Protecting civilians in good faith: A joint symposium on the updated ICRC Commentary on the Fourth Geneva Convention

Following 5 years of analysis and consultations, the ICRC printed a brand new, up to date Commentary on the Fourth Geneva Conference (GC IV) of 1949 in October 2025. GC IV is the cornerstone of safety for civilians in worldwide armed battle and occupation – protections that stay urgently related amid patterns of city warfare, strikes on important companies, and chronic hurt to people who find themselves not, or are not, participating in hostilities. The 2025 Commentary, following the interpretive methodology outlined within the Vienna Conference on the Regulation of Treaties, consolidates seven many years of follow, jurisprudence, and operational expertise right into a sensible information to making use of GC IV’s safeguards successfully at this time.

Beginning at this time, and working over the approaching weeks, we’re delighted to be co-hosting a joint symposium with the Worldwide Committee of the Purple Cross (ICRC) and the editors of Simply Safety, sharing knowledgeable contributions on chosen subjects addressed within the up to date ICRC Commentary on the Fourth Geneva Conference. We hope this evaluation will assist make clear necessary features of the Fourth Conference which are explored in depth within the up to date Commentary, define developments in legislation, expertise and language since 1949, and provides readers an thought of what has modified because the preliminary ICRC Commentary on this Conference was printed in 1958.

We want to thank all the authors who’ve contributed to this joint symposium.