Saintes Convention

Kyle

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With the world entering a new era of heightened tension and conflict,the nations of Saintonge and Xentherida deem it necessary to stem this tide of violence, especially those directed towards the most vulnerable. Therefore, a set of rules for war have been drafted as an attempt to protect those most at risk, such as civilians who may be caught in the conflict). It is hoped that as many countries as possible sign, ratify, and adhere to these rules, in order to protect vulnerable populations and to limit the bloodshed in the face of this eruption of warfare.

Therefore, the governments of the Kingdom of Saintonge and the Grand Federation of Xentherida have drafted a set of conventions and protocols to limit warfare to ensure no unnecessary actions are conducted, and at this Saintes Convention, there is a document for each nation to sign. An abridged version has been provided in writing below, while the full version are attached.

The Savattenstad Convention can be found here.

This document is based on the IRL Fourth Geneva Convention. This shall be the text that the following summary is based on. We have summarised the convention in the subsequent spoiler posts, as an in-character summary. Given that RL is different from Eras, we had changed some of the names and provisions that are not applicable to Eras. The main basis/text will still be the IRL text, but if there is a difference between the IRL text and the IC summary, the IC summary takes precedence. More OOC comments are also interspersed in the text Any questions can be directed to @Kyle or @Xentherida .

A quicker summary can be read here.

Saintes Convention: Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War

Part I: General Provisions
1. Respect for the Convention:
All Contracting Parties have bound themselves irrevocably to abide by the provisions of the Convention.
2. Application of the Convention: The Conventions apply in War, whether declared or undeclared, whether international or non-international.
3. Conflicts of non-international character: Persons taking no active part in the hostilities, including members of armed forces who have laid down their arms, shall in all circumstances be treated humanely, without any adverse distinction founded on race, colour, religion or faith, sex, birth or wealth, or any other similar criteria.
3a. Prohibited are: violence to life and person, including murder, mutilation, cruel treatment and torture; taking of hostages; outrages upon personal dignity; the passing of sentences and the carrying out of arbitrary executions.​
3b. The wounded and the sick shall be cared for.​
4. Definition of Protected Persons: “Civilians” refer to persons who at a given moment and in any manner whatsoever, find themselves, incase of a conflict or occupation, in the hands of persons a Party to the conflict or Occupying Power of which they are not nationals.
4a. Nationals of a State which is not bound by the Convention are not protected by it.​
(OOC Note: So if your country is not a party to the Convention, the Convention will not apply to your citizens. Your citizens will not be protected. if your country does not sign up.)
5. Derogations: Exceptions to “Civilians” include persons definitely suspected or engaging in hostile/belligerent activities, espionage, and/or sabotage.
6. Beginning and end of application: The Convention shall apply immediately from the outset of any conflict or occupation.
7. Special Agreements: Contracting Parties may conclude other special agreements for all matters concerning which they may deem it suitable to make, provided it does not adversely affect the situation of protected persons.
8. Non-renunciation of rights: Protected persons may in no circumstances renounce in part or in entirety the rights secured to them by the present Convention.
9. Protecting powers: Convention shall be applied with the co-operation and under the scrutiny of the Protecting Powers whose duty it is to safeguard the interests of the Parties to the conflict.
10. Activities of the International Red Heart Society: The provisions of the Convention shall constitute no obstacle to the activities of the International Federation of Red Heart Societies or any other impartial humanitarian organisation.
11. Substitutes for Protecting Powers: A Protecting Power may also be an international organization which offers all guarantees of impartiality and capability in performing the duties of a Protecting Power.
12. Conciliation Procedure: Protecting Powers may also offer their services to sort out differences in interpretation between Contracting Parties.

Part II: General Protections of Populations against Certain Consequences of War
13. Field of Application:
The Convention covers the whole of the populations of the countries in conflict, without any adverse distinction based, in particular, on race, nationality, religion or political opinion.
14. Hospital and safety zones and localities: Contracting Parties may establish hospital and safety zones for vulnerable populations. Protecting Powers may be called upon to facilitate the institution and recognition of these hospital and safety zones and localities.
15. Neutralised zones: Any Party may propose to the adverse Party to establish in the regions where fighting is taking place, neutralized zones intended to shelter Civilians from the effects of war.
16. Wounded and sick: The wounded and sick, as well as the infirm, and expectant mothers, shall be the object of particular protection and respect.
16a. General Protection: Parties to the conflict shall facilitate the steps taken to search for the killed and wounded, to assist the shipwrecked and other persons exposed to grave danger, and to protect them against pillage and ill-treatment.​
17. Evacuation: Parties to the conflict shall endeavour to conclude local agreements for the evacuation of the wounded, sick, infirm and aged persons, children and pregnant women, ministers of all religions, and medical personnel and medical equipment.
18. Protection of hospitals: Civilian hospitals shall not be objects of attack.
19. Discontinuation of protection to hospitals: Civilian hospitals are entitled to protection unless they are used to commit acts harmful to the enemy. However, the discontinuation of protection will happen only after due warning is given with appropriate and reasonable time limit.
20. Protection of hospital staff: Persons regularly and solely engaged in the operation of civilian hospitals shall be respected and protected.
21. Land and sea transport: Convoys on land and sea dedicated to carrying civilians and medical cases shall be respected and protected.
22. Air transport: Aircraft dedicated to carrying civilians, medical cases, and medical personnel and equipment shall be respected and protected. Unless agreed otherwise, flights over enemy or enemy-occupied territory are prohibited.
23. Consignments of medical supplies, food, and clothing. Each Contracting Party shall allow free passage of all consignments of medical and hospital stores, objects necessary for religious worship, and essential foodstuff and clothing intended only for civilians of another Contracting Party, even if the latter is its adversary.
23a. Obligations of the Parties: The Party transporting the consignments must ensure that the consignments would be controlled adequately, would not be diverted, or would not give a definite advantage to the military efforts or economy of the enemy country.​
24. Measures relating to child welfare: Parties to the conflict shall take necessary measures to ensure that children under fifteen, especially the orphans or those separated from their families, are not left on their own.
25. Family news: All persons in the territory of a Party to the conflict, occupied or otherwise, should be enabled to give news of a strictly personal nature to members of their families.
26. Dispersed families: Each Party to the conflict shall facilitate enquiries made by members of families dispersed owing to war.

