EN CD/09/7.3.1 Original: English For information COUNCIL OF DELEGATES OF THE INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS AND RED CRESCENT MOVEMENT Nairobi, Kenya 23-25 November 2009 Study on Operational and Commercial and other Non-operational Issues Involving the Use of the Emblems (Item 7.3 of the Draft Provisional Annotated Agenda) Study Document prepared by The International Committee of the Red Cross in consultation with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and National Societies Geneva, October 2009 CD/09/7.3.1 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS Forword ................................................................................................................................. 5 List of abbreviations............................................................................................................... 6 Introduction............................................................................................................................ 8 Objectives and methodology.................................................................................................. 8 General principles and concepts.......................................................................................... 13 Part I. Recommendations on Operational Issues Involving the Use of the Emblem..... 20 Chapter A. Use by State Authorities ............................................................................ 20 1) May the medical services of States’ armed forces party to an armed conflict temporarily change their emblem?.................................................................................................... 20 2) May the medical services of States' armed forces use the red cross/red crescent "double emblem"?....................................................................................................................... 24 3) May two different recognized emblems be displayed on sites and means of transport shared by the medical services of the armed forces of States acting in coalition?.......... 27 4) Combat lifesavers (CLS): Are they entitled to use the emblem?..................................... 29 5) May armed forces medical personnel, units and transports entitled to use the emblem carry weapons?.............................................................................................................. 33 6) Who has the competence to authorize use of the emblem for protective purposes? What role could National Societies have in this regard? .......................................................... 39 7) How must the emblem be used in occupied territory: ..................................................... 43 a) By the medical services of the Occupying State's armed forces?............................... 43 b) By the civilian hospitals (and their staff), civilian medical units, personnel and means of transport of the Occupied State?.................................................................................... 43 8) Are civilian hospitals and medical units allowed to display the emblem in peacetime?....... ................................................................................................................................. 47 9) May the emblem be affixed to relief goods provided by a State?.................................... 53 10) May a State include a recognized distinctive emblem on a white background on its national flag? ................................................................................................................. 55 Chapter B. Use by National Societies .......................................................................... 58 11) May a National Society temporarily change the emblem (protective or indicative uses)?58 CD/09/7.3.1 2 12) May a National Society use the "double emblem" (e.g. the red cross and red crescent side by side) for indicative or protective purposes? ........................................................ 61 13) May two different recognized emblems be displayed on the same sites and means of transport that are shared by National Societies?............................................................ 64 14) Under what conditions may National Societies use the emblem as a protective device? 66 15) May a National Society use the emblem as a protective device during armed conflict without the express authorization of the authorities?...................................................... 73 16) For what activities may National Society’s personnel use the emblem as a protective device, i.e., within the framework of their role as auxiliary to the medical services of the armed forces?................................................................................................................ 76 17) May a National Society’s medical personnel use the National Society's logo when acting as auxiliary to the medical services of the armed forces, i.e., when they are entitled to use the emblem as a protective device?............................................................................... 78 18) May a National Society use a large-sized indicative emblem (the National Society's logo)?............................................................................................................................. 80 19) May a National Society authorize its personnel to use the National Society’s logo when participating in its government's humanitarian response abroad, outside the scope of Article 26 of the First Geneva Convention of 1949? ....................................................... 84 20) How may a National Society use the emblem/the National Society's logo when it is in partnership with a UN agency or some other external partner?...................................... 87 21) What is the role of the host National Society with regard to use of the emblem/National Society’s logo of a participating National Society providing assistance on its territory? .. 92 22) May the National Society's logo (or the emblem) be affixed to relief goods provided by a National Society?........................................................................................................... 97 23) In what circumstances may a National Society use the national flag simultaneously with the emblem? ................................................................................................................ 100 Chapter C. Use by the ICRC........................................................................................ 104 24) Under what circumstances may the ICRC decide not to display the red cross emblem? In such circumstances, under what conditions may the ICRC: ......................................... 104 a) decide not to use any emblem at all?....................................................................... 104 b) decide to use the red crystal emblem?..................................................................... 104 c) decide to use the red crescent emblem?.................................................................. 104 25) What is the distinction between the red cross emblem and the ICRC logo? How does the ICRC use them? .......................................................................................................... 108 26) How may the ICRC use the emblem when it resorts to armed protection?................... 111 CD/09/7.3.1 3 Chapter D. Use by Other Actors ................................................................................. 113 27) May international organizations (e.g. UN, African Union, European Union, NATO) use the emblem?...................................................................................................................... 113 28) May the medical services of armed groups use the emblem during non-international armed conflicts?........................................................................................................... 117 29) Are entities other than medical services of States’ armed forces or components of the Movement, particularly non-governmental organizations (NGOs), ever allowed to display the emblem as a protective device?............................................................................. 119 30) May private military and security companies (PMCs/PSCs) use the emblem?............. 126 31) Use of the emblem o third parties' ambulances and first-aid stations, under Article 44, 4th para., of the First Geneva Convention of 1949: What is the role of National Societies?.......................................................................................................................131 Part II. RECOMMENDATIONS ON COMMERCIAL AND OTHER NON-OPERATIONAL ISSUES INVOLVING THE USE OF THE EMBLEM........................................................... 135 Chapter A. Use by State Authorities .......................................................................... 135 32) The United Nations Convention of 8 November 1968 on road signs and signals and the European Agreement of 1 May 1971 supplementing the Convention on road signs and signals: Are they compatible with the rules governing use of the emblem? .................. 135 Chapter B. Use by National Societies ........................................................................ 141 33) May a National Society display the emblem/its logo on items that it distributes or sells to the public? ................................................................................................................... 141 34) May a National Society allow its partner companies to display the emblem/the National Society’s logo on items