The Geneva Conventions are a series of international treaties on the treatment of individuals during times of armed conflict.

They form the core of International Humanitarian Law (IHL), also known as the laws of war.

The first Geneva Convention was adopted in 1864 and was inspired by the work of Henry Dunant, who witnessed the suffering of wounded soldiers at the Battle of Solferino.

Dunant's work also led to the founding of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

The original convention established rules for the protection of sick and wounded soldiers on the battlefield.

Over time, the conventions were expanded.

The four main Geneva Conventions were updated and adopted in 1949, after World War II.

They provide protections for the wounded and sick, shipwrecked military personnel, prisoners of war, and, crucially, civilians.

A core principle is that people who are not, or are no longer, taking part in hostilities must be treated humanely.

The conventions are a landmark achievement in the effort to impose legal limits on the brutality of war.