27. Treatment: Protected Persons are entitled, in all circumstances, to humane treatment; respect for their persons, their honour, their family rights, their religious convictions and practices, their manners and customs; and to protection against violence or threats of violence.
28. Danger zones (no human shields): The presence of a Protected Person may not be used to render certain points or areas immune from military operations.
29. Responsibilities: The Party in whose hands the Protected Persons may be shall be responsible for the treatment accorded to them.
30. Application to Protecting Powers and Relief Organisations: Protected Persons shall have the ability to apply for assistance to Protecting Powers and Relief Organisations.
31. Prohibition of coercion: No physical or moral coercion shall be exercised against Protected Persons.
32. Prohibition of corporal punishment, torture, etc: The Contracting Parties agree that Protected Persons shall not be subjected to physical suffering or extermination.
33. Individual responsibility, collective penalties, pillage, reprisals: No Protected Person shall be punished for an offence s/he has not personally committed. Collective punishment, measures of intimidation or terrorism, pillage, and reprisals against Protected Persons and their property are prohibited.
34. Hostages: The act of taking hostages is prohibited.

35. Right to leave the territory: All Protected Aliens who may desire to leave the territory shall be entitled to unless their departure is contrary to the interests of the State.
36. Method of repatriation: Permitted departures shall be carried out under satisfactory conditions, and cost shall be borne by the State of Destination or the State of citizenship of the repatriated persons (if the evacuated persons are from a Third Party).
37. Persons in confinement: Protected Aliens in confinement (prisons) shall also be humanely treated.
38. Non-repatriated persons: Protected Aliens shall be entitled to: receive individual or collective relief that was sent to them; receive medical attention and hospital treatment; allowed to practice their religion; authorised to move to a less dangerous area.
39. Means of existence for non-repatriated persons: Protected Aliens who have lost their gainful employment as a result of the war shall be granted the opportunity to find paid employment.
40. Employment: Protected Aliens may be compelled to work only to the same extent as the national of the Party to the conflict in whose territory they are.
41. Internment: The most that Parties may do to Protected Aliens is internment.
42. Grounds for internment: The internment or placing in an assigned residence of Protected Aliens may be ordered only if the security of the Detaining Power makes it absolutely necessary.
43. Procedure: Interned Protected Aliens must be able to petition for reconsideration of the internment action. The names of the interned persons must also be given to the Protecting Powers.
44. Refugees: Refugees must not be considered nationals of an Enemy State if they do not enjoy the protection of the Enemy State.
45. Transfer to another Power: Protected Persons shall not be transferred to a Power which is not a party to this Convention, unless for the purposes of repatriation of that Non-Party’s citizens or residents.
46. Cancellation of restrictive measures: Restrictive measures (such as internment) shall be cancelled as soon as possible after the cessation of hostilities.

