Are the Geneva Conventions still relevant?
Absolutely. It’s important to remember that the Conventions were drafted in response to the horrors of World War II, including genocide and the mass murder of civilians. The Conventions also anticipated many of the characterisics of contemporary armed conflicts, including the deliberate targeting of civilians and the confusion arising when special forces and guerrillas try to blend in with the civilian population. Accordingly, the Conventions establish principles and processes for combatants to be held responsible for crimes such as targeting civilians, while ensuring that soldiers in an international conflict should not be punished simply for serving in an national army or resistance. These core elements of the Geneva Conventions remain as relevant as ever. Like any law, there are specific details in the Conventions that have become outdated. This means governments need to update the law. But it doesn’t justify governments arbitrarily ignoring the core principles of the law.
