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UMass Libraries > Research by Subject > Geneva Conventions

GENEVA CONVENTIONS

The Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 embodies four different treaties: 1. The relief of wounded and sick in Armed Forces; 2.  Wounded, sick, and shipwrecked members of Armed Forces at sea;  3. Treatment of prisoners of war;  4. Treatment of civilians and noncombatants.  This guide focuses heavily on the third convention, treatment of prisoners of war, and how the conventions relate to contemporary situations such as the conflict in Iraq and the war on terrorism. 

Internet Sites

Application of Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions to the Treatment of Detainees in the Department of Defense   (Department of Defense) 2006 Memo directing Deptartment of Defense personnel to adhere to Article 3 on treatment of prisoners in regards to detainees captured during fighting with Al Qaeda.

Bush Administration Documents on Interrogation  (Washington Post) 2004
Summary of White House, Pentagon, and Justice Department documents about interrogation policies.

Congressional Research Service Reports  (University of North Texas Libraries)
CRS provides nonpartisan, objective research, analysis, and information for Congress.

Geneva Conventions  (International Committee of the Red Cross)
History, essential rules of humanitarian law, Geneva Conventions, Red Cross' relation with international humanitarian law.

Geneva Conventions   (Librarians’ Internet Index)
Major web sites covering a wide variety of subjects relating to the Geneva Conventions include a reference guide, views of Iraq , International Red Cross and more.

Geneva Conventions: Original Agreement   (Wikipedia)
Full text of the original agreements of August 1949.

Open CRS  (Center for Democracy and Technology)
Congressional Research Service reports.  CRS provides nonpartisan, objective research, analysis, and information for Congress.

Reference Guide to the Geneva Conventions  (Society of Professional Journalists)
Includes history, text, online and print resources related to the Geneva Conventions. Allows searching alphabetically by subject.

Report of the International Committee of the Red Cross on the Treatment by the Coalition Forces of Prisoners of War
and other persons by the Geneva Conventions in Iraq during arrest, internment and interrogation  2004 (International Committee of the Red Cross)
Full report available in full text or pdf format.

UMass Amherst Library: Find Journal Articles, Reports, Treaties

The following databases are available to all on Library computers.  Available off campus to UMass Amherst students, faculty, and staff with an OIT account; enter your OIT username and password when prompted.  

 

CQ Researcher  (Congressional Quarterly, Inc.)
Full text overviews of current issues, including bibliographies, chronologies, history and background, and more.

 

International Political Science Abstracts
Includes citations and full text articles relating to international political science issues.  Coverage is from 1987.

PAIS International  (Public Affairs Information Service)
Citations and abstracts of articles, documents, research and conference reports relating to public and social policy. Coverage is from 1970.

 

LexisNexis Academic: Legal Research
Select Law Reviews to obtain full  text articles regarding legal issues surrounding the Geneva Conventions.

 

United Nations Treaty Collections

To access full text of the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949: scroll down and select United Nations Treaty Series;  under International Agreements by Popular Name select Geneva Conventions;  select numbers 5, 6, 7, or 8 to view the four treaties.

 

UMass Amherst Library: Find Books

The list of books that follow are all government documents related specifically to the 1949 Geneva Conventions.  To find other books about the Geneva Conventions and related issues use the Library's Online Catalog with a  Keyword Search using the words "Geneva Conventions".

Geneva Convention Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War. With Reservations, If Any, by Governments Participating in Hostilities in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos   (U.S. House of Representatives)  1970
(UM/Gov. Doc. Fiche 70 H 382-14)
Outline and text of the Geneva Convention of 1949 providing for the humane treatment of prisoners of war. Includes reservations made to the Convention by China, Korea, Soviet Union, United States, and North Vietnam.

Geneva Conventions for the Protection of War Victims: Hearing before the Committee on Foreign Relations, United States Senate, Eighty-Fourth Congress, First Session on Executives D, E, F, and G, 82nd Congress, 1st Session  (Government Printing Office) 1955
(UM/W.E.B. Du Bois  KZ 6454.2 1955 U55 1955a)
Hearing on ratification of the Geneva Conventions treaties.

