The Geneva Convention of 1864
THESIS
Although it was created in 1864, the first Geneva Convention is still relevant in protecting the rights of imprisoned and wounded soldiers today, creating responsibilities of the people who imprison and are responsible for caring for them, creating medical care rights for wounded soldiers, and acting as a catalyst for other acts that followed.
Although it was created in 1864, the first Geneva Convention is still relevant in protecting the rights of imprisoned and wounded soldiers today, creating responsibilities of the people who imprison and are responsible for caring for them, creating medical care rights for wounded soldiers, and acting as a catalyst for other acts that followed.
"On February 7, 1863, the Société genevoise d'utilité publique [Geneva Society for Public Welfare] appointed a committee of five, including Dunant, to examine the possibility of putting this plan into action. With its call for an international conference, this committee, in effect, founded the Red Cross...The conference, held from October 26 to 29, with thirty-nine delegates from sixteen nations attending, approved some sweeping resolutions and laid the groundwork for a gathering of plenipotentiaries. On August 22, 1864, twelve nations signed an international treaty, commonly known as the Geneva Convention, agreeing to guarantee neutrality to sanitary personnel, to expedite supplies for their use, and to adopt a special identifying emblem - in virtually all instances a red cross on a field of white."
--Nobelprize.org, the official website of the Nobel Prize
--Nobelprize.org, the official website of the Nobel Prize
"Wounded or sick combatants, to whatever nation they may belong, shall be collected and cared for.
Commanders-in-Chief may hand over immediately to the enemy outposts enemy combatants wounded during an engagement, when circumstances allow and subject to the agreement of both parties.
Those who, after their recovery, are recognized as being unfit for further service, shall be repatriated.
The others may likewise be sent back, on condition that they shall not again, for the duration of hostilities, take up arms.
Evacuation parties, and the personnel conducting them, shall be considered as being absolutely neutral."
--Article 6 of the Geneva Convention of 1864