List of parties to the Geneva Conventions
The Geneva Conventions, which were most recently revised in 1949, consist of seven individual treaties which are open to ratification or accession by any sovereign state. They are:
- The Geneva Conventions
- Additional Protocols
The four 1949 Conventions have been ratified by 196 states, including all UN member states, both UN observers the Holy See and the State of Palestine, as well as the Cook Islands. The Protocols have been ratified by 174, 168 and 72 states respectively. In addition, Article 90 of Protocol I states that "The High Contracting Parties may at the time of signing, ratifying or acceding to the Protocol, or at any other subsequent time, declare that they recognize ipso facto and without special agreement, in relation to any other High Contracting Party accepting the same obligation, the competence of the [International Fact-Finding] Commission to enquire into allegations by such other Party, as authorized by this Article." [1] 76 states have made such a declaration.
Parties to the 1949 Conventions and Protocols I–III
Below is a list of state parties to the Geneva Conventions.
Year of ratification/accession/succession[Note 1] | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
State[2][3] | GC I–IV[4][5][6][7] | Protocol I[8] | Protocol II[9] | Protocol III[10] | Prot. I Art. 90 Declaration[11] | Notes |
Afghanistan | 1956 | 2009 | 2009 | — | — | |
Albania | 1957 | 1993 | 1993 | 2008 | — | |
Algeria | 1960 | 1989 | 1989 | — | 1989 | |
Andorra | 1993 | — | — | — | — | |
Angola | 1984 | 1984 | — | S | — | |
Antigua and Barbuda | 1986 | 1986 | 1986 | — | — | |
Argentina | 1956 | 1986 | 1986 | 2011 | 1996 | |
Armenia | 1993 | 1993 | 1993 | 2011 | — | |
Australia | 1958 | 1991 | 1991 | 2009 | 1992 | |
Austria | 1953 | 1982 | 1982 | 2009 | 1982 | |
Azerbaijan | 1993 | — | — | — | — | |
Bahamas | 1975 | 1980 | 1980 | — | — | |
Bahrain | 1971 | 1986 | 1986 | — | — | |
Bangladesh | 1972 | 1980 | 1980 | — | — | |
Barbados | 1968 | 1990 | 1990 | — | — | |
Belarus | 1954 | 1989 | 1989 | 2011 | 1989 | Conventions I–IV and Protocols I–II ratified as the Byelorussian SSR. |
Belgium | 1952 | 1986 | 1986 | 2015 | 1987 | |
Belize | 1984 | 1984 | 1984 | 2007 | — | |
Benin | 1961 | 1986 | 1986 | — | — | |
Bhutan | 1991 | — | — | — | — | |
Bolivia | 1976 | 1992 | 1983 | S | 1992 | |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | 1992 | 1992 | 1992 | S | 1992 | |
Botswana | 1968 | 1979 | 1979 | — | — | |
Brazil | 1957 | 1992 | 1992 | 2009 | 1993 | |
Brunei | 1991 | 1991 | 1991 | — | — | |
Bulgaria | 1954 | 1989 | 1989 | 2006 | 1994 | |
Burkina Faso | 1961 | 1987 | 1987 | S | 2004 | |
Burundi | 1971 | 1993 | 1993 | S | — | |
Cambodia | 1958 | 1998 | 1998 | — | — | |
Cameroon | 1963 | 1984 | 1984 | — | — | |
Canada | 1965 | 1990 | 1990 | 2007 | 1990 | |
Cape Verde | 1984 | 1995 | 1995 | S | 1995 | |
Central African Republic | 1966 | 1984 | 1984 | — | — | |
Chad | 1970 | 1997 | 1997 | — | — | |
