Fundamental Rights and Conditions for Prisoners of War
- Prisoners of war must be humanely treated at all times.
- Internment must be in facilities ensuring hygiene and healthfulness.
- Prisoners are guaranteed full freedom to practice their religion, including attending religious services.
- Labor by prisoners of war may only be assigned to those physically fit, with consideration of age, sex, rank, and physical and mental health.
Information and Notification Requirements
- Each party to the Convention is obligated to establish an official Information Bureau for prisoners of war.
- This bureau informs belligerents about the whereabouts of their missing soldiers.
Relationship to Earlier International Conventions
- The 1949 Convention supersedes the 1929 Convention Relating to Prisoners of War.
- Between Powers bound by the Hague Conventions of 1899 or 1907 and also parties to the 1949 Convention, it acts as a complement to Chapter II of the Hague Regulations annexed to those Conventions.
Philippine Governmental Process for Ratification
- The Philippine Senate concurred with ratification of the Convention by Resolution No. 89, adopted May 19, 1952.
- The President signed the instrument of ratification on August 20, 1952.
- This instrument was deposited with the Swiss Government on October 6, 1952.
Entry into Force and Proclamation
- The Convention took effect for the Philippines six months after the deposit of ratification, as per Article 138 of the Convention.
- President Ramon Magsaysay officially proclaimed and made public the Geneva Convention on February 16, 1956.
- This proclamation was aimed at ensuring full compliance and good faith observance by the Republic of the Philippines and its citizens.
Formalities and Authority
- The proclamation was signed by President Ramon Magsaysay and countersigned by Acting Executive Secretary Fortunato De Leon.
- The seal of the Republic of the Philippines was affixed, giving full legal effect to the proclamation on the date specified.