Has the Geneva Convention been changed since its inception? I don't know

[patricia92243]

any of the history of it. If it was changed, should not the changes come from the UN - meaning all nations would vote on and agree to the changes.

[Eric J in MN]

1. From wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geneva_convention

The Geneva Conventions consist of four treaties formulated in Geneva, Switzerland, that set the standards for international law for humanitarian concerns. The conventions were the results of efforts by Henri Dunant, who was motivated by the horrors of war he witnessed at the Battle of Solferino in 1859. In 1977 and 2005 three separate amendments, called protocols, were made part on the Geneva Conventions.

As of 27 June 2006, when Nauru adopted the four conventions, they have been ratified by 194 countries.

[El Supremo]

2. Wiki is your friend

Yes, there have been changes. No, the UN is not directly involved.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geneva_Convention

[Eric J in MN]

3. Bush is unpopular around the world, and so...

...if he proposed actual changes to the text of the Geneva Conventions to be ratified by the nations of the world, most nations would say no.

Instead, Bush wants US law to apply a narrow interpretation to what is considered a prosecutable war crime.

[babylonsister]

4. Didn't you hear dimson disparage the UN today? He was on

a roll. Claimed he's good 'personal' friends with Kofi, but basically dissed the UN.

[Igel]

5. In addition to changes in the text, which are ratified,

individual countries have their own take on the provisions.

The Conventions, once ratified by the US, are equal to the laws enacted by Congress; as such, the meaning of the words used in the Conventions, like any other treat, can largely be moulded by Congress. In bilateral treaties, the other party may take umbrage and reject the result; in behemoths like the GCs, 'umbrage' is a difficult matter.