Geneva Conventions
The Geneva Conventions consist of treaties formulated in Geneva, Switzerland that set the standards for international law for humanitarian concerns. The conventions were the results of efforts by Henri Dunant, who was motivated by the horrors of war he witnessed at the Battle of Solferino. Accusations of violation of the Geneva Conventions on the part of signatory nations are brought before the International Court of Justice at the Hague. The conventions and their agreements are as follows: In addition, there are two additional protocols to the Geneva Convention: - Protocol I (1977): Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and relating to the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts
- Protocol II (1977): Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and relating to the Protection of Victims of Non-International Armed Conflicts
This First Convention also mandated the foundation of the International Committee of the Red Cross. The text is given in the Resolutions of the Geneva International Conference. The first three conventions were revised, a fourth was added, and the entire set was ratified in 1949; the whole is referred to as the "Geneva Conventions of 1949" or simply the "Geneva Conventions". Later conferences have added provisions prohibiting certain methods of warfare and addressing issues of civil wars. Nearly all 200 countries of the world are "signatory" nations, in that they have ratified these conventions. Clara Barton was instrumental in campaigning for the ratification of the First Geneva Convention by the United States; the U.S. signed in 1882. By the Fourth Geneva Convention some 47 nations had ratified the agreements. Other conventions bearing the Geneva-name must not be confused with the above-mentioned treaties (e.g. "(The Geneva) Convention on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone" and others), the Geneva Conventions refers to already mentioned treaties of humanitarian law.
See also Other meanings: An important gaming convention is known as Gen Con.
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