Chile | 1950 | 1991 | 1991 | 2008 | 1991 | |
China | 1956 | 1983 | 1983 | — | — | Macau was declared by China to be covered by its ratification of Conventions I–IV and Protocols I–II from 20 December 1999,[12][13] the same date Portugal renounced their obligations for the territory[12] following the transfer of sovereignty over Macau to China. Hong Kong was declared by China to be covered by its ratification of Conventions I–IV and Protocols I–II from 1 July 1997,[14] the same date the UK renounced their obligations for the territory[15][16] following the transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong to China. |
Colombia | 1961 | 1993 | 1995 | S | 1996 | |
Comoros | 1985 | 1985 | 1985 | — | — | |
Democratic Republic of the Congo | 1961 | 1982 | 2002 | — | 2002 | |
Republic of the Congo | 1967 | 1983 | 1983 | S | — | |
Cook Islands | 2002 | 2002 | 2002 | 2011 | 2002 | |
Costa Rica | 1969 | 1983 | 1983 | 2008 | 1999 | |
Côte d'Ivoire | 1961 | 1989 | 1989 | — | — | |
Croatia | 1992 | 1992 | 1992 | 2007 | 1992 | |
Cuba | 1954 | 1982 | 1999 | — | — | |
Cyprus | 1962 | 1979 | 1996 | 2007 | 2002 | |
Czech Republic | 1993 | 1993 | 1993 | 2007 | 1995 | |
Denmark | 1951 | 1982 | 1982 | 2007 | 1982 | All the treaties extended to the Faroe Islands and to Greenland.[Note 2] |
Djibouti | 1978 | 1991 | 1991 | — | — | |
Dominica | 1981 | 1996 | 1996 | — | — | |
Dominican Republic | 1958 | 1994 | 1994 | 2009 | — | |
Ecuador | 1954 | 1979 | 1979 | S | — | |
Egypt | 1952 | 1992 | 1992 | — | — | |
El Salvador | 1953 | 1978 | 1978 | 2007 | — | |
Equatorial Guinea | 1986 | 1986 | 1986 | — | — | |
Eritrea | 2000 | — | — | — | — | |
Estonia | 1993 | 1993 | 1993 | 2008 | 2009 | |
Ethiopia | 1969 | 1994 | 1994 | S | — | |
Fiji | 1971 | 2008 | 2008 | 2008 | — | |
Finland | 1955 | 1980 | 1980 | 2009 | 1980 | |
France | 1951 | 2001 | 1984 | 2009 | — | |
Gabon | 1965 | 1980 | 1980 | — | — | |
The Gambia | 1966 | 1989 | 1989 | — | — | |
Georgia | 1993 | 1993 | 1993 | 2007 | — | |
Germany | 1954 | 1991 | 1991 | 2009 | 1991 | |
Ghana | 1958 | 1978 | 1978 | S | — | |
Greece | 1956 | 1989 | 1993 | 2009 | 1998 | |
Grenada | 1981 | 1998 | 1998 | — | — | |
Guatemala | 1952 | 1987 | 1987 | 2008 | — | |
Guinea | 1984 | 1984 | 1984 | — | 1993 | |
Guinea-Bissau | 1974 | 1986 | 1986 | — | — | |
Guyana | 1968 | 1998 | 1998 | 2009 | — | |
Haiti | 1957 | 2006 | 2006 | S | — | |
Holy See | 1951 | 1985 | 1985 | — | — | |
Honduras | 1965 | 1995 | 1995 | 2006 | — | |
Hungary | 1954 | 1989 | 1989 | 2006 | 1991 | |
Iceland | 1965 | 1987 | 1987 | 2006 | 1987 | |
India | 1950 | — | — | — | — | |
Indonesia | 1958 | — | — | — | — | |
Iran | 1957 | S | S | — | — | |
Iraq | 1956 | 2010 | — | — | — | |
Ireland | 1962 | 1999 | 1999 | S | 1999 | |
Israel | 1951 | — | — | 2007 | — | |
Italy | 1951 | 1986 | 1986 | 2009 | 1986 | |
Jamaica | 1964 | 1986 | 1986 | S | — | |
Japan | 1953 | 2004 | 2004 | — | 2004 | |
Jordan | 1951 | 1979 | 1979 | — | — | |
Kazakhstan | 1992 | 1992 | 1992 | 2009 | — | |
Kenya | 1966 | 1999 | 1999 | 2013 | — | |
