Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 113 Part 3.djvu/495

 CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS—NOV. 3, 1999 113 STAT. 2013 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— (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 vialnerable 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 Intesmational Committee of the Red Cross and the more than 17!5 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 di;Lring 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 issu(} a proclamation recognizing the anniversary of the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and recognizing the Conventions themsehes 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). (4) Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War (6 UST 3516). Agreed to November 3, 1999.

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