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] | ||||||
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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 |
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1956 | 2009 | 2009 | — | — | |
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1957 | 1993 | 1993 | 2008 | — | |
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1960 | 1989 | 1989 | — | 1989 | |
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1993 | — | — | — | — | |
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1984 | 1984 | — | S | — | |
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1986 | 1986 | 1986 | — | — | |
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1956 | 1986 | 1986 | 2011 | 1996 | |
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1993 | 1993 | 1993 | 2011 | — | |
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1958 | 1991 | 1991 | 2009 | 1992 | |
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1953 | 1982 | 1982 | 2009 | 1982 | |
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1993 | — | — | — | — | |
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1975 | 1980 | 1980 | — | — | |
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1971 | 1986 | 1986 | — | — | |
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1972 | 1980 | 1980 | — | — | |
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1968 | 1990 | 1990 | — | — | |
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1954 | 1989 | 1989 | 2011 | 1989 | Conventions I–IV and Protocols I–II ratified as the ![]() |
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1952 | 1986 | 1986 | 2015 | 1987 | |
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1984 | 1984 | 1984 | 2007 | — | |
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1961 | 1986 | 1986 | — | — | |
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1991 | — | — | — | — | |
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1976 | 1992 | 1983 | S | 1992 | |
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1992 | 1992 | 1992 | S | 1992 | |
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1968 | 1979 | 1979 | — | — | |
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1957 | 1992 | 1992 | 2009 | 1993 | |
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1991 | 1991 | 1991 | — | — | |
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1954 | 1989 | 1989 | 2006 | 1994 | |
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1961 | 1987 | 1987 | S | 2004 | |
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1971 | 1993 | 1993 | S | — | |
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1958 | 1998 | 1998 | — | — | |
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1963 | 1984 | 1984 | — | — | |
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1965 | 1990 | 1990 | 2007 | 1990 | |
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1984 | 1995 | 1995 | S | 1995 | |
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1966 | 1984 | 1984 | — | — | |
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1970 | 1997 | 1997 | — | — | |
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1950 | 1991 | 1991 | 2008 | 1991 | |
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1956 | 1983 | 1983 | — | — | ![]()
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1961 | 1993 | 1995 | S | 1996 | |
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1985 | 1985 | 1985 | — | — | |
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1961 | 1982 | 2002 | — | 2002 | |
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1967 | 1983 | 1983 | S | — | |
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2002 | 2002 | 2002 | 2011 | 2002 | |
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1969 | 1983 | 1983 | 2008 | 1999 | |
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1961 | 1989 | 1989 | — | — | |
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1992 | 1992 | 1992 | 2007 | 1992 | |
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1954 | 1982 | 1999 | — | — | |
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1962 | 1979 | 1996 | 2007 | 2002 | |
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1993 | 1993 | 1993 | 2007 | 1995 | |
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1951 | 1982 | 1982 | 2007 | 1982 | All the treaties extended to the Faroe Islands and to Greenland.[Note 2] |
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1978 | 1991 | 1991 | — | — | |
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1981 | 1996 | 1996 | — | — | |
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1958 | 1994 | 1994 | 2009 | — | |
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1954 | 1979 | 1979 | S | — | |
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1952 | 1992 | 1992 | — | — | |
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1953 | 1978 | 1978 | 2007 | — | |
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1986 | 1986 | 1986 | — | — | |
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2000 | — | — | — | — | |
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1993 | 1993 | 1993 | 2008 | 2009 | |
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1969 | 1994 | 1994 | S | — | |
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1971 | 2008 | 2008 | 2008 | — | |
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1955 | 1980 | 1980 | 2009 | 1980 | |
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1951 | 2001 | 1984 | 2009 | — | |
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1965 | 1980 | 1980 | — | — | |
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1966 | 1989 | 1989 | — | — | |
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1993 | 1993 | 1993 | 2007 | — | |
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1954 | 1991 | 1991 | 2009 | 1991 | |
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1958 | 1978 | 1978 | S | — | |
