Definition of the Geneva Convention

“Even in love and in war there are rulesWho has not ever heard this phrase? Well, in war it sure does (another thing is that they are breached in most cases), because its compendium even has a name.

The Geneva Convention is the name given to a series of international agreements signed from 1864 and expanded o modified on several occasions, and which refer to the duties and rights of combatants and victims in cases of war.

The intention, on paper, is good: in a practice like warfare, in which historically there have been more "gentlemen's agreements" between the contenders, what legal rules to comply with, the lack of protection of civilian populations and the innocent not involved has been increasingly higher.

In total there have been four major conventions that have been updated between the date of drafting of the first, in 1864, and the last update, which dates from 1949.

The first convention deals with the rights of soldiers wounded in the field.

This convention must be put in context with the foundation, a year before, of the International Red Cross (an entity that in Muslim countries is transmuted into the Crescent Roja), created precisely to serve victims of armed conflicts, regardless of whether they are military and their side, or civilians, in a humanitarian and disinterested.

This convention provides that both the wounded and the prisoners of the other side, whether or not they are combatants and once they have laid down their arms, will be treated humanely.

This implies that they will not be arbitrarily treated, ill-treated, tortured for information, or summarily executed. Rather, they should be provided shelter, food, and treatment for their injuries or illnesses.

This first treaty also recognizes the Red Cross as a neutral entity dedicated to helping and care for those wounded and in need by the war, both civilian and military, and therefore the I respect to its members, regardless of their nationality.

This first convention was negotiated and signed exclusively by European countries.

These include Spain, France, Italy, Denmark, Portugal, Holland, Switzerland, Belgium, and various kingdoms that today are part of Germany (Prussia, Wurtemberg, Baden, and Hesse-Darmstadt).

The first Geneva convention dealt only with those wounded in combat in land warfare, so (* in 1906) a similar treaty was established for war at sea.

The 1906 convention is basically the same as that of 1864, extending it to the treatment of the shipwrecked, who must be respected and considered as those wounded in ground combat.

However, the sea is a very different element from the mainland, since assistance in the vast ocean is much more difficult. This is why neutral ships are allowed to assist shipwrecked people, and belligerent countries are prohibited from attacking neutral ships or hindering their rescue work.

It also protects hospital ships, and to avoid suspicions, prohibits their use for war purposes, such as transport of troops or ammunition. They stand out in history, and from that moment, the sinking of some ships with the symbol of the red cross clearly visible with the excuse of that carried out some type of war mission, as is the case of the German Wilhelm Gustloff in the Baltic Sea at the hands of a Soviet submarine (* in 1945).

The masses of prisoners of war taken during the First World War and in subsequent conflicts led to the signing (* in 1929), of the third Geneva convention, which deals precisely with the treatment that must be given to the military who surrender and, consequently, must be taken prisoners.

Historically, the lot of prisoners of war had been very uneven; on the middle AgesFor example, knights and nobles came to be treated almost as guests, enjoying freedom of movement only on parole not to escape.

Ransom was requested for them and under no circumstances were they harmed, even entertaining them. In some cases, they were even allowed to return to their domains to collect their own ransom money.

In contrast, foot troops, often poorly armed peasants and army soldiers or mercenaries, received the worst treatment. No profit could be made from these, so they were killed directly or, if possible, enslaved or sold as slaves to a third party.

In other cases, they set an example for the enemy; famous is the case of the naval battle of the Formigues Islands (* in September 1285), between Catalan and French galleys, in which after the Catalan victory, more than 250 French sailors were blinded, to leave only one eye to one, who would be the one that would guide them back to France. One can imagine that when the sad procession passed through towns and villages, the French would lose the desire to mess with the Catalans, at least for some time ...

The third Geneva Convention seeks to prevent, precisely, barbaric behavior like this. Despite the remoteness of time (in the Middle Ages, this form of behavior was normal and accepted), we all know cases even very recent (Balkan wars of the 1990s, for example) in which the treatment of prisoners of war has been subhuman.

This convention defines what a prisoner of war is, and affects both conflicts in which one of the parties is not a signatory to the Geneva conventions, such as civil wars. It also covers what are militia and guerrillas.

The latter, irregular forces associated in most cases with resistance in occupied territories, must wear signs that distinguish them from a distance, and visible weapons. The rest can be taken as a terrorist or a spy and, therefore, in such cases the corresponding laws will apply and not those of war.

Hence come the movie scenes in which it is said that, for example, allied aviators hiding in territories occupied during World War II, can be shot by spies if found dressed in civil clothes.

Other scene Of many films that we can see, it is the typical one in which a soldier, questioned, affirms that he only has to give his name, rank, and identification number. Well, this, which is true, was fixed in this convention.

If we continue talking about movies and you have seen "The Bridge on the River Kwai"(And if not, watch it, because it is a jewel of universal cinematography), the character played by Alec Guinness initially refuses to work on the bridge because he is an officer. Well, the jobs that a prisoner of war can and should do are also regulated by that convention.

Finally, the correspondence that has right to receive a prisoner, and that the captor has the right to prior censure.

The fourth and final Geneva convention, ratified in 1949, deals with the protection of civilians in time of war.

World War II deeply affected civilians. Weapons such as strategic bombers could destroy towns and cities at will, killing large numbers of non-combatants, of which they gave good evidence throughout the conflict.

In addition, the practices against civilians as a weapon of war to terrorize the enemy were the order of the day and, therefore, they wanted to do something about it at the international level.

Thus, this convention (the last to be signed) prohibits arbitrary treatment of the population non-combatant civilian. Their belongings are also safeguarded against looting, and reprisals for acts of war on civilian personnel.

Probably the next Geneva convention to be passed will be cyber warfare.

Today, with a computer, we can sow almost as much damage as with a nuclear weapon, causing explosions in power plants nuclear power plants connected to the grid, and that power plants and other types of services stop operating basic.

Fotolia photos: Wladimir1804 / Adrian Hillman

Themes in the Geneva Convention