H. Con. Res. 102 Agreed to November 3, 1999

One Hundred Sixth Congress

of the

United States of America

AT THE FIRST SESSION

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Wednesday,

the sixth day of January, one thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine

Concurrent Resolution

Whereas the Geneva Conventions of 1949 set basic humane standards of behavior during armed conflict, and are the major written

source of international humanitarian law;

Whereas these Conventions prescribe humane treatment for civilian

populations, wounded, sick and shipwrecked military personnel,

and prisoners of war during armed conflict;

Whereas these Conventions recognize the International Committee

of the Red Cross as an independent and neutral organization

whose humanitarian mission is to protect and assist civilians,

prisoners of war, and other victims of armed conflict;

Whereas ‘‘the red cross in a field of white’’ is not an ordinary

organizational symbol, but one to which the international community has granted the ability to impose restraint during war and

to protect human life;

Whereas the American Red Cross and its sister national societies

are members of a world-wide organization rooted in the provisions

of international humanitarian law and dedicated to the promulgation of its principles, among which are the Geneva Conventions

of 1949;

Whereas the international programs of the American Red Cross

bring relief from natural and manmade disasters abroad, contribute to the development of nonprofit relief organizations

abroad, and include the teaching of international humanitarian

law throughout the United States;

Whereas many domestic programs of the Red Cross in health and

safety, disaster, blood, youth, and service to the members of

the Armed Forces of the United States grew out of a response

to armed conflict;

Whereas, thanks to the efforts of Clara Barton and Frederick Douglass, the United States ratified in 1882 the first convention for

the amelioration of the condition of wounded and sick members

of the armed forces in the field;

Whereas in 1955 the United States ratified the Geneva Conventions

of 1949; and

Whereas the Geneva Conventions of 1949 are among the most

universally ratified treaties in the world: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),

SECTION 1. SENSE OF THE CONGRESS.

The Congress—
H. Con. Res. 102—2

(1) recognizes the historic and humanitarian significance

of the Geneva Conventions of 1949, and celebrates the 50th

anniversary of the signing of these treaties;

(2) exhorts combatants everywhere to respect the red cross

emblem in order to protect innocent and vulnerable populations

on every side of conflicts;

(3) commends the International Committee of the Red Cross

and the more than 175 national Red Cross and Red Crescent

societies, including the American Red Cross, on their continuing

work in providing relief and assistance to the victims of war

as prescribed by these Conventions;

(4) applauds the Promise of Humanity gathering organized

by the American Red Cross in 1999 in Washington, D.C., as

an important reminder of our responsibilities to educate future

generations about the principles of international humanitarian

law;

(5) commends the efforts of the International Committee

of the Red Cross and the more than 175 national Red Cross

and Red Crescent societies, including the American Red Cross,

for their work in educating the world’s citizens about the

humanitarian principles of international humanitarian law as

embodied in the Geneva Conventions of 1949;

(6) invites the American Red Cross during this anniversary

year to assist Congress in educating its Members and staff

about the Geneva Conventions of 1949;

(7) supports the anniversary theme of the International

Committee of the Red Cross that ‘‘Even War Has Limits’’;

and

(8) calls upon the President to issue a proclamation recognizing the anniversary of the Geneva Conventions of 1949

and recognizing the Conventions themselves as critically important instruments for protecting human dignity in times of

armed conflict and limiting the savagery of war.

SEC. 2. GENEVA CONVENTIONS OF 1949 DEFINED.

In this concurrent resolution, the term ‘‘Geneva Conventions

of 1949’’ means the following conventions, done at Geneva in 1949:

(1) Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of

the Wounded and Sick in Armed Forces in the Field (6 UST

3114).

(2) Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of

Wounded, Sick and Shipwrecked Members of the Armed Forces

at Sea (6 UST 3217).

(3) Convention Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of

War (6 UST 3316).
H. Con. Res. 102—3

(4) Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian

Persons in Time of War (6 UST 3516).

Attest:

Clerk of the House of Representatives.

Attest:

Secretary of the Senate.