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1956 | 1989 | 1993 | 2009 | 1998 | |
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1981 | 1998 | 1998 | — | — | |
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1952 | 1987 | 1987 | 2008 | — | |
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1984 | 1984 | 1984 | — | 1993 | |
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1974 | 1986 | 1986 | — | — | |
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1968 | 1998 | 1998 | 2009 | — | |
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1957 | 2006 | 2006 | S | — | |
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1951 | 1985 | 1985 | — | — | |
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1965 | 1995 | 1995 | 2006 | — | |
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1954 | 1989 | 1989 | 2006 | 1991 | |
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1965 | 1987 | 1987 | 2006 | 1987 | |
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1950 | — | — | — | — | |
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1958 | — | — | — | — | |
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1957 | S | S | — | — | |
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1956 | 2010 | — | — | — | |
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1962 | 1999 | 1999 | S | 1999 | |
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1951 | — | — | 2007 | — | |
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1951 | 1986 | 1986 | 2009 | 1986 | |
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1964 | 1986 | 1986 | S | — | |
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1953 | 2004 | 2004 | — | 2004 | |
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1951 | 1979 | 1979 | — | — | |
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1992 | 1992 | 1992 | 2009 | — | |
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1966 | 1999 | 1999 | 2013 | — | |
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1989 | — | — | — | — | |
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1957 | 1988 | — | — | — | |
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1966 | 1982 | 1982 | S | 2004 | |
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1967 | 1985 | 1985 | — | 2013 | |
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1992 | 1992 | 1992 | — | — | |
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1956 | 1980 | 1980 | — | 1998 | |
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1991 | 1991 | 1991 | 2007 | — | |
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1951 | 1997 | 1997 | — | — | |
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1968 | 1994 | 1994 | — | 2010 | |
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1954 | 1988 | 1988 | — | — | |
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1956 | 1978 | 1978 | — | — | |
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1950 | 1989 | 1989 | 2006 | 1989 | |
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1996 | 2000 | 2000 | 2007 | 2000 | |
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1953 | 1989 | 1989 | 2015 | 1993 | |
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1993 | 1993 | 1993 | 2008 | 1993 | |
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1963 | 1992 | 1992 | S | 1993 | |
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1968 | 1991 | 1991 | — | 2014 | |
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1962 | — | — | — | — | |
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1991 | 1991 | 1991 | — | — | |
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1965 | 1989 | 1989 | — | 2003 | |
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1968 | 1989 | 1989 | S | 1989 | |
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2004 | — | — | — | — | |
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1962 | 1980 | 1980 | — | — | |
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1970 | 1982 | 1982 | — | — | |
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1952 | 1983 | — | 2008 | — | |
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1995 | 1995 | 1995 | — | — | |
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1993 | 1993 | 1993 | 2008 | — | |
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1950 | 2000 | 2000 | 2007 | 2007 | |
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1958 | 1995 | 1995 | — | 1995 | |
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2006 | 2006 | 2006 | — | 2007 | |
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1956 | 2011 | 2011 | — | — | |
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1983 | 1983 | 2002 | — | — | |
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1992 | — | — | — | — | |
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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] |
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2006 | 2006 | 2006 | 2012 | — | |
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1964 | — | — | S | — | |
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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] |
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1959 | 1988 | 1988 | 2013 | 1988 | ![]() New Zealand declared that its ratification of Protocols I–II does not extend to the |
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1953 | 1999 | 1999 | 2009 | — | |
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1964 | 1979 | 1979 | — | — | |
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1961 | 1988 | 1988 | — | — | |
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1951 | 1981 | 1981 | 2006 | 1981 | |
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1974 | 1984 | 1984 | — | — | |
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1951 | S | S | — | — | |
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1996 | 1996 | 1996 | — | — | |
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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] |
