Antony J. Blinken 71st U.S. Secretary of State | Official Website
Today marks the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Geneva Conventions of 1949. The Secretary of State, Antony J. Blinken, released a statement commemorating this significant milestone in international humanitarian law.
"The tragedies the world experienced during 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," Blinken said. "The resulting four Geneva Conventions provide the foundational rules for the protection of victims of armed conflict."
Countries worldwide participated in negotiating and drafting these conventions. Many delegates at the conference had recently witnessed firsthand the suffering civilians endured during wartime. "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," noted Blinken. He emphasized that this negotiation demonstrated how states, despite profound disagreements, could agree on essential international rules.
Blinken highlighted that this anniversary is an appropriate moment to reaffirm commitment to respecting international humanitarian law and taking pragmatic steps to advance its underlying humanitarian purposes. "We call on others to do the same," he urged. He stressed that parties to armed conflicts must comply with international humanitarian law to mitigate many of war’s worst humanitarian consequences, support pathways to peace, and advance civilian protection.
