日内瓦公约(Geneva Conventions)
在瑞士日内瓦缔结的四次国际条约（1964、1906、1929、1949），目的是在建立人道主义原则，签约国在战时要如何对待敌国的士兵与平民。第一次公约是由红十字会的创始人杜南发起的，公约规定，一切治疗伤病员的组织及其工作人员有免除被占、被俘或被破坏的权利，一切参与战争者应得到公平的待遇和治疗，援助伤员的平民应受到保护，公认红十字作为识别公约涉及的人员和装备的标记。第二次「日内瓦公约」对第一次公约作了修改和补充；第三次「日内瓦公约」规定交战国必须以人道主义精神对待战俘，允许中立国代表视察战俘营。1949年的公约包含保护那些沦於交战一方管辖之下的人们的详细条款。1977年通过两项议定书，将保护范围扩大至游击战士，但美国没有签署同意。对於违约者，只有诉诸公共舆论和非难来制裁。
English version：
Geneva Conventions
Series of four international agreements (1864, 1906, 1929, 1949) signed in Geneva that established the humanitarian principles by which the signatory nations are to treat an enemy's military and civilian nationals in wartime. The first convention was initiated by J.-H. Dunant; it established that medical facilities were not to be war targets, that hospitals should treat all wounded impartially, that civilians aiding the wounded should be protected, and that the Red Cross symbol should serve to identify those covered by the agreement. The second convention amended and extended the first. The third stated that prisoners of war should be treated humanely and that prison camps should be open to inspection by neutral countries. The 1949 conventions made further provisions for civilians falling into a belligerent's hands. Two 1977 amendments extended protection to guerrilla combatants; the U.S. did not sign them. Public opinion and disapprobation are the only sanctions that can be applied to violators. See also Hague Conventions, war crime.
