrecked members of
armed forces at sea, the United States accepts treaty relations with all parties to
that Convention, except as to the changes proposed by such reservations.
Vietnam
28-06-1957
Article 10:
A request by the Detaining Power to a neutral Power or to an organization providing
guarantees of impartiality and effectiveness, to undertake the functions entrusted
to the Protecting Powers by the Convention, will not be recognized as lawful by the
Democratic Republic of Vietnam, unless the State of which the wounded and sick in
armed forces in the field are nationals has approved the request.
Yemen
25-05-1977
The Government of the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen declares that the accession
of the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen to this Conventions by no means implies
recognition of Israel.
Objection Israel, 10-02-1978
The Government of Israel takes note that by declarations […] the Popular Democratic
Republic of Yemen adhered to the four Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 relating
to the protection of war victims.
The said instruments were accompanied by a declaration of a political character in
respect to Israel. In the view of the Government of Israel, this is not the proper
place for making such political pronouncements, which are, moreover, in flagrant contradiction
to the principles, objects and purposes of the said Conventions. The said declaration
cannot in any way affect whatever obligations are binding upon the Popular Democratic
Republic of Yemen under general international law or under particular treaties.