Geneva Convention

Rich Geneva, Switzerland, native Henry Dunant was a wealthy individual. He once traveled to the Italian village of Solferino to expand his business. He learned about the Battle of Solferino, an Italian, French, and Austrian conflict, in 1859. Around 40,000 troops sacrificed their lives in this conflict, 23,000 of whom were Austrian, and Austria lost. After highlighting all of this in Italy, he was prompt, and without making any distinctions between Italy, France, or Austria, he wished to aid them and encouraged people to assist those who are ill or injured.

What was the Purpose of Geneva Convention?

The Geneva Conventions are a group of international agreements made in Geneva between 1864 and 1949 with the aim of lessening the negative impacts of war on both troops and civilians.

• During Henry Dunant's battle at Solferino, the first Geneva Convention was ratified in 1864 and addressed warriors who were injured.

Since then, the original Geneva Convention's guidelines have undergone constant revisions, and the protections afforded to already-existing groups have been extended to include new ones.

• The four Geneva Conventions still in effect today were all ratified in 1949, and each one is intended to protect a specific group of people who are either no longer participating in hostilities (e.g., civilians and medical professionals) or do not belong to that group (wounded, sick, and shipwrecked troops, prisoners of war).

Although the majority of the Conventions only apply to international armed conflicts, Article 3 common to the four Conventions, often known as a mini-convention, was the first set of international law principles that applied to wars with a non-international character.

Over time, the following Geneva Conventions have been ratified −

1864	The Conference for the Relief of the Wounded in Field Army
1906	Convention for the Relief of the Sick and Wounded in Field Armies;
1929	Convention for Improving the Situations of the Wounded and Sick in Field Army;
1949	Convention (I) for the Improvement of Conditions of Wounded and Ill Armed Forces;
1949	The Wounded, Sick, and Shipwrecked of Military Forces at Sea Agreement (II)
1949	Third Convention on POWs; and
1949	The Fourth Convention on Civilians

Geneva Convention Protocol

The 1949 Conventions were expanded by Protocols I and II in 1977. During international armed conflicts, Protocol I strengthened protections for civilians, military personnel, and the media. The use of "weapons that cause excessive harm or needless suffering" or "widespread, long-term, and serious damage to the natural environment" was also prohibited.

The International Committee of the Red Cross claims that brutal civil wars have accounted for the majority of the casualties in armed conflicts since the 1949 Convention, leading to the establishment of Protocol II.

In addition, children should receive quality education and care, and it is forbidden to do the following −

• Terrorism

• Pillage

• Taking Hostage

• Slavery Penalties for groups

• Treatment that is humiliating or demeaning

Weapons that are Banned by Geneva Convention

The weapons banned by the Geneva Conventions includes-

Work of Geneva Convention

The Geneva Conventions are a set of guidelines that are often followed when there is an armed conflict. The objectives of the Conventions are to safeguard those who are not (or are no longer) engaged in hostilities. The sick and injured, shipwrecked sailors, prisoners of war, and harmed civilians are all covered by the Geneva Conventions.

Conclusion

As the battlefield are so terrible and harmful that they hurt the entire world community; so, more than 190 states adhere to the Geneva Conventions. The guidelines assist in establishing a clear distinction between unbridled brutality toward military personnel, medical personnel, and civilians and compassionate treatment of them in the context of wars and armed conflicts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Who is protected under the Geneva Convention?

Ans. Major groups who are protected under the Geneva Convention are - Medical professionals, Civilians accompanying military forces who are injured or ill, military clergy, armed civilians who resist occupying forces.

Q2. What institution played a key role in the creation of the Geneva Conventions?

Ans. The Red Cross, whose founder Henri Dunant started international discussions that resulted in the Convention for the Amelioration of the Wounded in Time of War in 1864, was a key player in the formation of the Geneva Conventions.

Q3. How many states are parties to the Geneva Conventions?

Ans. The 1949 Geneva Conventions have been ratified by 63 countries

Q4. Do immigrants fall under the Geneva Convention?

Ans. The Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols primarily applicable to individuals who are affected by armed conflicts, such as civilians, prisoners of war, and wounded or sick soldiers. However, the Conventions specifically do not address the legal status of immigrants, refugees, or other individuals who may be affected by situations of violence or armed conflict.

Q5. When was the First Geneva Convention Signed?

Ans. The Congress approved the first Geneva Convention "for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded in Forces on the Field" on August 22, 1864.

Q6. Are chemical weapons banned by the Geneva Convention?

Ans. The Geneva Protocol prohibits the employment of chemical and biological weapons in all international military situations.