overview

The Geneva Conventions are a series of treaties on the treatment of civilians, prisoners of war (POWs) and soldiers who are otherwise rendered hors de combat, or incapable of fighting. The first Convention was initiated by the International Committee for Relief to the Wounded (which became the International Committee for the Red Cross and Red Crescent). This convention produced a treaty designed to protect wounded and sick soldiers during wartime. The Swiss Government agreed to hold the Conventions in Geneva, and a few years later, a similar agreement to protect shipwrecked soldiers was produced. In 1949, after World War II, two new Conventions were added to the original two, and all four were ratified by a number of countries. The 1949 versions of the Conventions, along with two additional Protocols, are in force today.

Convention I (http://www.icrc.org/IHL.nsf/1595a804df7efd6bc125641400640d89/fe20c3d903ce27e3c125641e004a92f3?OpenDocument): This Convention protects wounded and infirm soldiers and medical personnel against attack, execution without judgment, torture, and assaults upon personal dignity (Article 3). It also grants them the right to proper medical treatment and care.

Convention II (http://www.icrc.org/IHL.nsf/1595a804df7efd6bc125641400640d89/44072487ec4c2131c125641e004a9977?OpenDocument): This agreement extended the protections mentioned in the first Convention to shipwrecked soldiers and other naval forces, including special protections afforded to hospital ships.

Convention III (http://www.icrc.org/IHL.nsf/1595a804df7efd6bc125641400640d89/6fef854a3517b75ac125641e004a9e68?OpenDocument): One of the treaties created during the 1949 Convention, this defined what a Prisoner of War was, and accorded them proper and humane treatment as specified by the first Convention. Specifically, it required POWs to give only their name, rank, and serial number to their captors. Nations party to the Convention may not use torture to extract information from POWs.

Convention IV (http://www.icrc.org/IHL.nsf/1595a804df7efd6bc125641400640d89/6756482d86146898c125641e004aa3c5?OpenDocument): Under this Convention, civilians are afforded the protections from inhumane treatment and attack afforded in the first Convention to sick and wounded soldiers. Furthermore, additional regulations regulations regarding the treatment of civilians were introduced. Specifically, it prohibits attacks on civilian hospitals, medical transports, etc. It also specifies the right of internees, and those who commit acts of sabotage. Finally, it discusses how occupiers are to treat an occupied populace.

Protocol I (http://www.icrc.org/IHL.nsf/1595a804df7efd6bc125641400640d89/f6c8b9fee14a77fdc125641e0052b079?OpenDocument): In this additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions, the signing Nations agreed to further restrictions on the treatment of "protected persons" according to the original Conventions. Furthermore, clarification of the terms used in the Conventions was introduced. Finally, new rules regarding the treatment of the deceased, cultural artifacts, and dangerous targets (such as dams and nuclear installations) were produced.

Protocol II (http://www.icrc.org/IHL.nsf/1595a804df7efd6bc125641400640d89/d67c3971bcff1c10c125641e0052b545?OpenDocument): In this Protocol, the fundamentals of "humane treatment" were further clarified. Additionally, the rights of interned persons were specifically enumerated, providing protections for those charged with crimes during wartime. It also identified new protections and rights of civilian populations.

• The United States has ratified the four Conventions of 1949, but has not ratified the two additional Protocols of 1977.
• Disputes arising under the Conventions or the Protocols additional to them are settled by courts of the member nations (Article 49 of Convention I) or by international tribunals.
• The International Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent has a special role given by the Geneva Conventions, whereby it handles, and is granted access to, the wounded, sick, and POWs.

menu of sources

Geneva Conventions of 1949

• Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded and Sick in Armed Forces in the Field, of 12 August 1949 (http://www.icrc.org/IHL.nsf/1595a804df7efd6bc125641400640d89/fe20c3d903ce27e3c125641e004a92f3?OpenDocument)
• Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of Wounded, Sick and Shipwrecked Members of Armed Forces at Sea, of 12 August 1949 (http://www.icrc.org/IHL.nsf/1595a804df7efd6bc125641400640d89/44072487ec4c2131c125641e004a9977?OpenDocument)
• Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War, of 12 August 1949 (http://www.icrc.org/IHL.nsf/1595a804df7efd6bc125641400640d89/6fef854a3517b75ac125641e004a9e68?OpenDocument)
• Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949 (http://www.icrc.org/IHL.nsf/1595a804df7efd6bc125641400640d89/6756482d86146898c125641e004aa3c5?OpenDocument)

Protocols of 1977

• Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and relating to the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts, of 8 June 1977 (http://www.icrc.org/IHL.nsf/1595a804df7efd6bc125641400640d89/f6c8b9fee14a77fdc125641e0052b079?OpenDocument)
• Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and relating to the Protection of Victims of Non-International Armed Conflicts, of 8 June 1977 (http://www.icrc.org/IHL.nsf/1595a804df7efd6bc125641400640d89/d67c3971bcff1c10c125641e0052b545?OpenDocument)

Web Resources

• Reference Guide to the Geneva Conventions (http://www.genevaconventions.org/) Society of Professional Journalists
• International Humanitarian Law (http://www.redcross.lv/en/conventions.htm#geneva) International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
• International Red Cross and Red Crescent (http://www.redcross.int/)
• List of Nations Ratifying or are Otherwise Party to the Geneva Conventions and/or Protocols (http://www.icrc.org/Web/Eng/siteeng0.nsf/html/genevaconventions)
• Geneva Conventions (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geneva_Conventions) Wikipedia.org article
• Geneva Conventions (http://www.cfr.org/publication.php?id=5313) (Council on Foreign Relations Roundtable)

Other Topics

• Human rights
• Category: International, Transnational, and Comparative Law
• Category: Individual Rights