Kiribati | 1989 | — | — | — | — | |
North Korea | 1957 | 1988 | — | — | — | |
South Korea | 1966 | 1982 | 1982 | S | 2004 | |
Kuwait | 1967 | 1985 | 1985 | — | 2013 | |
Kyrgyzstan | 1992 | 1992 | 1992 | — | — | |
Laos | 1956 | 1980 | 1980 | — | 1998 | |
Latvia | 1991 | 1991 | 1991 | 2007 | — | |
Lebanon | 1951 | 1997 | 1997 | — | — | |
Lesotho | 1968 | 1994 | 1994 | — | 2010 | |
Liberia | 1954 | 1988 | 1988 | — | — | |
Libya | 1956 | 1978 | 1978 | — | — | |
Liechtenstein | 1950 | 1989 | 1989 | 2006 | 1989 | |
Lithuania | 1996 | 2000 | 2000 | 2007 | 2000 | |
Luxembourg | 1953 | 1989 | 1989 | 2015 | 1993 | |
Macedonia | 1993 | 1993 | 1993 | 2008 | 1993 | |
Madagascar | 1963 | 1992 | 1992 | S | 1993 | |
Malawi | 1968 | 1991 | 1991 | — | 2014 | |
Malaysia | 1962 | — | — | — | — | |
Maldives | 1991 | 1991 | 1991 | — | — | |
Mali | 1965 | 1989 | 1989 | — | 2003 | |
Malta | 1968 | 1989 | 1989 | S | 1989 | |
Marshall Islands | 2004 | — | — | — | — | |
Mauritania | 1962 | 1980 | 1980 | — | — | |
Mauritius | 1970 | 1982 | 1982 | — | — | |
Mexico | 1952 | 1983 | — | 2008 | — | |
Federated States of Micronesia | 1995 | 1995 | 1995 | — | — | |
Moldova | 1993 | 1993 | 1993 | 2008 | — | |
Monaco | 1950 | 2000 | 2000 | 2007 | 2007 | |
Mongolia | 1958 | 1995 | 1995 | — | 1995 | |
Montenegro | 2006 | 2006 | 2006 | — | 2007 | |
Morocco | 1956 | 2011 | 2011 | — | — | |
Mozambique | 1983 | 1983 | 2002 | — | — | |
Myanmar | 1992 | — | — | — | — | |
Namibia | 1991 | 1994 | 1994 | — | 1994 | The United Nations Council for Namibia acceded to Conventions I-IV and Protocols I-II in 1983.[18] Nambia succeeded to Conventions I-IV in 1991,[19] and Protocols I-II in 1994.[20] |
Nauru | 2006 | 2006 | 2006 | 2012 | — | |
Nepal | 1964 | — | — | S | — | |
Netherlands | 1954 | 1987 | 1987 | 2006 | 1987 | Conventions I–IV and Protocols I–III have been extended to Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, and the Caribbean Netherlands.[21][22][23][Note 3] |
New Zealand | 1959 | 1988 | 1988 | 2013 | 1988 | Niue is considered bound by New Zealand's ratification of Conventions I–IV in 1959 by the International Committee of the Red Cross[24][25] on the basis of Niue's enactment of its own Geneva Conventions Act 1958.[26] New Zealand declared that its ratification of Protocols I–II does not extend to the Cook Islands (which subsequently independently ratified the Protocols), Niue and Tokelau.[27] |
Nicaragua | 1953 | 1999 | 1999 | 2009 | — | |
Niger | 1964 | 1979 | 1979 | — | — | |
Nigeria | 1961 | 1988 | 1988 | — | — | |
Norway | 1951 | 1981 | 1981 | 2006 | 1981 | |
Oman | 1974 | 1984 | 1984 | — | — | |
Pakistan | 1951 | S | S | — | — | |
Palau | 1996 | 1996 | 1996 | — | — | |
