Today we commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the adoption of the Geneva Conventions of 1949. The tragedies the world experienced during of the Second World War convinced States of the urgent need to adopt new protections for prisoners of war and the wounded and sick, as well as to formulate a new convention for the protection of civilians in times of war. The resulting four Geneva Conventions provide the foundational rules for the protection of victims of armed conflict.
Countries from around the world joined together in the negotiation and drafting of the 1949 Geneva Conventions. Many of the delegates to the Conference represented countries that had recently witnessed firsthand the horrible suffering of civilians in war. The United States' participation in the Conference reflected American values like recognizing the dignity and humanity of every person, even our enemy in times of war. The negotiation of the Conventions serves as a clear demonstration that States, even those with profound disagreements, can come together to agree on foundational international rules.
The 75th anniversary of the adoption of the 1949 Geneva Conventions is a fitting occasion to reaffirm our commitment to respecting international humanitarian law and to taking pragmatic steps to advance the humanitarian purposes underlying it. We call on others to do the same. Faced with the horrible reality of war, parties to armed conflict must comply with international humanitarian law to mitigate many of war's worst humanitarian consequences, support pathways to peace, and advance the protection of civilians and other victims.
