What is the Geneva Convention?

The Geneva Convention refers to several treaties agreed upon by the international community regarding the fair treatment of prisoners of war, civilians in a war-afflicted country and the treatment of the injured during wartime. The first Geneva International Conference took place in 1863, and was a response to the founding of the International Red Cross. It was largely inspired initially by the written work of Henri Dunant, and his humanitarian efforts during the Battle of Solferino in Italy. Seeing the appalling number of wounded during and after the battle, Dunant organized many of the civilians of the town to help the soldiers medically. He further stipulated that help should be given to the wounded without regard to what side they had fought on. Dunants written description of his efforts in Solferino inspired the formation of the Red Cross, and one of the first of the Geneva Convention treaties.
Since that first meeting, additional meetings have resulted in four treaties that make up the Geneva Convention, and three protocols. Not all countries have signed the Geneva Convention treaties, and clearly some countries flagrantly violate the treaties in times of war. Some countries sign the Geneva Convention with reservations or declarations, but most countries sign the treaties without dispute.

He principals of the Geneva Convention are the following:

y People participating in a war are minimally bound to offer medical aid to injured soldiers of either party to a war or conflict, y People who have surrendered may not be injured further by another side and must be treated humanely. y Those who are not actively engaged in combat cannot be murdered, raped, tortured or mutilated. y Any sentencing of a person accused of crimes must be done before a court. y When possible, armistice or cease-fire should be called in order to collect the dead and wounded, especially after a battle or engagement. y A person from the opposing side should keep a record of an injured soldiers death to be forwarded to the country for which he/she fought. y Establishments for the medical treatment of soldiers should never be attacked.