What role did France play in the development of the Geneva Conventions?

The Geneva Conventions are a series of international treaties that establish the standards of international law for humanitarian treatment in armed conflicts. They were first established in 1864 and have been updated and expanded in subsequent years. France played an important role in the development of the Geneva Conventions, particularly in the early years of their creation.

In 1864, Swiss businessman Henry Dunant proposed the creation of an international organization to care for wounded soldiers on the battlefield. The Swiss government hosted an international conference, which was attended by representatives from 16 countries, including France. At the conference, an agreement was reached to create the International Committee for Relief to the Wounded, which later became the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

France played a crucial role in the drafting of the first Geneva Convention in 1864, which established the standards for the treatment of wounded and sick soldiers on the battlefield. French General Louis Appert was appointed the first president of the ICRC, and French lawyer Gustave Moynier served as its first vice-president. In subsequent years, France continued to play an active role in the development and expansion of the Geneva Conventions, particularly during the First and Second World Wars.