47. Inviolability of rights: Protected Persons shall not be deprived of the benefits of the present Convention.
48. Special cases of repatriation: Protected Persons who are not nationals of the Power whose territory is occupied may avail themselves of the right to leave (be repatriated)
49. Deportations, transfers, evacuations: Individual or mass forcible transfers and deportations are prohibited. Evacuation may be done if the security of the population or imperative military reasons so demand. Evacuation must be done in a humane manner and Protecting Powers must be so informed.
50. Children: The Occupying Power shall facilitate the proper working of all institutions devoted to the care and education of children.
51. Enlistment and Labour: The Occupying Power may not compel Protected Persons to serve in its armed forces or auxiliary forces. The Occupying Power may not compel children to work. The Occupying Power may compel Protected Persons to work, but only on necessary work in the territory and with proper protections and compensation. Protected Persons may not be obligated to take part in military or security obligations.
52. Protection of workers: Worker’s rights shall not be impaired. Measures to create unemployment in the Occupied Territory (so that the workers will be induced to work for the Occupying Power) are prohibited.
53. Prohibited destruction: The Occupying Power is prohibited from destroying property, unless the destruction is rendered absolutely necessary by military operations.
54. Judges and public officials: The Occupying Power may not alter the status of judges and public officials in the occupied territories should they abstain from fulfilling their functions for reasons of conscience.
55. Food and medical supplies for the population: The Occupying Power has the duty of ensuring the food and medical supplies of the population in the occupied territories.
56. Hygiene and public health: The Occupying Power has the duty of ensuring and maintaining the medical and hospital establishments and services, public health and hygiene in the occupied territories.
57. Requisition of hospitals: The Occupying Power may requisition civilian hospitals only temporarily, subject to strict conditions and with regards to the health needs of the population in the occupied territories.
58. Spiritual assistance: The Occupying Power shall permit ministers of religion ro render spiritual assistance to the members of their religious communities.
59. Collective relief: If the population of an occupied territory is inadequately supplied, the Occupying Power shall agree to allow and shall facilitate relief schemes for the population.
60. Responsibilities of the Occupying Power: Relief schemes and consignments shall in no way relieve the Occupying Power of any of its responsibilities to the population of the occupied territory.
61. Distribution: Relief distribution shall be carried out with the cooperation and under the supervision of the Protecting Power.
62. Individual relief: Protected Persons in occupied territories shall be permitted to receive individual relief consignments sent to them.
63. National Red Heart Societies: Recognised national Red Heart Societies shall be able to pursue their activities in line with the Fundamental Principles of the International Federation of Red Heart Societies. The Occupying Power is not permitted to make changes in the personnel or structure of these societies which could prejudice the aforesaid activities.
64. Penal legislation: The penal laws of the occupied territory shall remain in force, except when they are repealed or suspended by the Occupying Power in cases when they constitute a security threat or an obstacle to the application of the present Convention. The Occupying Power may make legislation for the occupied territory in order to fulfil its obligations under the present Convention.
65. Publication: Legislation made by the Occupying Power in order to fulfil its Convention obligations must be published before they come into force. No ex post facto legislation can be made.
66. Competent courts: The Occupying Power shall try individuals for breach of legislation promulgated under Art. 64 only in properly-constituted, non-political courts within the occupied territory.
67. Applicable provisions: The courts shall apply proportionate penalty to the offence. The courts shall also take into consideration that the accused is not a national of the Occupying Power.
68. Penalties: A death penalty sentence may only be handed down to a Protected Person in cases of espionage, serious acts of sabotage against the military installations of the Occupying Power, or of intentional offences which have caused the death of one or more persons, provided that such offences were already punishable by death by the laws of the occupied territory.
(OOC Note/Explanatory Note: Simply put, death penalty is only allowed for these serious crimes, and only if the laws of the occupied country sentences their citizens to the death penalty for those offences.
Consider these three examples:
Saintonge does not have the death penalty for any crime (even espionage). A hostile foreign power occupying Santonian territory cannot impose the death penalty on Santonian citizens for (let’s say) espionage.
Predice has death penalty for espionage and murder. A hostile foreign power occupying Predicean territory can hand down the death penalty on Predicean citizens for crimes that Predice itself hands death penalties on.
Prydania does have the death penalty, but only for treason. A hostile foreign power occupying Prydanian territory cannot impose death penalty on the crime of murder because Prydania itself does not hand out death penalty for murder.)
69. Deduction of sentence of period spent under arrest: The time served shall be credited.
70. Offences committed before the occupation: Protected Persons (including nationals of the Occupying Power who had sought refuge in the territory of the occupied State) shall not be arrested, prosecuted, or convicted by the Occupying Power for acts committed or for opinions expressed before the occupation, unless these acts were extraditable offences under the laws of the occupied State.
71. Penal procedure: No sentence shall be pronounced by the competent courts of the Occupying Power except after a regular trial.
72. Right of defence: Accused persons shall have the right to present evidence necessary for their defence and the right to be assisted by a qualified advocate or counsel. The Protecting Power may provide him with an advocate/counsel.
73. Right of appeal: A convicted person shall have the right of appeal provided for by the laws applied by the court.
74. Assistance by the Protecting Power: Representatives of the Protecting Power shall have the right to attend the trial of any Protected Person. Severe sentences shall be communicated to the Protecting Power.
75. Pardon/reprieve: Persons condemned to death are still eligible for pardon or reprieve. Death sentences may only be carried out six months after the Protecting Power had received notice of the final confirmation of the death penalty or denial of pardon/reprieve.
76. Treatment of detainees: Detained/Incarcerated Protected Persons shall be held within the territory of the occupied country. Treatment must be humane.
77. Handover of detainees at the end of occupation: Detained/Incarcerated Protected Persons shall be handed over to the authorities of the liberated territory.
78. Security measures/Internment: Protected Persons may be interned or assigned residences for reasons of safety or security, and such decisions must be made according to a regular procedure.

