Civil Defence in International Humanitarian Law

National implementation
Beginning in peacetime, the States
must take measures to implement the
rules on civil defence.
Though States have no obligation to
modify the structure of their civil
defence in peacetime, they must
nevertheless ensure that such
structures are recognizable in
wartime. Regulations must therefore
be issued to ensure that the civilian
and military structures meet the
requirements laid down by Protocol
I. It is preferable if the States act
voluntarily to extend the applicability
of those regulations to cover non-
international armed conflicts.
It is vital to ensure that armed forces
personnel are aware of their
obligations toward persons and
objects displaying the international
distinctive sign of civil defence. The
States should also ensure that all
those involved in civil defence know
the rules of international humanitarian
law, in particular those applicable to
their duties.
The States must supervise the use of
the international distinctive sign of civil
defence as a protective device and
must prevent and repress any misuse
(Art. 66, para. 8), in particular by
adopting the appropriate criminal
legislation.
For more information relating to civil
defence, contact the International Civil
Defence Organization:
10-12 Chemin de Surville
1213 Petit-Lancy
Switzerland
Tel.: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
http://www.icdo.org/
06/2001
International Committee of the Red Cross