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



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



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

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










Summary of the Geneva Conventions
of 1949 and Their Additional Protocols

Overview: Protecting the
Vulnerable in War

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
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
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
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
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
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

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


History of International
Humanitarian Law



















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

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


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
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
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

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
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 



 

2www.redcross.org/ihl
Summary of the Geneva Conventions of 1949
and Their Additional Protocols

 


 





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






The Geneva Conventions
of 1949 and Their
Additional Protocols














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
















The First Geneva Convention
The Geneva Convention for the
Amelioration of the Condition of the
Wounded and Sick in Armed Forces in
the Field of August 12, 1949.

hors de combat





 
 

 


 
 


Art. 9









Art. 12





Art. 12



Art. 15


Art. 15



Arts. 15-16







The Second Geneva Convention
The Geneva Convention for the
Amelioration of the Condition of
Wounded, Sick and Shipwrecked
Members of Armed Forces at Sea of
August 12, 1949







 
3www.redcross.org/ihl
Summary of the Geneva Conventions of 1949
and Their Additional Protocols


 

 

Specic provisions include:
Arts. 12, 18








Art. 14






Art. 21






Art. 22





Arts. 36-37





The Third Geneva Convention
The Geneva Convention Relative to
the Treatment of Prisoners of War of
August 12, 1949











 
 

 

Specic provisions include:
Arts. 13-14, 16




Art. 17



Art. 23


Arts. 25-27, 30




Arts. 50, 54










Arts. 70-72, 123





Arts. 82, 84





Arts. 109, 110


Art. 118



Art. 125










4www.redcross.org/ihl
Summary of the Geneva Conventions of 1949
and Their Additional Protocols

The Fourth Geneva Convention
The Geneva Convention Relative to the
Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of
War of August 12, 1949




Specic provisions include:
Arts. 13, 32




Art. 14





Art. 18


Arts. 24, 25








Art. 27



Arts. 33-34



Arts. 33, 49


Art. 40



Art. 54


Art. 55




Arts. 55, 58



Art. 59








Art. 64




Arts. 79-135







Arts. 89-91



Art. 106


Arts. 108, 107



Art. 132





Common Article 3
All four Geneva Conventions contain
an identical Article 3, extending
general coverage to “conicts not of an
international character.”










hors de combat







5www.redcross.org/ihl
Summary of the Geneva Conventions of 1949
and Their Additional Protocols

































The Protocols Additional to
the Geneva Conventions of
1949












Protocol I (102 Articles)
Protocol additional to the Geneva
Conventions of 12 August 1949, and
Relating to the Protection of Victims of
International Armed Conicts




Specic provisions include:
Arts. 15, 79, Arts. 76-77




Arts. 17, 81





Art. 35






Arts. 43-44











Arts. 51, 54




Arts. 56, 53



Art. 77


Art. 85





6www.redcross.org/ihl
Summary of the Geneva Conventions of 1949
and Their Additional Protocols

Protocol II (28 Articles)
Protocol additional to the Geneva
Conventions of 12 August 1949, and
Relating to the Protection of Victims of
Non-International Armed Conicts










Specic provisions include:
Art. 4














Art. 4



Art. 5




Art. 7, 9



Arts. 10-11, Arts. 13-14, Art. 16





Art. 18




Protocol III
Protocol additional to the Geneva
Conventions of 12 August 1949, and
Relating to the Adoption of an Additional
Distinctive Emblem


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
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
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7www.redcross.org/ihl
Summary of the Geneva Conventions of 1949
and Their Additional Protocols

The Emblems Under
International Humanitarian
Law
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