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1956 | 1995 | 1995 | 2012 | 1999 | |
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1976 | — | — | — | — | |
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1961 | 1990 | 1990 | 2008 | 1998 | |
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1956 | 1989 | 1989 | S | — | |
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1951 (I) 1952 (II-IV) |
2012 | 1986 | 2006 | — | |
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1954 | 1991 | 1991 | 2009 | 1992 | |
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1961 | 1992 | 1992 | 2014 | 1994 | |
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1975 | 1988 | 2005 | — | 1991 | |
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1954 | 1990 | 1990 | 2015 | 1995 | |
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1960 | 1989 | 1989 | S | 1989 | Conventions I–IV and Protocols I and II ratified as the ![]() |
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1964 | 1984 | 1984 | — | 1993 | |
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1986 | 1986 | 1986 | — | 2014 | |
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1981 | 1982 | 1982 | — | — | |
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1981 | 1983 | 1983 | — | 2013 | |
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1984 | 1984 | 1984 | — | — | |
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1953 | 1994 | 1994 | 2007 | — | |
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1976 | 1996 | 1996 | — | — | |
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1963 | 1987 | 2001 | — | — | |
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1963 | 1985 | 1985 | — | — | |
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2001 | 2001 | 2001 | 2010 | 2001 | Conventions I–IV and Protocols I–II ratified as the ![]() |
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1984 | 1984 | 1984 | — | 1992 | |
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1965 | 1986 | 1986 | S | — | |
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1973 | — | — | 2008 | — | |
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1993 | 1993 | 1993 | 2007 | 1995 | |
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1992 | 1992 | 1992 | 2008 | 1992 | |
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1981 | 1988 | 1988 | — | — | |
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1962 | — | — | — | — | |
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1952 | 1995 | 1995 | — | — | |
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2013 | 2013 | 2013 | 2013 | — | |
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1952 | 1989 | 1989 | 2010 | 1989 | |
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1959 | — | — | — | — | |
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1957 | 2006 | 2006 | — | — | |
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1976 | 1985 | 1985 | 2013 | — | |
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1973 | 1995 | 1995 | — | — | |
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1953 | 1979 | 1979 | 2014 | 1979 | |
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1950 | 1982 | 1982 | 2006 | 1982 | |
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1953 | 1983 | — | — | — | |
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1993 | 1993 | 1993 | — | 1997 | |
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1962 | 1983 | 1983 | S | — | Conventions I–IV ratified as ![]() |
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1954 | — | — | — | — | |
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2003 | 2005 | 2005 | 2011 | — | |
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1962 | 1984 | 1984 | S | 1991 | |
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1978 | 2003 | 2003 | — | 2003 | |
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1963 | 2001 | 2001 | — | 2001 | |
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1957 | 1979 | 1979 | — | — | |
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1954 | — | — | S | — | |
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1992 | 1992 | 1992 | — | — | |
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1981 | — | — | — | — | |
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1964 | 1991 | 1991 | 2008 | — | |
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1954 | 1990 | 1990 | 2010 | 1990 | Conventions I–IV and Protocols I–II ratified as the ![]() |
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1972 | 1983 | 1983 | — | 1992 | |
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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] |
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1955 | S | S | 2007 | — | |
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1969 | 1985 | 1985 | 2012 | 1990 | |
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1993 | 1993 | 1993 | — | — | |
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1982 | 1985 | 1985 | — | — | |
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1956 | 1998 | 1998 | — | — | |
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1957 | 1981 | — | — | — | |
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1970 | 1990 | 1990 | — | — | Conventions I–IV ratified as ![]() |
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1966 | 1995 | 1995 | — | — | |
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1983 | 1992 | 1992 | — | — | |
Totals | ||||||
Ratified | 196 | 174 | 168 | 72 | 76 | |
Signed only | 0 | 3 | 3 | 24 | N/A |
- Notes
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- 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 |
---|---|---|
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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
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References
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