The main clauses can be summarized as follows:

 

Protection of Wounded and Sick Combatants: It mandates that members of the armed forces who are wounded or sick must be respected, protected, and cared for by the party to the conflict in whose power they may be. This treatment must be humane and without any adverse distinction based on factors like race, religion, or political opinion.

 

Prohibition of Harmful Acts: The convention strictly prohibits any attempts on the lives or persons of the wounded and sick. This includes murder, torture, biological experiments, mutilation, and willfully leaving them without medical care.

 

Collection and Care of Casualties: Parties to a conflict have an obligation to search for and collect the wounded and sick, to protect them from ill-treatment and pillage, and to ensure they receive adequate medical care.

 

Protection of Medical Personnel and Facilities: Medical and religious personnel, as well as medical units, establishments, and transports, must be respected and protected from attack. They are considered neutral and must be allowed to carry out their duties. The use of the Red Cross or Red Crescent emblem is recognized as a means to identify and protect this personnel and equipment.

 

Role of Impartial Humanitarian Bodies: The convention recognizes the right of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and other impartial humanitarian organizations to offer their services to the parties in a conflict to assist the wounded and sick.