79. Cases of Internment: Parties to a conflict shall not intern protected persons, except under Articles 41, 42, 43, 68, and 78.
(OOC Note: Internment, or forcible movement of people into certain areas/residences, is only allowed when absolutely necessary for the safety and/or security of the Protected Persons, or when the Protected Person is being incarcerated.)
80. Civil capacity: Internees shall retain full civil capacity and civic rights.
81. Maintenance: Parties who intern Protected Persons shall be responsible for the free maintenance of the internees, including their dependents.
82. Grouping of internees: The Detaining Power shall, as far as possible, accommodate the internees according to their nationality, language, and customs. Separation of families is prohibited except in special circumstances.
83. Location and marking of camps: The Detaining Power shall set up internment camps in areas not exposed to dangers of war. Such camps need to be clearly marked.
84. Separate internment: Internees shall be accommodated and administered separately from prisoners-of-war (POW) and persons deprived of liberty (incarcerated individuals).
(OOC Note: You cannot put civilians in prisons.)
85. Accommodation/hygiene: The Detaining Power has a responsibility to maintain humane conditions in internment camps.
86. Premises for religious services: The Detaining Power shall provide premises suitable for holding of religious services by the internees.
87. Canteens: Canteens shall be installed in every internment place, except where other suitable facilities are available. Canteens are places where internees can make purchases, at prices not higher than local market prices. Profits made by canteens shall be credited to a welfare fund for each internment place.
88. Air raid shelters: All places of internment exposed to air raids or hazards of war shall have adequate alarms and shelters.
89. Food: Daily food rations for the internees shall be sufficient in quality, quantity, and variety.
90. Clothing: Internees shall be given facilities to provide themselves with clothing. Should these be inadequate, the Detaining Power shall provide the internees with non-humiliating clothing.
91. Medical attention: Each internment camp shall have an adequately-staffed and adequately-provisioned infirmary. The health care received by the internees must not be inferior to that provided to the general population.
92. Medical inspections: Internees shall have medical check-ups once a month.
93. Religious duties: Internees shall enjoy a wide latitude in the exercise of their religious duties, on condition that they comply with the disciplinary routine prescribed by the Detaining Power.
94. Recreation, study, sports, games: The Detaining Power shall encourage voluntary intellectual, educational, and recreational pursuits
95. Working conditions: The Detaining Power shall not employ internees as workers, unless the internees desire. Art. 40 and 51 still apply. Working conditions should be humane. Internees must be compensated for the work they perform.
96. Labour detachments: All labour detachments remain part of and dependent upon an internment camp.
97. Valuables and personal effects: Internees shall be permitted to retain articles for personal use. Personal property may be taken from Internees only according to established procedure and shall be credited to them. Detailed receipts shall be given to them. On release and repatriation, all property taken from the internees must be returned to them.
98. Financial resources and individual accounts: All Internees shall receive regular and sufficient allowances from the Detaining Power. Internees are also entitled to get additional allowances from the Protecting Power, the Power to which they owe allegiance to, aid organisations, their families, and income on the property.
99. Camp administration: Every internment camp shall be put under the authority of a Responsible Officer. The Responsible Officer and the camp Staff shall be instructed and shall be knowledgeable of the Convention. The text of the Convention shall be posted in the internment camp in the appropriate language(s). Regulations, orders, notices and publications of every kind shall be communicated to the internees and posted inside the places of internment, in a language which they understand.
100. General discipline: The disciplinary regime in internment camps shall be consistent with humanitarian principles.
101. Complaints and petitions: Internees shall have the right to present to the authorities in whose power they are, any petition with regard to the conditions of internment to which they are subjected.
102. Internee committees: In every internment camp, internees shall freely elect an Internee Committee by secret ballot. The Internee Committee is empowered to represent the internees to the Detaining Power, the Protesting Power, the International Red Heart Society, and any other aid organisation which may assist them.
103. Duties: The Internee Committee shall further the physical, spiritual and intellectual well-being of the internees.
104. Prerogatives: Members of Internee Committees shall not be required to perform any other work, if the accomplishment of their duties is rendered more difficult thereby. Internee Committees may appoint assistants as they may require. The Internee Committee shall be provided material facilities and communication facilities to perform their work.
105. Notification of measures taken: Immediately upon interning Protected Persons, the Detaining Power shall inform them, the Protecting Power, and the Power to which the interned persons owe allegiance.
106. Internment card: Internees shall be able to inform his/her family about his internment, location, and state (via “Internment Cards”).
107. Correspondence: Internees shall be allowed to send and receive letters and cards, subject to reasonable restrictions.
108. Relief shipments: Internees shall be allowed to receive individual parcels or collective shipments containing in particular foodstuffs, clothing, medical supplies, as well as books and objects of a devotional, educational or recreational character which may meet their needs, subject to reasonable regulations.
109. Collective relief: In the absence of special agreements between Parties to the conflict on collective relief, the default regulations annexed to this Convention shall be applied.
110. Exemption from postal and transport charges: All relief shipments and mail for internees shall be exempt from import, customs and other dues. The cost shall be borne by the Detaining Power in the territories under its control. Other Powers which are Parties to this Convention shall bear the cost in their respective territories.
111. Special means of transport: Should military operations prevent the Powers concerned from fulfilling their obligation regarding mail and relief shipments, the Protecting Powers, the International Red Heart Society, or any other organisation duly approved by the parties may undertake this role.
112. Censorship and examination: The censoring of correspondence addressed to internees or despatched by them shall be done as quickly as possible and only under specific conditions.
113. Execution and transmission of legal documents: The Detaining Powers shall provide all reasonable facilities for the transmission, through the Protecting Power or the Central Agency provided for in Article 140, or as otherwise required, of wills, powers of attorney, letters of authority, or any other documents intended for internees or despatched by them.
114. Management of property: The Detaining Power shall afford internees all reasonable facilities to enable them to manage their property.
115. Facilities for preparation and conduct of cases: In all cases where an internee is a party to proceedings in any court, the Detaining Power shall ensure that the necessary steps are taken to prevent the internee from being prejudiced against by reason of his internment.
116. Visits: Every internee shall be allowed to receive visitors, especially near relatives, at regular intervals and as frequently as possible. As far as possible, internees should also be permitted to visit their homes in urgent cases.

