The Geneva Convention Turns 60

Sixty years ago today, the Geneva Conventions were adopted. The essential spirit of the Geneva Conventions- to uphold human life & dignity even in the midst of armed conflicts- is as important today as it was 60 years ago.

The journey to implement the principles of the Conventions has not been always smooth sailing. Especially with armed conflicts evolving from opposing well structured armies, in defined battlefields, to conflicts between groups where the lines have become blurred between combatants & civilians. In this context, it is of course the civilian men, women & children who have increasingly become the main victims of warfare.

The International Humanitarian Law (IHL) has worked on adapting to this changing reality by adopting two additional protocols to the Geneva Conventions in 1977.

The traumatic events of 9/11, and its aftermath, constituted a new set of challenges for International Humanitarian Law. The polarisation of foreign relations and the humanitarian consequences of what has been referred to as “the global war on terror” have posed huge challenges. The proliferation of non-state armed groups, and the fact that some of them reject the very premises of  the Geneva Conventions have made matters even worse.

The Geneva Conventions and their additional protocols are the core of International Humanitarian Law. They are international treaties that contain the most important rules limiting the Barbary of war. They protect people who do not take part in the fighting ( civilians, medics & aid workers) and those who can no longer fight (wounded & prisoners of war).

The Geneva Conventions were adopted shortly after the horrors of World War II. They were intended to prevent such atrocious events to ever happen again. Needless to say, it did not fully work. However, it is still the best International legal frame work to protect the innocent victims of warfare and should be universally implemented.

To read more about the Geneva Conventions and additional protocols click here.