Geneva Conventions Act 1957

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Geneva Conventions Act 1957
Act of Parliament
Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (variant 1, 1952-2022).svg
Long title An Act to enable effect to be given to certain international conventions done at Geneva on the twelfth day of August, nineteen hundred and forty-nine, and for purposes connected therewith.
Citation 5 & 6 Eliz. 2. c. 52
Territorial extent UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, any colony
Dates
Royal assent 31 July 1957
Other legislation
Amended by
Status: Amended
Records of Parliamentary debate relating to the statute from Hansard
Text of the Geneva Conventions Act 1957 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk.

The Geneva Conventions Act 1957 (5 & 6 Eliz. 2. c. 52) is an act of Parliament of the United Kingdom that incorporates the provisions of the Geneva Conventions into British law.

Contents

One aspect of the Geneva Conventions Act 1957 is that it makes wearing the Red Cross symbol illegal in many circumstances, sometimes with curious consequences. In 2011, a British pantomime costume had to be changed in order to comply with the Geneva Conventions Act. [1]

Its provisions were later amended by the Geneva Conventions (Amendment) Act 1995 and Geneva Conventions and United Nations Personnel (Protocols) Act 2009. [2] [3]

See also

References

  1. "Glasgow pantomime dress broke Geneva Convention". BBC News. 7 January 2011. Retrieved 3 February 2026.
  2. Warbrick, Colin; McGoldrick, Dominic; Rowe, Peter; Meyer, Michael A. (April 1996). "II. The Geneva Conventions (Amendment) Act 1995: A Generally Minimalist Approach". International & Comparative Law Quarterly. 45 (2): 476–484. doi:10.1017/S002058930005911X. ISSN   1471-6895.
  3. Meyer, Michael; Garraway, Charles (2010). "The Geneva Conventions and United Nations Personnel (Protocols) Act 2009: A Move Away from the Minimalist Approach". The International and Comparative Law Quarterly. 59 (1): 171–180. ISSN   0020-5893.