117. Applicable legislation: Subject to the provisions of the present Chapter, the laws in force in the territory in which they are detained will continue to apply to internees who commit offences during internment.
118. Penalties: The courts or authorities shall in passing sentence take as far as possible into account the fact that the defendant is not a national of the Detaining Power. All forms of cruelty, without exception, are forbidden. Internee Committees shall be informed of all judicial proceedings against interneed whom they represent.
119. Disciplinary punishments: Disciplinary punishments may be meted out, subject to specific restrictions. Applicable disciplinary punishments are the following:
  • Fines (not exceeding 50% of the monthly wage)
  • Discontinuance of special privileges over and above the ones provided for in the Convention
  • Fatigue duties, not exceeding two hours daily, and only in connection to the maintenance of the Internment Camp
  • Confinement
120. Escapes: Internees who are recaptured after having escaped or when attempting to escape, shall be liable only to disciplinary punishment in respect of this act, even if it is a repeated offence.
121. Connected offences to escape attempts: Escape, or attempt to escape, shall not be deemed an aggravating circumstance in cases where an internee is prosecuted for offences committed during his escape.
122. Investigations: Acts which constitute offences against discipline shall be investigated immediately and swiftly.
123. Competent authorities: Without prejudice to the competence of courts and higher authorities, disciplinary punishment may be ordered only by the commandant of the place of internment or his/her designate after proper proceedings.
124. Premises for disciplinary punishments: Internees shall not in any case be transferred to penitentiary establishments (prisons, penitentiaries, convict prisons, etc.) to undergo disciplinary punishment therein. The premises in which disciplinary punishments are undergone should be humane.
125. Essential safeguards: Internees awarded disciplinary punishment shall be allowed to stay in open air for a limited time; allowed to receive medical attention; and allowed to read, write, send and receive letters.
126. Provisions applicable to judicial proceedings: The provisions of Articles 71 to 76 inclusive shall apply, by analogy, to proceedings against internees who are in the national territory of the Detaining Power.

127. Conditions: The transfer of internees shall always be effected humanely.
128. Method: The transfer shall be done methodically. Internees shall be advised of their departure and new postal address, with enough time to pack their belongings and inform their next-of-kin.

129. Wills and death certificates: The wills of internees shall be received for safekeeping by the responsible authorities; and in the event of the death of an internee his will shall be transmitted without delay to a person whom he has previously designated. Deaths shall be certified and a certificate issued, to be forwarded to the Protecting Power and the Central Agency referred to in article 140.
130. Burial and cremation: The detaining authorities shall ensure that internees who die while interned are honourably buried. Cremation may be done only for imperative reasons of hygiene, on account of the religion of the deceased, or in accordance with his expressed wish to this effect. As soon as circumstances permit, the Detaining Power shall forward lists of graves of deceased internees to the Powers on whom the deceased internees depended through the Information Bureaux in Article 136.
131. Internee killed or injured in special circumstances: Every death or serious injury of an internee, caused or suspected to have been caused by a sentry, another internee or any other person, as well as any death the cause of which is unknown, shall be immediately followed by an official enquiry by the Detaining Power, with the appropriate steps taken.

132. During hostilities or occupation: Each interned person shall be released by the Detaining Power as soon as the reasons which necessitated his internment no longer exist.
133. After the close of hostilities: Internment shall cease as soon as possible after the close of hostilities.
134. Repatriation and return to last place of residence: The Contracting Parties shall endeavour, upon to ensure the return of all internees to their last place of residence, or to facilitate their repatriation.
135. Costs: The Detaining Power shall bear the expense of returning released internees to the places where they were residing when interned or completing their journey.