State of Palestine | 2014 | 2014 | 2015 | 2015 | — | The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) unilaterally declared itself bound by Conventions I-IV and Protocol I in 1982.[28] In 1989, the PLO submitted a letter to the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs which stated in part that the State of Palestine had decided to "adhere to the Four Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 and the two Protocols additional thereto."[29] However, the Swiss Government, which acts as the depositary for the Conventions, responded by stating that it was "not in a position to decide whether this communication can be considered as an instrument of accession" due to "the incertainty [sic] within the international community as to the existence or non-existence of a State of Palestine."[28][29] Following the United Nations General Assembly passing a resolution granting non-member observer state status to Palestine in November 2012, Palestine acceded to Conventions I-IV and Protocol I in April 2014.[30] In January 2015 Palestine acceded to Protocols II and III.[31] |
Panama | 1956 | 1995 | 1995 | 2012 | 1999 | |
Papua New Guinea | 1976 | — | — | — | — | |
Paraguay | 1961 | 1990 | 1990 | 2008 | 1998 | |
Peru | 1956 | 1989 | 1989 | S | — | |
Philippines | 1951 (I) 1952 (II-IV) |
2012 | 1986 | 2006 | — | |
Poland | 1954 | 1991 | 1991 | 2009 | 1992 | |
Portugal | 1961 | 1992 | 1992 | 2014 | 1994 | |
Qatar | 1975 | 1988 | 2005 | — | 1991 | |
Romania | 1954 | 1990 | 1990 | 2015 | 1995 | |
Russia | 1960 | 1989 | 1989 | S | 1989 | Conventions I–IV and Protocols I and II ratified as the Soviet Union. |
Rwanda | 1964 | 1984 | 1984 | — | 1993 | |
Saint Kitts and Nevis | 1986 | 1986 | 1986 | — | 2014 | |
Saint Lucia | 1981 | 1982 | 1982 | — | — | |
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 1981 | 1983 | 1983 | — | 2013 | |
Samoa | 1984 | 1984 | 1984 | — | — | |
San Marino | 1953 | 1994 | 1994 | 2007 | — | |
Sao Tome and Principe | 1976 | 1996 | 1996 | — | — | |
Saudi Arabia | 1963 | 1987 | 2001 | — | — | |
Senegal | 1963 | 1985 | 1985 | — | — | |
Serbia | 2001 | 2001 | 2001 | 2010 | 2001 | Conventions I–IV and Protocols I–II ratified as the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. |
Seychelles | 1984 | 1984 | 1984 | — | 1992 | |
Sierra Leone | 1965 | 1986 | 1986 | S | — | |
Singapore | 1973 | — | — | 2008 | — | |
Slovakia | 1993 | 1993 | 1993 | 2007 | 1995 | |
Slovenia | 1992 | 1992 | 1992 | 2008 | 1992 | |
Solomon Islands | 1981 | 1988 | 1988 | — | — | |
Somalia | 1962 | — | — | — | — | |
South Africa | 1952 | 1995 | 1995 | — | — | |
South Sudan | 2013 | 2013 | 2013 | 2013 | — | |
Spain | 1952 | 1989 | 1989 | 2010 | 1989 | |
Sri Lanka | 1959 | — | — | — | — | |
Sudan | 1957 | 2006 | 2006 | — | — | |
Suriname | 1976 | 1985 | 1985 | 2013 | — | |
Swaziland | 1973 | 1995 | 1995 | — | — | |
Sweden | 1953 | 1979 | 1979 | 2014 | 1979 | |
Switzerland | 1950 | 1982 | 1982 | 2006 | 1982 | |
Syria | 1953 | 1983 | — | — | — | |
Tajikistan | 1993 | 1993 | 1993 | — | 1997 | |
Tanzania | 1962 | 1983 | 1983 | S | — | Conventions I–IV ratified as Tanganyika. |
Thailand | 1954 | — | — | — | — | |
Timor-Leste | 2003 | 2005 | 2005 | 2011 | — | |
Togo | 1962 | 1984 | 1984 | S | 1991 | |
Tonga | 1978 | 2003 | 2003 | — | 2003 | |
