First Geneva Convention

Original Geneva Conventions

First Geneva Convention

Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded in Armies in the Field
Drafted	22 August 1864
Signed	22 August 1864
Location	Geneva, Switzerland
Effective	22 June 1865
Signatories	12
Parties	196
Languages	French

The First Geneva Convention, officially known as the Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded in Armies in the Field, is one of the four treaties of the Geneva Conventions. It was first adopted in 1864 and has been revised several times since then. The convention established the basis for international law for the protection of the victims of armed conflicts.

History

The First Geneva Convention was initiated by Henri Dunant, a Swiss businessman, after witnessing the aftermath of the Battle of Solferino in 1859. His efforts led to the formation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the drafting of the convention.

Provisions

The convention contains ten articles, which outline the following key principles:

• The protection and care for the wounded and sick soldiers, regardless of nationality.
• The neutrality and protection of medical personnel, establishments, and units.
• The adoption of a distinctive emblem (the Red Cross) to identify medical personnel and equipment.

Significance

The First Geneva Convention marked the first significant step towards the codification of international humanitarian law. It laid the groundwork for subsequent treaties and protocols, including the Second Geneva Convention, Third Geneva Convention, and Fourth Geneva Convention.

Revisions

The convention has undergone several revisions, with the most significant updates occurring in 1906, 1929, and 1949. These revisions expanded the scope of protection and adapted the provisions to the changing nature of warfare.

Parties

As of today, 196 states are parties to the First Geneva Convention, making it one of the most universally accepted treaties in the world.

See also

• Geneva Conventions
• International humanitarian law
• International Committee of the Red Cross
• Battle of Solferino
• Henri Dunant

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