# Act on the Protection of Certain International Distinctive Emblems of Medical Aid etc

> Swedish law from 1953

**Wikidata**: [Q100700751](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q100700751)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/act-on-the-protection-of-certain-international-distinctive-emblems-of-medical-aid-etc

## Summary

The Act on the Protection of Certain International Distinctive Emblems of Medical Aid etc is a statute[1]. It establishes legal protections for specific internationally recognized emblems associated with medical assistance. The legislation ensures the proper use and recognition of these symbols within its jurisdiction.The act addresses the misuse or unauthorized display of distinctive emblems, reinforcing their intended purpose in humanitarian contexts.

## Summary

The Act on the Protection of Certain International Distinctive Emblems of Medical Aid etc (Swedish: Lag (1953:771) om skydd för vissa internationella sjukvårdsbeteckningar m.m.) is a Swedish statute enacted on December 30, 1953, that established legal protection for certain international medical aid symbols and emblems. This law was enacted to safeguard distinctive emblems used in international medical and humanitarian contexts, ensuring their proper use and preventing misuse. The statute was repealed on February 21, 2015, by Q100672036, but remains significant as part of Sweden's historical legal framework for protecting humanitarian symbols.

## Key Facts

- **Official Title**: Lag (1953:771) om skydd för vissa internationella sjukvårdsbeteckningar m.m.
- **Legal Citation**: SFS 1953:771
- **Swedish Riksdag Document ID**: sfs-1953-771
- **Country**: Sweden
- **Jurisdiction**: Sweden
- **Publication Date**: December 30, 1953
- **Language**: Swedish
- **Classification**: Statute (instance of statute)
- **Copyright Status**: Public domain (per Swedish Copyright Act 2 Chapter 26 §)
- **Repealed By**: Q100672036 (effective February 21, 2015)
- **Published In**: Q100565245
- **Maintained By**: Project Riksdagen's documents
- **Wikidata Description**: Swedish law from 1953

## FAQs

**What was the purpose of the Act on the Protection of Certain International Distinctive Emblems of Medical Aid etc?**

The act was designed to provide legal protection for certain international distinctive emblems used in medical aid and healthcare contexts. It aimed to prevent the unauthorized or improper use of these protected symbols, which are essential for identifying medical facilities, personnel, and humanitarian operations internationally.

**When was this Swedish statute enacted and when was it repealed?**

The statute was enacted on December 30, 1953, and remained in effect for over six decades before being repealed on February 21, 2015, by Q100672036.

**What is the legal status of this statute regarding copyright?**

The Act is in the public domain according to the Swedish Copyright Act (2 Chapter 26 §), which governs official legal documents. This ensures public accessibility to the text of the law.

**Where can the original text of this act be accessed?**

The original Swedish text is available through the Swedish Parliament (Riksdagen) website at https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/dokument-lagar/dokument/_sfs-1953-771 and in Office Open XML format at http://data.riksdagen.se/dokument/sfs-1953-771.

**How is this entity classified in knowledge systems?**

The act is classified as a statute, which is a formal written document that creates law, including acts, executive orders, and by-laws. It is a subclass of "written work," "document," and "rule" in knowledge taxonomies.

## Why It Matters

This Swedish statute matters as a historical legal instrument that protected internationally recognized medical aid emblems, which are crucial for humanitarian operations, battlefield medical services, and the identification of protected medical facilities under international law. The protection of these emblems ensures that medical personnel, facilities, and vehicles can be clearly identified and respected during conflicts and emergencies, which is fundamental to international humanitarian law.

The act represents Sweden's commitment to international humanitarian standards and its participation in the broader system of protecting distinctive emblems such as the Red Cross, Red Crescent, and other symbols used by medical and humanitarian organizations. While the statute was repealed in 2015, it served as an important piece of Swedish legislation for over sixty years, demonstrating the country's long-standing dedication to upholding international humanitarian principles.

The public domain status of this statute ensures that citizens, researchers, and legal professionals can access and study the historical legal framework that governed the protection of medical emblems in Sweden, contributing to transparency and the preservation of legal history.

