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Convention (III) relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War. Geneva, 12 August 1949.
Part IV : Termination of captivity #Section II : Release and repatriation of prisoners of war at the close of hostilities
ARTICLE 119Database 'IHL - Treaties & Comments', View 'COMART'

    Repatriation shall be effected in conditions similar to those laid down in Articles 46Database 'IHL - Treaties & Comments', View '1.Traités \1.2. Par Article' to 48 inclusive of the present Convention for the transfer of prisoners of war, having regard to the provisions of Article 118Database 'IHL - Treaties & Comments', View '1.Traités \1.2. Par Article' and to those of the following paragraphs.
    On repatriation, any articles of value impounded from prisoners of war under Article 18Database 'IHL - Treaties & Comments', View '1.Traités \1.2. Par Article', and any foreign currency which has not been converted into the currency of the Detaining Power, shall be restored to them. Articles of value and foreign currency which, for any reason whatever, are not restored to prisoners of war on repatriation, shall be despatched to the Information Bureau set up under Article 122Database 'IHL - Treaties & Comments', View '1.Traités \1.2. Par Article'.
    Prisoners of war shall be allowed to take with them their personal effects, and any correspondence and parcels which have arrived for them. The weight of such baggage may be limited, if the conditions of repatriation so require, to what each prisoner can reasonably carry. Each prisoner shall in all cases be authorized to carry at least twenty-five kilograms.
    The other personal effects of the repatriated prisoner shall be left in the charge of the Detaining Power which shall have them forwarded to him as soon as it has concluded an agreement to this effect, regulating the conditions of transport and the payment of the costs involved, with the Power on which the prisoner depends.
    Prisoners of war against whom criminal proceedings for an indictable offence are pending may be detained until the end of such proceedings, and, if necessary, until the completion of the punishment. The same shall apply to prisoners of war already convicted for an indictable offence.
    Parties to the conflict shall communicate to each other the names of any prisoners of war who are detained until the end of the proceedings or until punishment has been completed.
    By agreement between the Parties to the conflict, commissions shall be established for the purpose of searching for dispersed prisoners of war and of assuring their repatriation with the least possible delay.

 
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