The Geneva Conventions aim to protect civilians and victims in war situations. At least on paper, since violations are daily.

The horrors of World War II scarred the world. Even in times of war a modicum of humanity should be maintained. On August 12, 1949, the four Geneva Conventions that form the basis of International Humanitarian Law were signed. On the 75th anniversary of the signing of the conventions, their violations are in the foreground, such as the war in Ukraine, Israel’s war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the power struggle in Sudan and many others.

“Can a shred of humanity be preserved in times of war, or has the effort failed?” asks historian and jurist Johannes Piepenbring from the Center for Political Education in Bonn. The German lawyer says that the effort has not failed, since there are many international criminal proceedings and for this reason governments are very careful in how they behave, he points out to the German News Agency.

The beginning was made by Henry Dunan

The Geneva Conventions are due to the Swiss Henry Dunant. In 1859 he was so moved by the plight of wounded soldiers at the Battle of Solferino in Italy that he proposed that neutral organizations take over the care of wounded soldiers. The effort later led to the Red Cross movement in 1863. Also in 1864, government representatives signed the first Geneva Convention for the Protection of the Wounded and the Neutrality of Medical Personnel.

The foundation of International Humanitarian Law was laid in 1949 with the participation of nearly 20 states. Meanwhile 196 countries have ratified the Geneva Conventions. The four conventions provide for the medical treatment of the wounded and sick on land and at sea, the dignified treatment of prisoners of war, and the protection of civilians in times of war in their own country or in occupied territories. Additional protocols were later concluded, inter alia, on the application of International Humanitarian Law and internal conflicts. “The rules of the Geneva Conventions and the additional protocols of 1977 continue to apply to a large extent in customary international law. They apply to all states and all parties to the conflicts,” the Swiss Foreign Ministry clarifies.

Violations are commonplace

Violations of agreements are daily, as for example when Russia fires missiles at houses in Ukraine, when Israel, in order to destroy a terrorist cell in the Gaza Strip, reduces everything to ashes. The terrorist organization Hamas also violates the conventions when it fires rockets at Israel from mosques or uses civilians as protective shields.

So are conventions becoming less important? Although sanctions are not provided for in the Geneva Conventions, states and organizations often invoke them to demonstrate that there is a violation. So for example the EU imposed sanctions against Russia, as well as the Criminal Court to act against Russian President Vladimir Putin. “International criminal law helps here in the implementation of International Humanitarian Law,” the German criminologist told the German News Agency. But what can be done to implement International Humanitarian Law? “The Law of War should be a political priority and ensure that the laws continue to apply and protect humanity in time of war,” says Laurent Giesel, legal officer at the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Edited by: Maria Rigoutsou