I watch as Captain Rabine walks in front of the audience, preparing to speak about the Geneva Conventions. He stands at his podium, and clears his throat. “This presentation is an introduction to the Geneva Conventions of 1949. All major countries of the world have signed and ratified the Geneva Conventions.”, He drones in a monotone voice, “There are four common abbreviations used to represent each convention.” He is of course referring to GWS, the Geneva Convention for the amelioration of the wounded and sick, GWS (sea), the Geneva Convention for the amelioration of the wounded and sick at sea, GPW, the Geneva Convention for the amelioration of the prisoners of war, and GC, the Geneva Convention for the amelioration of civilians caught up in armed conflict. He continues to tell us that “As far as the history of the Geneva Conventions are concerned, that it was a Swiss banker, Henri Dunant, who witnessed the battle of Solferino, which took place in Italy. Dunant helped care for the sick, the wounded, and the dying. Afterwards, he wrote his book, A Memory of Solferino and wrote two wishes in the end, the first was that each nation, in peacetime, should set up a lease society which would aid the armies and medical services in times of war, and the second of which, was that nations should ratify by convention, a solemn principal that would give the necessary standings to such societies.” I noticed that this seemed like the birth of the Geneva Conventions, and the ICRC. A lease society, and a solemn principal. Rabine continues to explain what each convention stands for, starting with the amelioration of the wounded and sick. He states that they must be collected and cared for by any force within the armed conflict. He also explains the ways prisoners of war should be treated, for instance, Persons taking no active part in the hostilities, including members of armed forces who have laid down their arms and those placed hors de combat by sickness, wounds, detention, or any other cause, shall in all circumstances be treated humanely, without any adverse distinction founded on race, colour, religion or faith, sex, birth or wealth, or any other similar criteria.