Protective signs are symbols to be used during an armed conflict to mark persons and objects under the protection of various treaties of international humanitarian law (IHL). While their essential meaning can be summarized as "Don't shoot" or "Don't attack", the exact conditions implied vary depending on the respective sign and the circumstances of its use. The form, shape and color of these signs are defined by the rules of IHL. Usually, they are easy to draw in order to make even an improvised use as easy as possible, and they were chosen to be as concise, recognizable and visible as possible under all circumstances. Usage of protective signs is restricted to armed conflicts. They are to be used only by eligible organizations or groups to mark their personnel, vehicles, buildings and other objects. The misuse of protective signs is a violation of international humanitarian law and punishable under the national law of all countries who are state parties to the respective treaties. List of protective signs The following signs have a protective meaning under certain conditions: the Red Cross and the equivalent signs of the Red Crescent, the Red Lion with Sun and the Red Crystal to be used to mark all persons and objects under the protection of the four Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their additional protocols of 1977; see emblems of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement a blue triangle on orange ground as the international distinctive sign of civil defense; to be used to mark the personnel and objects of civil defense organizations the letters "PG" or "PW" to mark a prisoner of war camp and the letters "IC" to mark an internment camp for civilians an oblique red band on a white ground to mark Hospital and safety zones the white flag; used to designate unarmed parliamentaries (negotiators, along with their flag bearer and optional drummer) asking for a truce or ceasefire, or to symbolise surrender the emblem of the United Nations as well as the letters "UN"; to be used to mark the personnel and materiel of UN Peacekeeping missions the distinctive mark of the Roerich Pact for the identification of historic monuments, museums, scientific, artistic, educational and cultural institutions (such as universities, theatres, and Stonehenge) the distinctive marking of cultural property, to be used to mark "movable or immovable property of great importance to the cultural heritage of every people";