136. National Bureaux: Upon the outbreak of a conflict and in all cases of occupation, each of the Parties to the conflict shall establish an official Information Bureau responsible for receiving and transmitting information in respect of the protected persons who are in its power.The Information Bureaux shall be given information regarding Protected Persons taken into custody, internment, and other information and changes regarding these Protected Persons (ie. transfer, release, hospitalisation, births, deaths, etc.)
137. Transmission of information: Each national Bureau shall immediately and rapidly send the information to the Protecting Powers and the Central Agency provided for in Article 140, for forwarding to the Powers of whom the Protected Persons are nationals, or to Powers in whose territory they reside.
138. Particulars required: The information received by the national Bureau and transmitted by it shall be of such a character as to make it possible to identify the protected person exactly and to advise his next of kin quickly.
139. Forwarding of personal valuables: Each national Information Bureau shall, furthermore, be responsible for collecting all personal valuables left by Protected Persons.
140. Central agency: A Central Information Agency for Protected Persons, in particular for internees, shall be created in a neutral country. The International Red Heart Society shall, if it deems necessary, propose to the Powers concerned the organization of such an Agency. The function of the Agency shall be to collect all information of the type set forth in Article 136 which it may obtain through official or private channels and to transmit it as rapidly as possible to the countries of origin or of residence of the persons concerned.
141. Exemption from charges: The national Information Bureaux and the Central Information Agency shall enjoy free postage for all mail.

142. Relief societies and other organisations: Other relief societies and organisations may assist the Protected Persons, subject to reasonable limitations. The special position of the International Red Heart Society in this field shall be recognised and respected at all times.
143. Supervision: Representatives or delegates of the Protecting Powers shall have permission to go to all places where protected persons are, particularly to places of internment, detention, and work.
144. Dissemination of the Convention: The Contracting Parties shall disseminate and promote the study of the text of the Convention as widely as possible in their respective countries, particularly among authorities (civilian or military) who may assume some of the responsibility in respect of Protected Persons.
145. Translations: The Contracting Parties shall communicate to one another through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saintonge and, during hostilities, through the Protecting Powers, the official translations of the present Convention, as well as the laws and regulations which they may adopt to ensure the application thereof.
146. Penal sanctions: The Contracting Parties undertake to enact any legislation necessary to provide effective penal sanctions for persons committing, or ordering to be committed, any of the grave breaches of the present Convention (see article 147). The Contracting Parties will undertake to prosecute and try such persons. The Contracting Parties shall not enact legislation contrary to the provisions of the present Convention.
147. Grave breaches: Grave breaches of the Convention include
  • Willful killing
  • Torture and inhumane treatment (including biological experiments)
  • Willfully causing great suffering or serious bodily injury
  • Unlawful deportation or transfer of a Protected Person
  • Unlawful confinement of a Protected Person
  • Compelling a Protected Person to serve in the forces of a Hostile Power
  • Willfully depriving a Protected Person the right to a fair and regular trial
  • Taking of hostages
  • Unlawful, wanton, and unjustified extensive destruction and/or appropriation of property
148. Responsibilities of Contracting Parties: No Contracting Party shall absolve itself or another Contracting Party of any liability/responsibility resulting from grave breaches of the Convention.
(OOC Note: ie. A country cannot withdraw or eschew its responsibilities on crimes.)
149. Enquiry procedure: At the request of a Party to the conflict, an enquiry shall be instituted, in a manner to be decided between the interested Parties, concerning any alleged violation of the Convention.

150. Languages: The present Convention is established in Mercanti and in Santonian. Both texts are equally authentic. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saintonge shall coordinate with other Contracting Parties for official translations of the Convention to be made in their respective languages.
151. Signature: The present Convention, which bears the date of this day, 1 April 2021, is open to signature indefinitely.
152. Ratification: The present Convention shall be ratified as soon as possible by Signatories. Ratifications shall be deposited to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saintonge.
(OOC Note: Meaning, after your country has signed, you have to ratify the Convention via your country’s usual legislative procedures (ex. Passage in the Legislature, Royal Decree, Referendum, etc). After ratification, you have to inform the depositary state (the Kingdom of Saintonge) that you have ratified it. OOCly-speaking, your ratification should be registered by posting using the template below. It's as simple as that! If you want (this is not required) you can even do additional things like make a news post or even an elaborate RP out of it… it’s up to you :D )
153. Coming into force: The present Convention shall come into force three months after two instruments of ratification have been deposited. For subsequently Acceding States, the Convention shall come into force three months after its ratification, with regards to the Acceding State.
154. Relation with the Savattenstad Convention: Ratification of the Saintes Convention is independent of ratification of the Savattenstad Convention.
155. Accession: The Convention shall remain open to any Power that wishes to accede to the Convention.
156. Notification of accessions: Accession shall be notified in writing to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saintonge, and shall take effect three months after ratification of the Acceding State.
157. Immediate effect: If an Acceding State qualifies in the situations in Articles 2 or 3, the Convention has immediate effect.
(OOC Note: If your country is in conflict when you ratify the Convention, the Convention immediately applies - no waiting period.)
158. Denunciation: Denunciations or withdrawals from the Convention is forbidden.
(OOC Note: This is a major difference from the IRL one. IRL, article 158 allows countries to denounce or withdraw from the Convention and provides for mechanisms for it. With Saintes Convention, it not allowed. Also Article 159 in the IRL convention concerns the UN, so it's not applicable too.)



