United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Practice Relating to Rule 135. Children
The UK Military Manual (1958) states: “The belligerents should endeavour to conclude local agreements for the removal from besieged or encircled areas of … children”.
The UK LOAC Pamphlet (1981) states: “A local cease-fire may be arranged for the removal from besieged or encircled areas of … children”.
The UK LOAC Manual (2004) states:
There are no restrictions on the evacuation to a foreign country by a belligerent state of children of its own nationality. Children who are not nationals of a belligerent state may not be evacuated by that state to a foreign country unless:
a. evacuation is temporary;
b either:
(1) it is compelled by reason of the health or medical treatment of the children, or
(2) except in occupied territory, the safety of the children so demands;
c. the written consent of the parents or legal guardians of each child is obtained;
d. the evacuation is made under an agreement between the state arranging for the evacuation, the state(s) receiving the children and the state(s) whose nationals are evacuated;
e. the evacuation is supervised by the protecting power; and
f. the parties to the conflict take all feasible precautions to avoid endangering the evacuation.