This presentation explains the 'Geneva Conventions Significance and Current Challenges' in the context ongoing armed conflicts and the technological developments.

1. SIGNIFICANCE AND
CURRENT CHALLENGES

3.  It is the only law which provides protection to
the injured, unarmed and civilians in armed
conflicts.
 Its relevance is borne out by its wide
acceptance, i.e. 196 state parties to the U.N.

4. A. Recent conflicts have soon blurring lines
between the civilians and combatants.
B. Recent judgments in IHL indicate
emphasis on strengthening its
enforcement and implementation.
C. Role and contribution of Humanitarian
Organizations.

5.  The aim of this presentation is to flag a few
major issues impacting dissemination,
compliance and enforcement of IHL Provisions
in India.

6.  Completion of work relating to updated
commentary of the GC III.
Hard copy came out in Feb, 2021.

7.  Handbook of International Humanitarian law,
4th edition by Oxford University Press
released in 2021.
Edited by Prof Dieter Fleck

9. The effective implementation
on the ground during armed
conflicts.

10. Increasing involvement of
private security companies in
armed conflicts.

11. Drone
Autonomous
Weapons Systems
Artificial
Intelligence

13. Instruments of acceptance
Transparency
Dissemination

14. 1. Additional Protocol- I, 1977
2. Additional Protocol-I Declaration Art 90
3. Additional Protocol- II, 1977
4. Additional Protocol- III, 2005
5. CPED- International Convention for the
Protection of All Persons from Enforced
Disappearance, 2006
6. ICC Statue- Rome Statute of the
International Criminal Court, 1998

15. 7. Protection of Cultural Property in
the event of Armed Conflict- Hague
Protocol, 1999
8. AP Mine Ban Convention 1997
9. Cluster Munitions Convention, 2008
10. ATT-Arms Trade Treaty, 2013
11. TPNW-Treaty on Prohibition of
Nuclear Weapons, 2017

16.  Within the armed forces
At the universities

17. There is a general lack of public
understanding of IHL.
Armed forces are yet to accord
attention to prepare relevant
literature and introduce steps for
realistic training.

18. Country
1. Canada
2. China
3. Nepal
4. Sri Lanka
5. UK
6. US
Number of Publications
10
2
1
2
10
18

19.  Law of War Manual
 POW Handling Manual
 Hand Book
 Manual on Detainee Operations
 Soldier’s Guide
 Military Manual
 Year Book

20. Technical assistance can be offered by the
ICRC for preparation of commentaries and
hand books in simple text in Hindi and
other languages.

21.  Handling of POW in 1971 between India & Pak
 Bangladeshi immigrants prior to 1971 war.

22. A. 1962 Sino Indian War
B. 1965 Indo Pak conflict
C. 1971 Indo Pak War
D. IPKF Operations
E. Kargil War

23. Consequently there is total void of
IHL jurisprudence in India.

24. 1.Lack of a standard curriculum
2.Dearth of standard literature
to teach
3.Shortage of suitable faculty

25. IHL concerns protection and humanitarian
relief during war. Hence it is not to be viewed
as a tool of diplomacy. It should be a matter
within the domain of MOD rather than the
MEA.

26. The state, defence forces and the academia
have all to take a lead in increased
dissemination and compliance of IHL.