{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/geneva-conventions-act-1957/schedule-THIRD/part-3/chapter-6/crossheading-chapter-iiprisoners-of-war-representatives",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/geneva-conventions-act-1957/schedule-THIRD/part-3/chapter-6/crossheading-chapter-iiprisoners-of-war-representatives.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/Eliz2/5-6/52",
  "legislation_title": "Geneva Conventions Act 1957",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/geneva-conventions-act-1957",
  "path": "schedule/THIRD/part/3/chapter/6/crossheading/chapter-iiprisoners-of-war-representatives",
  "kind": "crossheading",
  "number": null,
  "heading": "Chapter II.—Prisoners of War Representatives",
  "text": "ARTICLE 79\nIn all places where there are prisoners of war, except in those where there are officers, the prisoners shall freely elect by secret ballot, every six months, and also in case of vacancies, prisoners’ representatives entrusted with representing them before the military authorities, the Protecting Powers, the International Committee of the Red Cross and any other organisation which may assist them. These prisoners’ representatives shall be eligible for re-election.\nIn camps for officers and persons of equivalent status or in mixed camps, the senior officer among the prisoners of war shall be recognised as the camp prisoners’ representative. In camps for officers, he shall be assisted by one or more advisers chosen by the officers; in mixed camps, his assistants shall be chosen from among the prisoners of war who are not officers and shall be elected by them.\nOfficer prisoners of war of the same nationality shall be stationed in labour camps for prisoners of war, for the purpose of carrying out the camp administration duties for which the prisoners of war are responsible. These officers may be elected as prisoners’ representatives under the first paragraph of this Article. In such a case the assistants to the prisoners’ representatives shall be chosen from among those prisoners of war who are not officers.\nEvery representative elected must be approved by the Detaining Power before he has the right to commence his duties. Where the Detaining Power refuses to approve a prisoner of war elected by his fellow prisoners of war, it must inform the Protecting Power of the reason for such refusal.\nIn all cases the prisoners’ representative must have the same nationality, language and customs as the prisoners of war whom he represents. Thus, prisoners of war distributed in different sections of a camp, according to their nationality, language or customs, shall have for each section their own prisoners’ representative, in accordance with the foregoing paragraphs.\nARTICLE 80\nPrisoners’representatives shall further the physical, spiritual and intellectual well-being of prisoners of war.\nIn particular, where the prisoners decide to organise amongst themselves a system of mutual assistance, this organisation will be within the province of the prisoners’ representative, in addition to the special duties entrusted to him by other provisions of the present Convention.\nPrisoners’ representatives shall not be held responsible, simply by reason of their duties, for any offences committed by prisoners of war.\nARTICLE 81\nPrisoners’ representatives shall not be required to perform any other work, if the accomplishment of their duties is thereby made more difficult.\nPrisoners’ representatives may appoint from amongst the prisoners such assistants as they may require. All material facilities shall be granted them, particularly a certain freedom of movement necessary for the accomplishment of their duties (inspection of labour detachments, receipt of supplies, etc.).\nPrisoners’ representatives shall be permitted to visit premises where prisoners of war are detained, and every prisoner of war shall have the right to consult freely his prisoners’ representative.\nAll facilities shall likewise be accorded to the prisoners’ representatives for communication by post and telegraph with the detaining authorities, the Protecting Powers, the International Committee of the Red Cross and their delegates, the Mixed Medical Commissions and with the bodies which give assistance to prisoners of war. Prisoners’ representatives of labour detachments shall enjoy the same facilities for communication with the prisoners’representatives of the principal camp. Such communications shall not be restricted, nor considered as forming a part of the quota mentioned in Article 71.\nPrisoners’ representatives who are transferred shall be allowed a reasonable time to acquaint their successors with current affairs.\nIn case of dismissal, the reason therefor shall be communicated to the Protecting Power.",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Eliz2/5-6/52/schedule/THIRD/part/3/chapter/6/crossheading/chapter-iiprisoners-of-war-representatives",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T11:13:37.866578+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}