OOC: Should your country sign and ratify this convention, please fill up this template post:

Code:
[b][u]Accession to the Saintes Convention[/u][/b]:
[b]Full Nation Name:[/b] <insert your full nation name>
[b]Signed by:[/b] <name and position of person who signed the Convention>
[b]Date signed:[/b] <date in year-month-day that your country signed the Convention>
[b]Date ratified:[/b] <date in year-month-day that your country ratified the Convention>
 
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Signatories and Parties to the Convention

Signatories (not yet Ratified)
CountryDate Signed
Malor-Kanada, Second Empire of1 April 2021
Mintoria [Mintorian Realm]30 June 2021
New Aleman, People's Republic of16 April 2021
Predice, Most Serene State of11 July 2021


Parties to the Convention (Signed and Ratified)
CountryDate SignedDate Ratified
Andrenne, Third Kingdom of24 May 202230 June 2022
Arcanstotska [Second Arcanstotskan Republic]1 April 202123 April 2021
Aubervijr, Kingdom of4 April 202116 April 2021
Delacia, Federal Republic of1 April 202123 April 2021
Essalanea, United Clans of1 April 202123 April 2021
Esthuesria [Royal Union of Grand Esthursia]14 May 202214 May 2022
Faltsu, Kingdom of11 April 202122 April 2021
Goyanes [Imperial Goyanean Federation]12 April 202116 April 2021
Iraelia, State of1 April 202125 April 2021
Lanceria [Lancerian Empire]4 April 202102 May 2021
Mondari, Republic of5 April 202110 April 2021
Mouxordia, Republic of1 March 20225 March 2022
Norsia, Empire of7 October 202110 October 2021
Prydania, Kingdom of1 April 202126 April 2021
Rayvostoka, People's Republic of3 April 202120 April 2021
Regunalia, Grand Kingdom of1 April 202120 April 2021
Saintonge, Kingdom of1 April 202123 April 2021
Sasten, Kingdom of1 April 202129 April 2021
Sil Dorsett, Principality of3 April 202116 April 2021
Scalvia [Scalvian Federation]3 April 202118 April 2021
Suavidici [Imperium Suavidici]2 March 20222 March 2022
Tardine, Greater Empire of3 May 20215 July 2021
Ulstome, United Kingdom of5 April 202112 April 2021
Valencia, Kingdom of1 September 20215 October 2021
Vivanco, Grand Duchy of20 June 202120 August 2021
Xentherida, Grand Federation of11 April 202125 April 2021
Yalkan, Commonwealth of2 April 202117 May 2021
Yamantau, People's Republic of11 April 202123 April 2021
 
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Accession to the Saintes Convention:
Full Nation Name: the Kingdom of Saintonge
Signed by: King Thibault II of Saintonge, Prime Minister Anne-Douceline Courseaux, Foreign Affairs Minister Marcelline Tréhet
Date signed: 2021 Apr 01
Date ratified: 2021 Apr 23
 
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Accession to the Saintes Convention:
Full Nation Name: Second Arcanstotskan Republic
Signed by:
• President Sidorov Pevlovich
• Prime Minister Anton Tsvetayev
• Minister of Foreign Affairs Natasha Danikina
Date signed: 2021/4/1
Date ratified: 2021/4/23
 
Accession to the Saintes Convention:
Full Nation Name: Federal Republic of Delacia
Signed by:
  • President Jordan Anderson
  • Vice-President Xavier Gonzales
Date signed: 2021, April 01
Date ratified: 2021, April 23
 
Accession to the Saintes Convention:
Full Nation Name: Kingdom of Prydania
Signed by: King Tobias III Loðbrók, Prime Minister Magnus Brandt
Date signed: 2021 April 1
Date ratified: 2021 April 26
 
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Accession to the Saintes Convention:
Full Nation Name: State of Iraelia
Signed by: President Avrohom Kadish, Prime Minister Taneli Gadi
Date signed: 2021 April 1
Date ratified: 2021 April 25
 
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Accession to the Saintes Convention:
Full Nation Name: The Kingdom of Faltsu
Signed by: Prime Minister Violet Klein
Date signed: 2021-04-11
Date ratified: 2021-04-22
 
Accession to the Saintes Convention:
Full Nation Name: Commonwealth of Yalkan
Signed by: Prime Minister Darren Nevil
Date signed: 2021 April 2
Date ratified: 2021 May 17
 
Accession to the Saintes Convention:
Full Nation Name: Grand Federation of Xentherida
Signed by: PM Leona Antonsson
Date signed: 2021-04-1
Date ratified: 2021-04-15
 
