75th anniversary of the adoption of the Geneva Conventions

The First Geneva Convention, signed in 1864, aimed to improve the fate of wounded and sick soldiers on the battlefield. Its initiator was the founder of the Red Cross, Swiss philanthropist Henri Dunant, the first laureate of the Nobel Peace Prize, who found himself on the battlefield of Solferino as a thirty-year-old. Shocked by the sight, he began to provide aid to the wounded on both sides of the conflict with the help of local residents.

In 1949 - after the experiences of World War II - four new Conventions were adopted, marking a milestone in the history of international humanitarian law. Their aim is to provide protection not only to soldiers but also to prisoners of war and civilians. The Geneva Conventions apply in every instance of armed conflict, regardless of whether war has been declared.

"75 years ago, states united around the humanitarian imperative to regulate the conduct of warring parties and to jointly establish the limits of violence in armed conflict. Today, the Geneva Conventions apply to all states in the world and represent the strongest international consensus," says Dr. Magdalena Stefańska, an expert in international humanitarian law at the Polish Red Cross.

Disturbing media reports from the front lines may give the impression that war laws are rarely observed. However, in reality, the provisions of international humanitarian law mitigate some of the worst effects of war. States and non-state armed groups must ensure that these rules continue to be observed. War without any constraints equals suffering without end.

On the occasion of the upcoming anniversary, the Polish Red Cross has prepared the premiere of the interactive educational film "If war comes to you" in the Polish language version. The film features three characters – a civilian, a Red Cross worker, and a soldier – showing their struggles and dilemmas during war. The interactive nature allows viewers to better understand the situation and emotions of the chosen character.

All of this can be found at: ifwarcomestoyou.com/pl.

"Humanitarian education is one of the key elements of the Polish Red Cross Strategy 2030. We hope that the film currently presented will attract public attention to the topic of international humanitarian law, which is extremely important in this era of ongoing armed conflicts worldwide. It can be used in classes at schools, universities, and also individually: by each of us," adds Michał Mikołajczyk, Member of the Board of the Polish Red Cross.

Additionally, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), in cooperation with the Polish Red Cross, the University of Warsaw, the University of Gdańsk, and the Swiss Embassy in Poland, is organizing an essay competition in English for fourth and fifth-year students. The essay topic: Disinformation and hate speech during armed conflict: what is their impact on people protected by international humanitarian law? The main prize is a two-day stay in Geneva. The deadline for submission is September 1, 2024.

We live in times of heightened armed conflicts, disinformation, and hate speech. After February 24, 2022, the real threat of widespread war once again loomed over the world. Humanity today faces a mass armed conflict whose consequences are difficult to predict. In these troubled times, concern for compliance with the Geneva Conventions is particularly important. Violating the Conventions is considered a war crime.