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FOURTH GENEVA CONVENTION OF 1949
of the Detaining Power and the commandant of a place of
internment shall be responsible for the observance in a labour
detachment of the provisions of the present Convention. The
commandant shall keep an up-to-date list of the labour
detachments subordinate to him and shall communicate it to the
delegates of the Protecting Power, of the International Committee of
the Red Cross and of other humanitarian organizations who may
visit the places of internment.
CHAPTER VI
Personal Property and Financial Resources
Valuables
and personal
effects
ART. 97. — Internees shall be permitted to retain articles of
personal use. Monies, cheques, bonds, etc., and valuables in their
possession may not be taken from them except in accordance with
established procedure. Detailed receipts shall be given therefor.
The amounts shall be paid into the account of every internee as
provided for in Article 98. Such amounts may not be converted into
any other currency unless legislation in force in the territory in
which the owner is interned so requires or the internee gives his
consent.
Articles which have above all a personal or sentimental value may
not be taken away.
A woman internee shall not be searched except by a woman.
On release or repatriation, internees shall be given all articles,
monies or other valuables taken from them during internment and
shall receive in currency the balance of any credit to their accounts
kept in accordance with Article 98, with the exception of any articles
or amounts withheld by the Detaining Power by virtue of its
legislation in force. If the property of an internee is so withheld, the
owner shall receive a detailed receipt.
Family or identity documents in the possession of internees may
not be taken away without a receipt being given. At no time shall
internees be left without identity documents. If they have none, they
shall be issued with special documents drawn up by the detaining
authorities, which will serve as their identity papers until the end of
their internment.
Internees may keep on their persons a certain amount of money,
in cash or in the shape of purchase coupons, to enable them to make
purchases.