Related Rule
Switzerland
Practice Relating to Rule 123. Recording and Notification of Personal Details of Persons Deprived of Their Liberty
Switzerland’s Basic Military Manual (1987) states: “Upon the outbreak of a conflict and in all cases of occupation, official bureaux of information shall be created on the territory of the Parties to the conflict and on those of the Neutral Powers having received members of foreign armed forces.” It adds: “A Central Prisoners of War Information Agency shall be created in a neutral country by the ICRC. The Agency shall collect all the important information on prisoners and transmit it as rapidly as possible to the country of origin of the prisoners of war.”
Switzerland, Lois et coutumes de la guerre (Extrait et commentaire), Règlement 51.7/II f, Armée Suisse, 1987, §§ 115–116.
Switzerland’s Regulation on Legal Bases for Conduct during an Engagement (2005) states:
Prisoners may be interrogated but no pressure may be exercised on them to obtain information. They are required to give their surname, first name, date of birth, rank and identification number. If they refuse, they are not punished but they lose privileges accorded to their rank.
Switzerland, Bases légales du comportement à l’engagement (BCE), Règlement 51.007/IVf, Swiss Army, issued based on Article 10 of the Ordinance on the Organization of the Federal Department for Defence, Civil Protection and Sports of 7 March 2003, entry into force on 1 July 2005, § 188.
