Prisoner exchange
Encyclopedia
A prisoner exchange or prisoner swap is a deal between opposing sides in a conflict to release prison
ers. These may be prisoners of war
, spies
, hostage
s, etc. Sometimes also dead bodies are involved in an exchange.
, any prisoner, who due to illness or disability cannot contribute to the war effort
is entitled to be repatriated to their home country. This applies regardless of number of prisoners so affected; the detaining power cannot refuse a genuine request.
Under the Geneva Convention (1929)
, this is covered by articles 68 to 74, and the Annex. One of the largest exchange programmes was run by the International Red Cross during the Second World War under these terms. Under the Third Geneva Convention
of 1949, this is covered by articles 109-117.
Prison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
ers. These may be prisoners of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
, spies
SPY
SPY is a three-letter acronym that may refer to:* SPY , ticker symbol for Standard & Poor's Depositary Receipts* SPY , a satirical monthly, trademarked all-caps* SPY , airport code for San Pédro, Côte d'Ivoire...
, hostage
Hostage
A hostage is a person or entity which is held by a captor. The original definition meant that this was handed over by one of two belligerent parties to the other or seized as security for the carrying out of an agreement, or as a preventive measure against certain acts of war...
s, etc. Sometimes also dead bodies are involved in an exchange.
Geneva Conventions
Under the Geneva ConventionsGeneva Conventions
The Geneva Conventions comprise four treaties, and three additional protocols, that establish the standards of international law for the humanitarian treatment of the victims of war...
, any prisoner, who due to illness or disability cannot contribute to the war effort
War effort
In politics and military planning, a war effort refers to a coordinated mobilization of society's resources—both industrial and human—towards the support of a military force...
is entitled to be repatriated to their home country. This applies regardless of number of prisoners so affected; the detaining power cannot refuse a genuine request.
Under the Geneva Convention (1929)
Geneva Convention (1929)
The Geneva Convention was signed at Geneva, July 27, 1929. Its official name is the Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War, Geneva July 27, 1929. It entered into force 19 June 1931. It is this version of the Geneva Conventions which covered the treatment of prisoners of war...
, this is covered by articles 68 to 74, and the Annex. One of the largest exchange programmes was run by the International Red Cross during the Second World War under these terms. Under the Third Geneva Convention
Third Geneva Convention
The Third Geneva Convention, relative to the treatment of prisoners of war, is one of the four treaties of the Geneva Conventions. It was first adopted in 1929, but was significantly updated in 1949...
of 1949, this is covered by articles 109-117.