ICRC: Korean War Anniversary and the Geneva Conventions

24 June 2021

The Korean War set an unprecedented event where the Third Geneva Convention was enacted in a major international conflict. This set of international humanitarian laws (IHL) mandates that prisoners of war are treated humanely which include a setup of family tracing services, protection against torture and acts of violence, and given food, clothing and medical care necessary to maintain good health — and more.

It also grants the ICRC and other impartial humanitarian organisations to exercise humanitarian services on behalf of the detainees. This allows the conditions of the detention to be examined, prisoners to be visited, and supplies to be delivered for relief. 

ICRC focused its activities mainly on visiting, interviewing, and reporting on the conditions of detention through a bilateral and confidential dialogue with the parties to the conflict.

The Korean War is the biggest humanitarian issues that Koreans have faced.