‘The 1949 Geneva Conventions: A Commentary’ is Now Available in Paperback!

Cover page of the book Cover page of the book

27 February 2018

‘The 1949 Geneva Conventions: A Commentary’, edited by Professors Andrew Clapham, Paola Gaeta, and Marco Sassòli is now available in Paperback .

An Up-To-Date Explanation of the Meaning and Application of the Geneva Conventions

The four Geneva Conventions, adopted in 1949, remain the fundamental basis of contemporary international humanitarian law. In this ground-breaking commentary, over sixty international law experts investigate the application of the Geneva Conventions and explain how they should be interpreted today. Particular attention is paid to the changing nature of armed conflicts and questions related to the threshold for armed conflict, the beginning and end of occupations, the geographical scope of conflicts and the complex interactions between the Geneva Conventions and branches of international law such as international criminal law, refugee law and human rights law.

A Project Conducted under the Auspices of the Geneva Academy

This publication is the result of a collaboration between the Faculty from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies and the Law Faculty of the University of Geneva, co-ordinated and facilitated by the Geneva Academy.

Besides, the three editors, several Geneva Academy’s researchers, alumni, lecturers and professors contributed to this volume, including Annyssa Bellal, Vincent Chetail, Jérôme de Hemptinne, Giovanni Distefano, Iris van der Heijden, Robert Kolb and Nishat Nishat.

2017 Certificate of Merit by the American Society of International Law

The American Society of International Law has awarded their 2017 Certificate of Merit for ‘High Technical Craftsmanship and Utility to Practicing Lawyers and Scholars’ to the book.

MORE ON THIS THEMATIC AREA

IHL in Focus Spot Report News

Water Wars: How Sudan’s Conflict Weaponizes a Basic Human Need

4 August 2025

Our latest spot report explores how the targeting of water infrastructure is contributing to what is now considered the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, affecting 30 million people.

Read more

IHL Lab Geneva Academy News

The Geneva IHL Lab: Bridging Theory and Practice

21 May 2025

The Geneva Academy has launched a practice-oriented course designed to equip our Master of Advanced Studies students with skills in open-source research and legal analysis under international humanitarian law.

Read more

Online folders Project

Digital Human Rights Tracking Tools and Databases

Started in March 2023

This initiative wishes to contribute to better and more coordinated implementation, reporting and follow-up of international human rights recommendations through a global study on digital human rights tracking tools and databases.

Read more

Iraq, Mosul. View of the west bank after the war. Project

IHL in Focus

Started in January 2024

As a yearly publication, it keeps decision-makers, practitioners and scholars up-to-date with the latest trends and challenges in IHL implementation in over 100 armed conflicts worldwide – both international and non-international.

Read more

Cover of the 2023 Geneva Academy Annual Report Publication

Annual Report 2024

published on July 2025

Read more