Geneva Convention

American  

noun

1. one of a series of international agreements, first made in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1864, establishing rules for the humane treatment of prisoners of war and of the sick, the wounded, and the dead in battle.

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Geneva Convention British  

noun

1. the international agreement, first formulated in 1864 at Geneva, establishing a code for wartime treatment of the sick or wounded: revised and extended on several occasions to cover maritime warfare and prisoners of war

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Example Sentences

On one faux demolished concrete slab hung a poster-sized page from the Geneva Convention, with rules on protecting civilians.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 19, 2026

The 1949 Geneva Convention limits attacks on facilities vital for the survival of the civilian population.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 2026

Collective punishment of civilians, when it takes place during armed conflict, is a violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

Under the Second Geneva Convention, countries at war are required to take "all possible measures" to rescue wounded or shipwrecked sailors after a naval attack.

From BBC • Mar. 6, 2026

But as I’d just pointed out, the Geneva Convention doesn’t apply to me.

From "Code Name Verity" by Elizabeth Wein