Geneva Conventions of August 12, 1949 for the Protection of War Victims   (Dept. of State) 1950  (General Foreign Policy Series; 34)
(UM/Gov.Docs. S 1.71:34)
English language full text of the Final Act includes signatures and reservations of countries opposed to certain parts of the Conventions.

International Law – the Conduct of Armed Conflict and Air Operations  (Dept. of the Air Force) 1976  (Air Force pamphlet AFP 110-31)
(UM/Gov. Docs. D 301.35:110-31)
Provides information and guidance to judge advocates concerning international law requirements during armed conflict.  Furnishes references and solutions to different legal problems.

Lectures of the Geneva Conventions of 1949  (Dept. of the Army)  1958  (Department of the Army pamphlet 20-151)
(UM/Gov. Docs. D 101.22:20-151/2)

Manual on the Geneva Convention and Naval Medical Liaison with the American Red Cross.  (Navy Dept., Bureau of Medicine and Surgery)  1945            (NAVMED 903)
(UM/Gov. Docs. N 10.13:AM 3)

Markup of H. Con. Res. 102, H. Con. Res. 188, H. Con Res. 46, and H. Con. Res. 20: Markup before the Committee on International Relations, House of Representatives, One Hundred Sixth Congress, first session, Tuesday, October 19, 1999.  (G.P.O.)  2000
(UM/Gov. Docs. Y 4. IN 8/16:H 81/8)
Resolution commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions and the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Prisoner of War: Rights & Obligations under the Geneva Convention  (Dept. of Defense)  1987
(UM/Gov. Docs. D 2.14:GEN-35 B).
Revision of the 1980 edition on general information about the Geneva Convention.

Prisoner of War: Rights & Obligations under the Geneva Convention   (Dept. of Defense)  1980
(UM/Gov. Docs. D 2.14:GEN-35 A)
General information in 8 pages about the Geneva Conventions.

Protocols to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949   (Dept. of the Army)  1979  (Dept. of the Army pamphlet; 27-1-1)
(UM/Gov. Docs. D 101.22:27-1-1)
Text of the additional Protocols to the 1949 Geneva Conventions as negotiated at a diplomatic conference held in Geneva, Switzerland, between June 1974 and 1977.

Resolution of inquiry regarding pictures, photograhs, videos, communications, and reports produced in conjunction with Department of Defense investigations relating to allegations of torture or allegations of violations of the Geneva Conventions of 1949 at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq... 
(House, Commitee on Armed Services)  2004
(UM/Gov. Docs. Fiche Y 1.1/8:108-547)
Short report on investigation of abuse of prisoners at Abu Ghraib prison.

Standards of Conduct for Interrogation Under 18 U.S.C. 2340-2340-A, Memorandum from the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel for Alberto R. Gonzales, Counsel to the President  (Office of the Assistant Attorney General)  2002
(UM/Gov. Docs. J 31.2/2-2:ST 78X)
Opinion of Alberto Gonzales concerning treatment of prisoners and use of torture in the war on terror and why the Geneva Conventions may not apply.

Treaties in Force   (Dept. of State)
(UM/Gov. Docs. S 9.14: )
Annual listing of treaties to which the United States is a signatory arranged by country and subject with a brief abstract of the treaties and citations to where the treaties can be located.

United Nations Treaty Series (UNTS)  (United Nations)
(FC Depository)
Vol. 75, nos. 970-973, 1950
1. Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded and Sick in the Armed Forces in the Field of August 12, 1949 
    (pages 31-84).
2. Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of Wounded, Sick and Shipwrecked Members of the Armed Forces at Sea of August 12, 
    1949  (pages 85-134).
3. Geneva Convention Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War of August 12, 1949  (pages 135-285).
4. Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War of August 12, 1949  (pages 287-417).

United States Treaties and Other International Agreements
(UM/Gov. Docs. S 9.12:  )
Vol. 6, pt. 3, 1955, pgs. 3115-3695
1. Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded and Sick in the Armed Forces in the Field of August 12, 1949. TIAS 3362.
2. Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of Wounded, Sick and Shipwrecked Members of the Armed Forces at Sea of August 12, 
    1949.  TIAS 3363.
3. Geneva Convention Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War of August 12, 1949. TIAS 3364.
4. Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War of August 12, 1949. TIAS 3365.   

 

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