The Geneva Conventions and Modern War

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In 1864 the Geneva Conventions were created during a conference in Geneva Switzerland, and were immediately ratified by twelve countries. Now there are one hundred and ninety four countries that have signed and ratified the conventions (ICRC 1 – 6). The Geneva Conventions set the standards in international law for the humanitarian treatment of the victims of war. There are four conventions in total, and all of which deal with a different aspect of war. The first Geneva Convention, which deals with the treatment of wounded and sick soldiers on the field during times of war, was put into effect in 1864. The Seconds Convention, which deals with the treatment of shipwrecks and sick members of armed forces as sea, was put into effect in 1906. The third convention was put into effect in 1929, and deals with the treatment of prisoners of war. The fourth Geneva Convention was put into place in 1949, after the horrors of the Second World War. This fourth convention set forth the rules and regulations dealing with the protection of civilians during times of conflict. Though only one of the conventions was created in 1949, the Geneva Conventions are most commonly referred to as the Geneva Conventions of 1949 – this being the last time they were changed. This presents several problems. The world has changed vastly since 1949. Technology, politics, laws, and of course warfare, have all changed during this time period. The issue then is that the Geneva Conventions, which are internationals laws governing war, have not, and are therefore out-of-date. That they are outdated, however, does not mean that they should simply be put to the side. The Geneva Conventions set forth a standard of humanity to be shown during wartime to member...

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...nternational Committe of the Red Cross. International Review of the Red Cross, Mar. 2005. Web. 07 June 2010. .

Ratner, Steven R. “Geneva Conventions.” Foreign Policy Iss. 165 Mar/Apr 2008: 26-32. SIRS

Researcher. Web. 24Mar. 2010

"The Geneva Conventions of 1949." International Committee of the Red Cross. 14 June 2010.

Web. 25 June 2010 .

The Geneva Conventions. "Convention (I) for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded

and Sick in Armed Forces in the Field. Geneva, 12 August 1949." International Committe of the Red Cross. 2005. Web. 16 June 2010. .

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