Geneva Conventions and Additional Protocols

The Geneva Conventions and Additional Protocols are the core treaties of international humanitarian law, designed to mitigate the effects of armed conflict. They protect individuals not actively participating in hostilities, such as wounded soldiers, prisoners of war, and civilians, and regulate the means and methods of warfare. The four Conventions and Protocol I apply to international conflicts between states, while Common Article 3 and Protocol II govern non-international conflicts. Most states are parties to these instruments, which are primarily overseen by the International Committee of the Red Cross.