Trinidad and Tobago | 1963 | 2001 | 2001 | — | 2001 | |
Tunisia | 1957 | 1979 | 1979 | — | — | |
Turkey | 1954 | — | — | S | — | |
Turkmenistan | 1992 | 1992 | 1992 | — | — | |
Tuvalu | 1981 | — | — | — | — | |
Uganda | 1964 | 1991 | 1991 | 2008 | — | |
Ukraine | 1954 | 1990 | 1990 | 2010 | 1990 | Conventions I–IV and Protocols I–II ratified as the Ukrainian SSR. |
United Arab Emirates | 1972 | 1983 | 1983 | — | 1992 | |
United Kingdom | 1957 | 1998 | 1998 | 2009 | 1999 | Protocols I–III have been extended to all three Crown dependencies and to 13 of the 14 British Overseas Territories (excluding Gibraltar).[32][33][34] |
United States | 1955 | S | S | 2007 | — | |
Uruguay | 1969 | 1985 | 1985 | 2012 | 1990 | |
Uzbekistan | 1993 | 1993 | 1993 | — | — | |
Vanuatu | 1982 | 1985 | 1985 | — | — | |
Venezuela | 1956 | 1998 | 1998 | — | — | |
Vietnam | 1957 | 1981 | — | — | — | |
Yemen | 1970 | 1990 | 1990 | — | — | Conventions I–IV ratified as North Yemen. |
Zambia | 1966 | 1995 | 1995 | — | — | |
Zimbabwe | 1983 | 1992 | 1992 | — | — | |
Totals | ||||||
Ratified | 196 | 174 | 168 | 72 | 76 | |
Signed only | 0 | 3 | 3 | 24 | N/A |
- Notes
- ↑ "S" indicates that the state has signed but has not ratified.
"—" indicates that the state has taken no action. - ↑ Denmark informed the Secretary-General of the United Nations in 2003 that "Denmark's ratifications normally include the entire Kingdom of Denmark including the Faroe Islands and Greenland.”[17] No declaration excluding either of their dependent territories was made by Denmark upon ratification of any of the seven treaties.
- ↑ The Conventions I–IV and Protocols I–III were originally extended to the Netherlands Antilles prior to its dissolution into Aruba in 1986, and Curaçao, Sint Maarten, and the Caribbean Netherlands in 2010.
- Former states parties
The following states were party to the Geneva Conventions I–IV, but their ratifications have not been recognised as applying to any succeeding state under international law:
- Czechoslovakia, East Germany, South Vietnam, South Yemen, Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Sultanate of Zanzibar.
- Authorities making a unilateral declaration
Article 96.3 of Protocol I allows for an "authority representing a people engaged against a High Contracting Party in an armed conflict" to make a unilateral declaration to apply the four Conventions and Protocol I with respect to that conflict. As of 2015 this provision has been utilized by the Polisario Front in 2015.
Authority[35] | Year of declaration | Conflict |
---|---|---|
Polisario Front | 2015[36] | Western Sahara conflict with Morocco |
Parties to the 1864 Geneva Convention
The first ten articles of the First Geneva Convention were concluded in 1864. This was the original Geneva Convention. The following states were parties to the 1864 Geneva Convention.
- Notes
- ↑ Year the state ratified or acceded to the 1864 version of the First Geneva Convention.
References
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