Article 80 - Duties of Prisoners’ Representatives

Summary

Article 80 concerns the duties of prisoners’ representatives. The factthat they have been elected and have accepted that mandate or have beenappointed by reason of their seniority gives prisoners’ representativesthe general power to represent their fellow prisoners of war. This powermust, however, be exercised diligently and with certain ends in view.Various provisions of the Third Convention set out the duties ofprisoners’ representatives, as indicated in the second paragraph ofArticle 80. By contrast, the first paragraph contains a generalstatement of the duties of prisoners’ representatives. The wording isbroad and gives prisoners’ representatives sufficient latitude to act onbehalf of prisoners of war. Their purpose is generally to contribute toimproving the well-being of prisoners of war and to ensuring the properimplementation of the Convention. The final paragraph provides thatprisoners’ representatives may not be held responsible, because of theirduties, for offences committed by prisoners of war.