Protection of the Sick and Wounded

In the heart of wartime tumult, a silent pact emerges: an unwavering commitment to shield the vulnerable.

📍 24th June 1859 - Swiss businessman Henry Dunant (1828-1910) witnessed the suffering of more than 38,000 wounded soldiers on the battlefield of Solferino due to the lack of medical services present. This greatly moved Dunant and resulted in the establishment of the 1st Geneva Conventions for the Duration of the Condition of the Wounded in the War in 1864. From this moment onwards, sick and wounded combatants were under the protection of IHL.

(Before WWII and the adoption of the Geneva Conventions, IHL only protected sick/ wounded/ ship-wrecked soldiers, and not civilians.)

Protection of the Wounded and Sick

Wounded and sick: persons (military or civilian) who, becuase of trauma, disease or other physical/ mental disorder/ disability, are in need of medical attention, care or assitance and who refrain from any act of hostility.

If a wounded person resumes fighting, they are no longer protected by IHL.

• Geneva Conventions I: Protects the wounded and sick on land

• Geneva Conventions II: Protects the wounded, sick, and ship-wrecked at sea

• Geneva Conventions IV: Protects civilians

• Additional Protocol I & Additional Protocol II: Protects civilians

The wounded/ sick must be respected, protected, and cared for in all circumstances.

--> Respected: a duty to refrain from attack

--> Protected: an obligation to safeguard

--> Cared for: provided with medical treatment without distinction

The sick and wounded must be actively sought and saved from the zone of hostilities

Medical Personnel

They are military/ civilian persons who have been assigned by a party to a conflict to take care of the sick and wounded/ assist medical missions. The belligerent party must always respect/ protect medical personnel.

There are 3 types of medical personnel:

1. Those of the parties to the conflict

2. Voluntary aid societies

3. The ICRC

Medical Units:

"Establishments and other units that are recognised for medical purposes." - Additional Protocol I

According to this legislation, medical units must search for, collect, transport, diagnose, treat the sick and wounded, prevent diseases etc.

They must be exclusively designed for such purposes. This may include hospitals, pharmacies, blood transfusion centres, medical depots etc.

Medical Transports:

"Any means of transportation (military/ civilian; permanent/ temporary) assigned exclusively for medical transportation" - Additional Protocol I

According to this legislation, this may include ambulances, ships, medical aircraft etc.

Both medical units and transport must be respected and protected in all circumstances. The misuse of them to harm the enemy results in the loss of special protection under IHL.

Special Zones

Special zones must be easily identifiable - using 3 emblems - "The Red Cross/ Cresent/ Crystal":

• Common Article 3: The wounded and sick should be collected, cared for and treated humanely.

• Additional Protocol II: Wounded and sick, medical personnel, units, and transport must be respected and protected.