## Notable For

- **Historical Significance**: One of Sweden's earliest formal legal protections for international medical aid emblems, enacted in 1953
- **Duration**: Remained in effect for 61 years before being repealed in 2015
- **International Humanitarian Law**: Contributed to Sweden's implementation of international standards for protecting medical and humanitarian symbols
- **Public Accessibility**: Available in public domain, ensuring unrestricted access to the legal text
- **Official Documentation**: Maintained as part of Project Riksdagen's documents, ensuring preservation in Sweden's official legislative records

## Body

### Legislative Context and Purpose

The Act on the Protection of Certain International Distinctive Emblems of Medical Aid etc (Lag (1953:771) om skydd för vissa internationella sjukvårdsbeteckningar m.m.) was enacted by the Swedish Parliament (Riksdag) on December 30, 1953. The statute was designed to provide legal protection for distinctive emblems used in international medical aid contexts, aligning Sweden with international humanitarian standards and conventions governing the use of protective symbols in medical and healthcare settings.

The legislation addressed the need to safeguard symbols that identify medical facilities, personnel, vehicles, and equipment, particularly in conflict zones and humanitarian emergency situations. These emblems serve critical functions in international humanitarian law by providing visual identification of protected medical units and ensuring that medical personnel and facilities are respected and not targeted during armed conflicts.

### Legal Classification and Properties

This statute is classified as an instance of "statute" within knowledge systems, specifically falling under the broader category of formal written documents that create law. The statute is taxonomically classified as a subclass of "written work," "document," and "rule," consistent with the classification of other legislative instruments in Sweden and internationally.

The act carries the official legal citation SFS 1953:771, where SFS stands for Svensk författningssamling (Swedish Code of Statutes), the official publication series for Swedish legislation. The Swedish Riksdag document identifier is sfs-1953-771, which serves as the primary reference for accessing the legislative text through official channels.

### Jurisdiction and Applicability

The statute applies to Sweden as a jurisdiction, establishing legal protections within Swedish territory for the designated international medical aid emblems. The law was binding within Swedish borders and applicable to individuals, organizations, and entities operating within Sweden's legal jurisdiction.

The language of the work is Swedish, reflecting its origin as a product of the Swedish legislative process and its primary applicability to Swedish legal and administrative contexts.

### Publication and Accessibility

The act was published in the Swedish Code of Statutes (Svensk författningssamling) and is cataloged as Q100565245 in relevant knowledge bases. The original text is available in HTML format at the official Riksdagen website and in Office Open XML format through the Riksdagen's data portal, ensuring multiple options for accessing the legislative text.

The copyright status is established as public domain pursuant to the Swedish Copyright Act (2 Chapter 26 §), which specifically addresses official legal documents. This public domain status applies regardless of the document's origin and ensures that the text can be freely reproduced, distributed, and used by researchers, legal professionals, and the general public without restrictions.

### Legislative History and Repeal

The statute remained in effect for sixty-one years, from its enactment in 1953 until its repeal on February 21, 2015. The repeal was effected through Q100672036, indicating that the legislation was superseded by new legal frameworks, possibly in response to updated international conventions or changes in Swedish domestic law regarding the protection of medical emblems.

The long duration of the statute's effectiveness demonstrates its stability and relevance within the Swedish legal system, serving as a reliable legal basis for protecting international medical emblems for over six decades.

### Relationship to Broader Legal Concepts

As a statute, this act is part of the broader category of formal written documents that create law, encompassing acts, executive orders, and by-laws. The concept of a statute is recognized globally as a foundational legal term, documented in major encyclopedias and knowledge systems worldwide.

The statute relates to the concept of "legal norm" and functions as a manifestation of statutory law within the Swedish legal system. Its creation followed the standard legislative process in Sweden, involving drafting, deliberation, and enactment by the Riksdag.

### Documentation and Preservation

The act is maintained as part of Project Riksdagen's documents, ensuring its preservation within Sweden's official legislative archives. The documentation includes comprehensive metadata, including publication dates, legal citations, and cross-references to related legislative instruments.

The statute is indexed in various knowledge bases and library systems, with its Wikidata description identifying it as a Swedish law from 1953. This ensures discoverability and reference capability within structured knowledge systems used by researchers, legal professionals, and automated systems.

### International Context

This Swedish legislation participates in the international framework for protecting distinctive emblems used in medical and humanitarian contexts. Such emblems, including the Red Cross, Red Crescent, and other symbols, are protected under international humanitarian law, particularly the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols.

By enacting this statute in 1953, Sweden demonstrated its commitment to international humanitarian standards and its willingness to implement domestic legal protections for symbols that serve critical functions in conflict zones and humanitarian emergencies worldwide.

## References

1. [Lag (1953:771) om skydd för vissa internationella sjukvårdsbeteckningar m.m.](http://data.riksdagen.se/dokument/sfs-1953-771)
2. [Lag (1953:771) om skydd för vissa internationella sjukvårdsbeteckningar m.m.](http://rkrattsbaser.gov.se/sfst?bet=1953:771)