Introduction :- 

The Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols form the basis of modern international humanitarian law, setting out how soldiers and civilians should be treated during the war.

Although they were adopted in 1949, to take account of the experiences of the Second World War, the four Geneva Conventions continue to apply to armed conflicts today. Three additional protocols were also adopted later on which expanded the rules. The Conventions have been ratified by all States and are universally applicable.

Recently, Pakistan government was accused of violating Geneva Convention in treatment of Indian Airforce Pilot who crashed in the Pakistan Occupied Kashmir region.

Any nation that has ratified the Geneva Conventions but not the protocols is still bound by all provisions of the conventions. The provisions of the conventions apply in peacetime situations, in declared wars, and in conflicts that are not recognised as war by one or more of the parties. They contain stringent rules to deal with what are known as "grave breaches".

International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has been mandated under the Geneva Conventions to ensure the application of international humanitarian law.

The four Geneva Conventions :-

• Convention I: This convention protects wounded and infirm soldiers from torture, assaults upon personal dignity, and execution without judgment. It also grants the right to proper medical treatment and care.
• Convention II: This extends the protections described above to shipwrecked soldiers and other naval forces, including special protections to hospital ships.
• Convention III: It defined 'Prisoner of War,' and accorded them proper and humane treatment as specified by the first convention. It states that PoW have to be protected against insults and public curiosity as well as acts of violence or intimidation. In this context, Pakistan may have violated the treaties when their military spokesperson tweeted an image of the captured IAF pilot. ICRC describes “PoWs (as) usually members of the armed forces of one of the parties to a conflict who fall into the hands of the adverse party.” ICRC visits prisoners, both military and civilian.
•  Convention IV: Under this convention, civilians are afforded the same protections.

The protocols :-

• Protocol I expands protection for the civilian population as well as military and civilian medical workers in international armed conflicts.
• Protocol II elaborates on protections for victims caught up in high-intensity internal conflicts such as civil wars. It was the first- ever international treaty devoted exclusively to situations of non-international armed conflicts. It does not apply to internal disturbances such as riots, demonstrations and isolated acts of violence.
• Third Additional Protocol: It provides for distinctive emblem- the red crystal - which has the same international status as the Red Cross and Red Crescent emblems. People displaying any of these protective emblems are performing a humanitarian service and must be protected by all parties to the conflict.

International Red Cross and Red Cross Movement :-

• It is a humanitarian movement with approximately 17 million volunteers worldwide. It consists of various International and National organizations with common objective but legally independent of each other.
• International Committee of Red Cross: Established in 1863, the ICRC operates worldwide, helping people affected by conflict and armed violence and promoting the laws that protect victims of war. It is based in Geneva, Switzerland.
• International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies: it was founded in 1919, it coordinates activities between 190 national red cross and red crescent societies worldwide.
• National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies: Currently 190 are recognized by International Committee of Red Cross. The collective focus of the International Federation and its National Societies is on achieving the following four goals:
• Goal 1: Reduce the number of deaths, injuries and impact from disasters.
• Goal 2: Reduce the number of deaths, illnesses and impact from diseases and public health emergencies.
• Goal 3: Increase local community, civil society and Red Cross Red Crescent capacity to address the most urgent situations of vulnerability.
• Goal 4: Promote respect for diversity and human dignity, and reduce intolerance, discrimination and social exclusion.

Grave Breaches :- It involves any of the following acts, if committed against persons or property protected by the Convention: Willfully killing, torture or inhuman treatment, including biological experiments, Willfully causing great suffering or serious injury to body or health Extensive destruction and appropriation of property, not justified by military necessity and carried out unlawfully and wantonly. Those responsible for grave breaches must be sought, tried or extradited, whatever nationality they may hold.