Rule 67. Parlementaires are inviolable.Volume II, Chapter 19, Section B.
State practice establishes this rule as a norm of customary international law applicable in both international and non-international armed conflicts.
This is a long-standing rule of customary international law already recognized in the Brussels Declaration and the Oxford Manual, and codified in the Hague Regulations.
[1] The inviolability of
parlementaires is restated in numerous military manuals.
[2] Some of these manuals are applicable in, or have been applied in, non-international armed conflicts.
[3] Several manuals consider that attacks against a
parlementaire displaying the white flag of truce constitutes a war crime.
[4] Breach of the inviolability of
parlementaires is an offence under the legislation of many States.
[5] This rule is also supported by other national practice.
[6] This includes practice in the context of non-international armed conflicts.
[7]No official contrary practice was found. No party has claimed the right to breach the inviolability of parlementaires.
According to the Brussels Declaration, the Oxford Manual and the Hague Regulations, inviolability extends to the persons accompanying the
parlementaire.
[8] This point is also stated in many military manuals.
[9] The UK Military Manual and LOAC Manual explain that the persons accompanying a
parlementaire were traditionally a trumpeter, bugler or drummer, a flagbearer and an interpreter, but that these days a
parlementaire may advance in an armoured vehicle flying a white flag, accompanied by a driver, wireless and loudspeaker operator and interpreter.
[10]Several military manuals stress that it is not required that there be a complete cease-fire in the entire sector in which the
parlementaire arrives, but that the party advancing with the white flag may not be fired upon.
[11] In addition, a number of military manuals emphasize that it is the duty of the
parlementaire to choose a propitious moment to display the white flag of truce and to avoid dangerous zones.
[12] Lastly, a number of military manuals specify that the inviolability of
parlementaires and of the persons accompanying them lasts until they have safely returned to friendly territory.
[13]Practice indicates that a parlementaire bearing the white flag of truce has to advance towards the other party. The party with which the parlementaire wishes to communicate need not advance. This has also been discussed in relation to the particular circumstances of surrender in connection with an incident that took place during the war in the South Atlantic (see commentary to Rule 47).