Genevakonventio

Genevakonventio refers to the Geneva Conventions, a family of international humanitarian law treaties established to protect people affected by armed conflict. Originating in the 19th century and developing through the 20th century, the Conventions were consolidated in 1949 and have since been supplemented by additional protocols. They are named for the city of Geneva, where negotiations and diplomacy surrounding the treaties took place.

The core framework consists of four conventions. Convention I protects wounded and sick soldiers on land; Convention II covers those at sea. Convention III relates to the treatment of prisoners of war, while Convention IV protects civilians in times of war, including those in occupied territories. A key feature common to all four is Common Article 3, which sets minimum humane protections for non-international armed conflicts and provides basic standards for treatment of all persons not taking part in hostilities. The Conventions also establish rules on the neutrality of medical personnel, the status of medical units, and the protection of cultural property and essential civilian functions in war.

Development and expansion have continued beyond 1949. In 1977, Additional Protocols I and II broadened protections for both international and non-international armed conflicts. In 2005, Additional Protocol III introduced an alternative emblem, the Red Crystal, to signify neutrality alongside the Red Cross and Red Crescent. The Geneva Conventions are widely ratified and form the cornerstone of contemporary international humanitarian law, with enforcement primarily through international bodies, national courts, and the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. Critics point to gaps in enforcement and the challenges of applying the Conventions in modern, asymmetric warfare.