1. The Geneva Conventions
International Humanitarian Law
A Universal Code

2. The History
In 1862, Henri Dunant (Swiss) published his book, Memoir of Solferino. In this publication, Dunant discussed the horrors of war.
He proposed the organisation of humanitarian aid in times of war, and a governmental treaty that would allow this organisation to be seen as neutral.
This is why the Red Cross was formed in 1863
Following the establishment of the Red Cross, the Swiss Government held an international diplomatic meeting in Geneva the following year.

3. The Geneva conventions
This first meeting, composed of twelve states, formulated the Geneva Convention of 1864.
Its focus was the “condition of the Wounded and Sick in Armed Forces in the Field”.
A second convention was organised in 1906 and worked on protecting the “wounded, sick and shipwrecked military personnel at sea during war”.

4. The Geneva conventions
A third convention, in 1929, applies to prisoners of war.
The fourth convention, in 1949, addressed the concern of protecting civilians, including in occupied territory.
The singular term Geneva Convention refers to the agreements of 1949, negotiated in the aftermath of World War II, updating the terms of the first three treaties and adding a fourth treaty.

5. Beside the four treaties, the Geneva conventions is also formed of three protocols.
A protocol is the rules of etiquette observed by diplomats and heads of state.
The first protocol was on International Conflict, the second on non-international conflict and the last one on additional distinctive emblem.

6. The Geneva Conventions entered into force on 21 October 1950.
Ratification grew steadily through the decades:
1950s: 74 States ratified the Conventions
1960s: 48 States
1970s: 20 States signed on
1980s: another 20 States joined
1990s: 26 countries ratified the Conventions in the early, largely in the aftermath of the break-up of the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia and the former Yugoslavia.

7. International Humanitarian Law
The Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols are at the core of international humanitarian law, the body of international law that regulates the conduct of armed conflict and seeks to limit its effects.
They specifically protect people who are not taking part in the hostilities (civilians, health workers and aid workers) and those who are no longer participating in the hostilities, such as wounded, sick and shipwrecked soldiers and prisoners of war.

8. Video on International Humanitarian Law
(13min)

9. Sources
The Red Cross -
Nobel Prize –
Icrc - (13min)
Symbols -