The terms release, return, repatriation and re-establishment are closely related and the acts they describe often take place simultaneously. Their main common significance is that the Geneva Conventions and Additional Protocol I extend their application until the release, repatriation or re-establishment of all protected persons in the power of the adversary has been ensured (GC I, Art. 5; GC III, Art. 5; GC IV, Art. 6; P I, Art. 3). There are slight differences between each of the terms:

1) Release refers to the ending of a person’s detention, and the corresponding return of their liberty. In other words, once released, a person is no longer confined to a geographically restricted area and can move about freely.

Release and repatriation of prisoners of war must take place simultaneously and must be effectuated without delay after the cessation of active hostilities (GC III, Art. 118). Prisoners of war may also be released on parole or promise (GC III, Art. 21).

Civilians interned in connection to an armed conflict must be released as soon as the reasons which necessitated their internment no longer exist (GC IV, Art. 132).

2) Return refers to the act of sending individuals to the locations of their previous residence, service, or to their places of origin.

At the outset of, or during an armed conflict, alien civilians are entitled to leave the territory of a Party to the conflict and return to their countries of origin, unless their departure is contrary to the national interests of the former (GC IV, Art. 35-36 and Art. 48). Upon the close of hostilities or occupation, States are obliged to return interned civilians to their last place of residence, or to facilitate their repatriation (GC IV, Art. 134).

Religious or medical personnel whose retention is not indispensable to care for prisoners of war, must be returned to the Party to whom they belong (GC I, Art. 30).

3) Repatriation refers to returning individuals to their place of origin, citizenship or service. Outside of armed conflict, it involves movement across national frontiers, and the premise that the individual in question is located on foreign territory. In the context of armed conflict, this is not necessarily always the case.

In the case of prisoners of war, it takes place simultaneously with their release. Prisoners of war must be released and repatriated without delay after the cessation of active hostilities (GC III, Art. 118) or during the conflict because of serious wounds or illness (GC III, Art. 109-110), and may be released and repatriated on parole or promise (GC III, Art. 21). While it is explicitly stated that prisoners of war must not be repatriated against their will during hostilities (GC III, Art. 109-110), there is no similar provision which would allow prisoners of war not to be repatriated after the end of an armed conflict. However, state practice since World War II and the principle of non-refoulement may grant them such a right.

At the outset of, or during an armed conflict, alien civilians are entitled to leave the territory and be repatriated, unless their departure is contrary to the national interests of the state of their current residence (GC IV, Art. 35-36 and Art. 48). Upon the close of hostilities or occupation, states are obliged to facilitate the repatriation of interned civilians (GC IV, Art. 134).

4) Re-establishment

Re-establishment refers to ensuring that the released person establishes him- or herself a new permanent residency, whether in the State of the former Detaining Power, in the country of origin or in a third country. 

In the Fourth Geneva Convention it is used to indicate that civilians (who benefit e.g. from the non-refoulement principle) remain protected by the Convention until they are re-established (GC IV, Art. 6 (4))

See Repatriation; Re-establishment; Return;

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