Geneva Conventions

The four 1949 treaties protecting victims of war, ratified by every state

Overview

The four Geneva Conventions of 1949 protect the wounded and sick on land and at sea, prisoners of war, and civilians under occupation, with additional protocols of 1977 and 2005 expanding coverage to internal conflicts. They are the only treaties ratified universally, and they criminalize grave breaches. The ICRC acts as their guardian, visiting prisoners and reminding parties of duties. From Nuremberg's gaps to today's tribunals, they form the core of international humanitarian law. Common article three, minimal rules for civil war, was once described as a miniature convention of its own.