The philosophy of the Geneva Conventions dates back to the 19th century. Following the battle of Solferino (1859), in which there were heavy losses of life and injuries, it was Henry Dunant of Geneva (1828 – 1910) who initiated the first measures for the protection of persons in conflict situations. This ultimately led to the foundation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

In 1864, 1899, 1906, 1907 and 1929, international conferences in Geneva and The Hague approved several agreements on the protection of the victims of war and on regulations governing methods and means of warfare. The Second World War drastically underlined the need for further efforts. An international conference in Geneva chaired by Federal Councillor Max Petitpierre drafted the 4 Geneva Conventions. They were approved on 12 August 1949 and complemented by additional protocols in 1977 and 2005.