GENEVA (AN) — The 1949 Geneva Conventions and their additional protocols that form the bedrock of international humanitarian law are now three quarters of a century old, but their guardian says they are as essential as ever – and must be regarded as a global "political priority."
What's new: The International Committee of the Red Cross on Monday observed the 75th anniversary of the four Geneva Conventions' adoption at an international conference on August 12, 1949. The four treaties, which form the rules of war, have been ratified or acceded to by virtually all nations and supplemented by additional protocols of 1977 and 2005.
What's next: Over the next 75 years, ICRC says, the world must adhere strongly to what it calls a robust, protective framework for armed conflict that saves lives rather than rationalizes death. The deployment of new technologies may worsen these dangerous tendencies. Civilian casualties will rise if algorithms are trained on lax targeting rules, it says, and life-and-death decisions will be made by autonomous weapons without human oversight unless legal limits are imposed.
What's important: The foundational treaties of international humanitarian law save lives, prohibit torture and sexual violence, and require humane treatment of detainees. “In a divided world, the Geneva Conventions and international humanitarian law embody universal values that preserve lives and dignity,” says ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric. “They are essential to preventing and protecting against the worst effects of war, and ensuring that everyone, even an enemy, is treated as a human being.”
Who's involved: ICRC counts 120 active conflicts globally – a huge spike from 20 in 1999 – including the Israel-Hamas war, Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Sudan's fighting that has displaced 8 million people, the violence in Ethiopia that has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, and protracted conflicts in the Central African Republic, Colombia, Congo, Myanmar, Syria, and Yemen. “Where are the peacemakers? Where are the men and women leading the negotiations and preserving the space to do so?” Spoljaric says. “I urge world leaders to negotiate. Respect for IHL during conflict can contribute to the transition to peace by removing at least some obstacles to peacemaking.”
What's happening now: ICRC is calling on all warring parties to make a "renewed and profound commitment" to the Geneva Conventions, adhering to the letter and the spirit of the law. It also is pushing for nations to affirm that the use of new technologies used in warfare, such as artificial intelligence, cyber and information operations, strictly follow the rules of war and develop new limits on autonomous weapon systems.
