The Geneva Conventions are a series of international treaties that establish the legal framework for the protection of individuals who are not or are no longer taking part in hostilities during armed conflicts. The conventions follow on the first adopted in 1864 in Geneva, Switzerland, and have been revised and expanded over the years. The four Geneva Conventions of 1949 are at the core of International Humanitarian Law.
First Geneva Convention: This convention focuses on the protection of wounded and sick members of the armed forces on the battlefield. It also establishes the Red Cross as a neutral and impartial humanitarian organization to provide assistance and care to the wounded and sick.
Second Geneva Convention: This convention extends the protections of the first convention to wounded, sick, and shipwrecked members of the armed forces at sea. It outlines the responsibilities of the parties involved, including the obligation to search for and collect the wounded and shipwrecked and to ensure their humane treatment.
Third Geneva Convention: This convention relates to the treatment of prisoners of war (POWs) during armed conflicts. It establishes the rights and protections afforded to POWs, including humane treatment, protection from violence and torture, and the right to communicate with the outside world.
Fourth Geneva Convention: This convention addresses the protection of civilians during times of armed conflict. It outlines the rights and safeguards for civilians who find themselves in the hands of an enemy, including protection against violence, forced displacement, and arbitrary detention. The convention also emphasizes the importance of ensuring the basic needs of civilians, such as access to food and medical care.
In addition to the four main conventions, there are also Additional Protocols that were adopted in 1977 to strengthen and expand the protections provided by the Geneva Conventions. The Additional Protocols address issues such as the protection of victims of non-international armed conflicts and the protection of cultural property during armed conflicts.
Currently 196 countries, including all member states of the United Nations, are signatories of the four original conventions. Several countries that are party to the four original conventions declined to sign or ratify Protocols I and II.
The Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols form the cornerstone of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and are widely recognized and respected as essential instruments for the protection of individuals affected by armed conflicts. The principles of IHL are considered customary international law, meaning they are binding on all parties to armed conflicts, whether or not they have ratified specific treaties.