Humanity calls for respecting Geneva Conventions

Aug 12 marked the 75th anniversary of the four Geneva Conventions. Ordinarily, this would have been a cause for celebration, but it is difficult to rejoice when there are more than 120 ongoing armed conflicts in the world today, with catastrophic humanitarian consequences. So we must reflect not only on the past 75 years of the conventions but also ask ourselves how we, humankind, envision the next 75 years and how we can preserve the hard-earned gains that were made possible only because of our belief in shared humanity that led to the adoption of the four Geneva Conventions on Aug 12, 1949.

Laws and customs of war predate modern international humanitarian law (IHL). They originated hundreds of years ago from the rich cultural and spiritual practices found in Asia, the Pacific, the Middle East, Africa, the Americas and Europe. The four Geneva Conventions and their additional protocols are the backbone of modern IHL.

International humanitarian law, as a comprehensive body of law that encompasses many international treaties including the four Geneva Conventions and comprises customary law, regulates the means and methods of warfare, and seeks to minimize human suffering during armed conflicts. Each of the four Geneva Conventions protects a special category of people who are not or no longer participating in hostilities. The first Geneva Convention protects wounded and sick soldiers on the battlefield, while the second protects the wounded, sick and shipwrecked of the armed forces at sea. The third convention protects prisoners of war, and the fourth civilians.