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Do you know that the Geneva Conventions, the cornerstone of international humanitarian law, have
a fascinating origin story? In the mid-19th century, Henry Dunant and Guillaume-Henri Dufour
witnessed the horrors of war after the Battle of Solferino in 1859. Dunant's impassioned advocacy
for the relief of the wounded led to the publication of "A Memory of Solferino" in 1862. Supported
by General Dufour, a pivotal 1864 diplomatic conference in Geneva saw 16 states adopt the original
Geneva Convention, marking the dawn of modern humanitarian law. The Committee of Five,
including Dunant and Dufour, laid the foundation for the International Committee of the Red Cross
in 1876. These initiatives formalized principles for protecting victims of armed conflicts, shaping the
landscape of warfare ethics for generations to come.

The Additional Protocols to the Geneva Conventions are significant extensions of international
humanitarian law (IHL) that emerged in the latter half of the 20th century. Following the adoption of
the original Geneva Conventions in 1949, which primarily focused on the protection of wounded and
sick soldiers, civilians, and prisoners of war during armed conflicts, there was a growing recognition
of the need to strengthen and update these protections.

The first Additional Protocol, known as Protocol I, was adopted in 1977. It aimed to enhance the
protection of victims in international armed conflicts by introducing additional measures to
safeguard civilians and combatants who are hors de combat (incapacitated). Protocol I also
addressed issues such as the use of certain weapons and the protection of cultural property during
warfare.

In 2005, a second Additional Protocol, Protocol II, was adopted to address the protection of victims
in non-international armed conflicts. It outlines specific humanitarian protections for civilians,
including provisions related to the humane treatment of detainees and the prohibition of acts of
violence against non-combatants.

The Additional Protocols represent significant milestones in the development of IHL, reflecting the
evolving nature of armed conflicts and the need for comprehensive protections for all individuals
affected by such conflicts, regardless of their status or affiliation. They reinforce the fundamental
principles of humanity, impartiality, and necessity in times of war, aiming to mitigate the suffering
and devastation caused by armed conflicts around the world.