The Geneva Conventions at 75: Exploring Changing Contexts, Implementation, and Enduring Relevance

With over 196 States parties, the four Geneva Conventions of 1949 represent some of the most — and perhaps the most — widely subscribed-to treaties in history. In signing the instruments on August 12th, 1949, the Plenipotentiaries of the Governments represented at the Diplomatic Conference held at Geneva sought to revise three instruments — one on the wounded and sick in armed forces in the field; a second on maritime warfare; and a third on prisoners of war — as well as to establish a new convention for the protection of civilian persons in time of war. The resulting combined 429 articles lay down an array of obligations that cut across diverse areas. The extent to which these provisions have and have not been respected in practice has entailed significant and wide-ranging implications for scores of individuals and populations affected by numerous armed conflicts.

Ahead of the 75th anniversary of the signing of these instruments, this invite-only workshop will explore select issues pertaining to the changing contexts, implementation, and enduring relevance concerning the Geneva Conventions of 1949. The workshop will provide a forum in which to share views from military, humanitarian, diplomatic, and academic perspectives on these matters.