Geneva Conventions and its Protocols are an international treaty that consists of the rules about the inhumanity during the war. The Convention has established a human regulation about the treatment of the sick and wounded soldiers during the wartime. The Convention helps the people who do not take part in war and those who can no longer fight in war. Geneva Conventions and their Protocols set the standards in International law for humane treatment of the victims of war.
In 1859 Henry Dunant, saw the horrors of the Battle of Solferino and was appalled by the scene of thousands of injured soldiers lying helplessly and no one around them to take care for them. This experience inspired him to propose a permanent relief agency that could take care of wounded in wartime. In 1863, he arranged an international conference at which it was decided that each country should have relief organization to provide medical assistance in wartime.
This proposal led to the foundation of the Red Cross. In 1864, Swiss Government agreed to arrange a diplomatic conference in Geneva. Representative of 12 European nations took part and signed a treaty stating that in future wars they would care for all sick and wounded soldiers, regardless of nationality. The treaty was called Geneva Conventions. This convention was concerned only with soldiers injured in the front line. Henri Dunant became co recipient of the first Nobel Peace Prize in 1901.Over the years, however, Geneva Conventions has been extended to cover everyone caught up in conflicts but not taking an active part in war. There are now four Geneva Conventions, which were drawn up in 1949. They cover armed forces on land and at sea, prisoners of wars, and civilians.
Those Conventions are –
- In 1864, First Geneva Convention was established to take care of the Wounded and Sick in Armed Forces in the Field.
- In 1906, Second Geneva Convention was established to take care of the Wounded, Sick and Shipwrecked Members of Armed Forces at Sea.
- In 1929, Third Geneva Convention was established for the Treatment of Prisoners of War.
- In 1949, Fourth Geneva Convention was established for the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War.
The 1949 Conventions have been modified with three Protocols. Those Protocols are –
- In 1977, Protocol I was established for the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts.
- In 1977, Protocol II was established for the Protection of Victims of Non-International Armed Conflicts.
- In 2005, Protocol III was established for the Adoption of an Additional Distinctive Emblem (for medical services).
The protecting power is a negotiator enabling the flow of communication between the parties to the conflict. It has specific meaning in these Conventions. A protecting power is a state that is not taking part in the armed conflict, but that has agreed to look after the interests of a state that is a party to the conflict. The protecting power must act as a supporter for prisoners, the wounded, and civilians. All violations of the treaty are not treated equally. The most severe crimes are termed grave breaches such as willful killing, torture, inhuman treatment, taking of hostages, unlawful deportation, transfer, or confinement, etc.
Geneva Conventions apply only at times of war to the government. Since 1949, modern warfare has changed dramatically, but they are still considered as foundation stone of existing International Humanitarian Law. These treaties came into play for all international armed conflicts, including the 2001 war in Afghanistan, 2003 assaults of Iraq, and 2008 war in Georgia. Modern warfare continues to evolve and a growing proportion of recent armed conflicts are of internal conflicts (Sri Lankan Civil War, Sudanese Civil War and the Colombian Armed Conflict). International tribunals, especially International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, have helped to simplify the international law in this area. They ruled that these Conventions apply not only for international conflicts, but also to internal armed conflict. Some nations have not accepted the terms of Geneva Conventions, and some of these have intentionally refused to sign it.