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Accession to the Saintes Convention:
Full Nation Name: The Principality of Sil Dorsett
Signed by: Prime Minister Madeline Ellison
Date signed: 2021 Apr 03
Date ratified: 2021 Apr 16
 
Accession to the Saintes Convention:
Full Nation Name: The United Kingdom of Sasten
Signed by: King Renadt II of Kaizunel
Date signed: 2021-04-01
Date ratified: 2021-04-29
 
Accession to the Saintes Convention:
Full Nation Name: The Commonwealth of Aubervijr
Signed by: President Coenraad van Rijckevorsel, Chancellor Johannes van der Capellen
Date signed: 2021/04/04
Date ratified: Not yet ratified
 
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Accession to the Saintes Convention:
Full Nation Name: The Second Malor-Kanadian Empire
Signed by: Crown Consul Marten Severyn, Peoples’ Consul Dmytro Petrenko
Date signed: 2021-4-1
Date ratified: Not yet ratified.
 
Accession to the Saintes Convention:
Full Nation Name: The Imperial Goyanean Federation
Signed by: Grand Emperor Anthony; High Chancellor Jon Norberg
Date signed: 2021-04-12
Date ratified: 2021-04-16
 
Accession to the Saintes Convention:
Full Nation Name: The People's Republic of Rayvostoka
Signed by: General Secretary Mikhail Aslanov
Date signed: 2021 Apr 03
Date ratified: 2021 Apr 20
 
Accession to the Saintes Convention:
Full Nation Name: Peoples Republic of New Aleman
Signed by: President Fabio Jäger, President Enna Steuermann
Date signed: 2021-04-16
Date ratified: Not yet Ratified
 
Accession to the Saintes Convention:
Full Nation Name: Mintorian Realm
Signed by: Emperor Matthias VIII, Chancellor Wilhelm Städtler, Foreign Minister Frederich Ritter von Pourtalès
Date signed: 2021-06-30
Date ratified: N/A
 
Accession to the Saintes Convention:
Full Nation Name: The Lancerian Empire (Lanceria)
Signed by: Queen-Empress Amelia
Isaac Oudinot, Prime Minister
Date signed: 2021-04-04
Date ratified: 2021-05-02
 
Accession to the Saintes Convention:
Full Nation Name: Most Serene State of Predice
Signed by: Alessandria da Montebello, State Gonfaloniere
Date signed: 2021-07-11
Date ratified: Pending
 
Accession to the Saintes Convention:
Full Nation Name: Imperial Commonwealth of Norsia
Signed by: Empress Alycia Saitta Loðbrók, Prime Minister Roland Korinek
Date signed: 2021-10-07
Date ratified: 2021-10-10
 
Accession to the Saintes Convention:
Full Nation Name: The Greater Empire of Tardine
Signed by: Emperor Jasemir Partei Kladerai, Chef of Parlament Werdoi Saintonni Danfeh
Date signed: 2021-05-03
Date ratified: 2021-07-05
 
Accession to the Saintes Convention:
Full Nation Name: <Imperivm Svavidici>
Signed by: <Avgvstvs Constantine Flavian>
Date signed: <2022-3-2>
Date ratified: <2022-3-2>
 
Accession to the Saintes Convention:
Full Nation Name: Republic of Mouxordia
Signed by: Secretary of State Boris K. Poklonskaja
Date signed: 2022-03-01
Date ratified: 2022-03-05
 
Accession to the Saintes Convention:
Full Nation Name: Kingdom of Valencia
Signed by: Minister of Foreign Affairs Isaac J. Gagnon
Date signed: 2021-09-01
Date ratified: 2021-10-05
 
Accession to the Saintes Convention:
Full Nation Name:
Royal Union of Grand Esthursia (up to 2022, May 28); Union of Grand Esthursia (2022, May 28 onwards)
Signed by:
  • King Arthur IV of the (Royal) Union (2022 May 14)
  • Forethegn of the Three Ridings, Harold Osborne (2022 May 11)
  • Chancellor of the Landsfere, Jeremy Wilson (2022 May 11)
  • Redethegn for Elland, Wilfred Frome (2022 May 7)
Date ratified: 2022 May 14
 
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Accession to the Saintes Convention:
Full Nation Name: Grand Duchy of Vivanco
Signed by: Great Duke Petrio Raimundo The III
Date signed: <2021-06-20>
Date ratified: <2021-08-20>
 
Accession to the Saintes Convention:
Full Nation Name: Scalvian Federation
Signed by: President Vytautas Goldsbergis
Date signed: 2021-04-03
Date ratified: 2021-04-18
 
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Accession to the Saintes Convention:
Full Nation Name: Third Kingdom of Andrenne
Signed by: Grand Field Marshal Elijas Syydynensson
Date signed: 2022-05-24
Date ratified: 2022-06-30
 
Accession to the Saintes Convention:
Full Nation Name: United Kingdom of Ulstome
Signed by: Prime Minister Harold Von Vannestein and King Ulfar von Falkenstein
Date signed: 2021 - 04 - 05
Date ratified: 2021 - 04 - 12
 
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