ICRC databases on international humanitarian law
  • Print page
Commentary - Identity card
    [p.1285] Annex I, Article 14 -- Identity card


    [p.1286] General remarks

    4295 The identity card for civilian and military civil defence personnel is similar to that for civilian medical personnel described in Article 1 ' (Identity card for permanent civilian medical and religious personnel) ' of the present Annex I, (1) from which it differs in three respects only:

    -- the distinctive sign is the equilateral blue triangle on a orange ground;
    -- the words "permanent/temporary" do not appear in the heading of the identity card for civil defence personnel;
    -- on the reverse side, beneath the heading "other distinguishing marks or information", there is an item relating to weapons.

    4296 Consequently, the commentary on Article 1 ' (Identity card for permanent civilian medical and religious personnel) ' of Annex I applies, ' mutatis mutandis, ' to the present article. Neither the Protocol nor Annex I provides for an identity disc to be worn by civil defence personnel; the remark concerning the disc in the commentary on Article 1 ' (Identity card for permanent civilian medical and religious personnel) ' of Annex I also applies here.

    Paragraph 1

    4297 The personnel mentioned in paragraph 3 of Article 66 ' (Identification) ' of the Protocol, to which reference is made in this paragraph, are civilian civil defence personnel. The personnel referred to in paragraph l(c) of Article 67 ' (Members of the armed forces and military units assigned to civil defence organizations) ' of the Protocol are not mentioned, even though that paragraph states that such personnel should be "provided with the identity card referred to in Chapter V of Annex I to this Protocol certifying their status".

    4298 It would therefore seem that Article 67 ' (Members of the armed forces and military units assigned to civil defence organizations), ' paragraph 1(c), should be mentioned in this paragraph together with Article 66 ' (Identification), ' paragraph 3.

    4299 The same omission was made in draft Article 14 of Annex I set out in the supplement to the report of Committee II's Working Group A, which was instructed at the fourth session of the Conference to consider the provisions relating to civil defence. (2)

    [p.1287] 4300 The provisions in the three paragraphs of Article 1 ' (Identity card for permanent civilian medical and religious personnel) ' of Annex I, as they apply to the identity card for civil defence, are not difficult to interpret.

    Paragraph 2

    4301 The comments on the model identity card referred to in Articles 1 ' (Identity card for permanent civilian medical and religious personnel) ' and 2 ' (Identity card for temporary civilian medical and religious personnel) ' of Annex I apply also to the model identity card for civil defence. The holder's function or rank and his posting to a civil defence unit should indicate whether he has civilian or military status. Information about the holder's profession could be given under "Other distinguishing marks or information", by reference to the civil defence tasks described in Article 61 ' (Definitions and scope) ' of the Protocol.

    Paragraph 3

    4302 Civilian civil defence personnel are entitled under Article 65 ' (Cessation of protection), ' paragraph 3, of the Protocol to bear light individual weapons. The same applies to military personnel, under Article 67 ' (Members of the armed forces and military units assigned to civil defence organizations), ' paragraph 1(d), of the Protocol.

    4303 The right to bear arms should be indicated, together with the type of weapon (pistol, revolver or other light individual weapon) and its number, if any.

    ' Ph. E. '

    [p.1288] Document annexed

    ' Model of identity card for civil defence personnel '

    Fig. 3: Model of identity card for civil defence personel (format: 74 mm x 105 mm)

    [Graphic document non reproduced in the datatbase]


    NOTES (1) [(1) p.1286] Cf. commentary Art. 66, paras. 2-3 and Art. 67, para. 1(c) of the Protocol, supra, p. 782 and p. 797, and commentary Article 1, Annex I, supra, p. 1153;

    (2) [(2) p.1286] O.R. XII, p. 437, CDDH/II/SR.96, para. 61. O.R. XIII, pp. 355-356, CDDH/406/Rev.1, paras. 8, 9, 13, 14, 20; p. 357 (Arts. 59, 59bis and Annex); pp. 406-408 (Arts. 59, 59bis); p. 431, CDDH/II/439/Rev. 1 (Art. 59, para. 3); p. 439, CDDH/II/439/Add. 1 (Chapter V, Art. 14, para. 1);