Protective Signs

Introduction

Protective signs are legally protected symbols to be used during an armed conflict to mark persons and objects under the protection of various treaties of international humanitarian law. While their essential meaning can be summarized as “don't shoot” or “don't attack”, the exact conditions implied vary depending on the respective sign and the circumstances of its use. The form, shape and color of these signs are defined by the rules of international humanitarian law. Usually, they are easy to draw in order to make even an improvised use as easy as possible, and they were chosen to be as concise, recognizable and visible as possible under all circumstances.

The misuse of protective signs is a violation of international humanitarian law and punishable under the national law of all countries who are state parties to the respective treaties. Using protective signs in order to injure, kill, or capture the enemy, i.e. perfidy, is a war crime.

The White Flag

The white flag is used to designate unarmed parliamentaries (negotiators, along with their flag bearer and optional drummer) asking for a truce or ceasefire, or to symbolise surrender

The Red Cross, Crescent and Crystal

The Red Cross as well as the equivalent signs of the Red Crescent and the Red Crystal, to be used to mark all persons and objects under the protection of the four Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their additional protocols of 1977.

Red Crescent Icon
Figure #: The red crescent.
Red Cross
Figure #: The red cross.
Red Crystal
Figure #: The red crystal.

An oblique red band on a white ground to mark hospitals and safety zones.

Hospital safe zone
Figure #: Marking for hospitals and safety zones.
Magen David Adom (MDA)
Magen David Adom Logotype
Figure #: Magen David Adom Logotype.
Magen David Adom Logotype
Figure #: Magen David Adom international emblem, within the Red Crystal protective sign (see above).

The Blue Shield

The Blue Shield isthe distinctive marking of cultural property, to be used to mark “movable or immovable property of great importance to the cultural heritage of every people”; and the triple use of that sign to mark cultural property under special protection, including “refuges intended to shelter movable cultural property” (e.g. paintings, sculptures and texts) and "immovable cultural property of very great importance" (such as the Royal Observatory or the Taj Mahal).

Blue Shield
Figure #: The blue shield.
Triple Blue Shield
Figure #: The blue shield tripled.

“Pax Cultura”, three solid maroon circles in a surrounding maroon circle on white background, is the distinctive mark of the Roerich Pact for the identification of historic monuments, museums, scientific, artistic, educational and cultural institutions (such as universities, theatres, and ancient monuments)

Roerich Pact Distinctive Emblem
Figure #: The Roerich pacts distinctive emblem, “Pax Cultura”, for monuments and cultural institutions (now superseded).

The Blue Triangle on Orange Background

A blue triangle on orange ground is the international distinctive sign of civil defense, and is to be used to mark the personnel and objects of civil defense organizations.

Blue triangle on orange background
Figure #:

Three Bright Orange Circles on the Same Axis

Three bright orange circles placed on the same axis is the special sign used to facilitate the identification of “works and installations containing dangerous forces” (dams, dikes and nuclear electrical generating stations).

Three Bright Orange Circles on the Same Axis
Figure #:

References and Further Reading

  1. The First Geneva Convention, for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded in Armies in the Field.
  2. The Second Geneva Convention, for the Amelioration of the Condition of Wounded, Sick and Shipwrecked Members of Armed Forces at Sea.
  3. The Third Geneva Convention, relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War.
  4. The Fourth Geneva Convention, relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War.
  5. Geneva Convention Protocol I, relating to the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts.
  6. Geneva Convention Protocol II, relating to the Protection of Victims of Non-International Armed Conflicts.
  7. Geneva Convention Protocol III, relating to the Adoption of an Additional Distinctive Emblem.