Top 10 Warfare Practices Banned by the Geneva Convention

The use of lethal chemical substances as weapons, such as mustard gas, sarin, chlorine, hydrogen cyanide, and tear gas, has been employed with great effect and in large quantities. These can come in the form of toxic explosive projectiles like artillery shells, missiles, or mortars. Because of the harm these chemicals can pose to a person's health, these types of weapons were banned during the signing of the Chemical Warfare Convention in the 90s. However, this hasn't stopped several rogue nations from stockpiling their supplies of such weapons. These types of weapons were popular in WWI, WWII, and the Iran-Iraq War.

The Scorched Earth Policy is a military strategy that involves destroying civilian infrastructure such as agricultural or industrial resources, water supplies, public transportation, and communications. These infrastructures are obliterated to prevent the enemy faction from fully utilizing them in future battles or to drive the population away from the area. This strategy is employed in either enemy or home territory when the enemy is advancing or retreating.

It is banned because such methods hamper reconstruction efforts and add unnecessary suffering to the local populace. The tactic was used during Operation Barbarossa and the Napoleonic Invasion of Russia.

Rape is often used as a method of psychological warfare to demoralize the enemy by asserting dominance over defeated opponents. It is frequently inflicted upon civilians, often women, though there have been cases of rape involving captured soldiers. Isolated cases of rape, including gang rape, are common during warfare, as seen during the Congo Wars and in many conflicts throughout history.

Because of wartime rape, many women have given birth to children deemed illegitimate, for which they often face shame from their family or local community. This situation sometimes forces them to resort to abortion or abandonment to rid themselves of the burden of having a child that reminds them of the humiliation experienced during rape. The Nanking Massacre is an infamous example of this.

"Human shields" refers to the exploitation of civilians or captured POWs by deliberately placing them in the front lines in the enemy's line of sight. Warring parties utilize this to protect themselves, as it provides cover and discourages the enemy from attacking them to avoid killing non-combatants. It is banned under the Geneva Convention as it is deemed immoral, as it unnecessarily endangers lives by dubbing them as "collateral damage." The North Korean military is known for employing this tactic.

In many conflicts throughout the world, children are often vulnerable to the chaos of war, especially when resources to sustain a family become scarce or if their parents and guardians are killed. Some groups exploit these children by taking advantage of their naivety and emotions, placing them on the front lines as child soldiers. These child soldiers are often considered a source of disposable manpower, frequently used for petty yet dangerous jobs, such as clearing landmines.

However, with children serving in war, they are often exposed to its brutality. This exposure can mentally scar or traumatize a child, potentially cementing a mindset deprived of moral integrity or sensitivity towards violence. The most notorious cases of using child soldiers include the civil war in Liberia and the Iran-Iraq War.

Being a medical worker (either a military medic or a member of an NGO) can prove to be a dangerous task in a war zone. These personnel are responsible for treating injured civilians and soldiers, which makes them a priority target by warring parties to disrupt efforts in aiding the injured, especially fallen enemy soldiers. Under the Geneva Convention, it is considered a war crime to kill medical staff, and they are protected under the convention.

Unless the medic has committed a crime or is armed, why kill the medic?

It is unlawful for a soldier to kill an enemy soldier who has surrendered or been captured as a POW. However, cases of executions or ill-treatment of POWs are common during war out of sheer revenge. According to the Geneva Convention, they are to be treated well by providing them with food, running water, medical supplies, sanitation, and a settlement as temporary internment.

Execute the mafia, not soldiers.

Torture comes in many forms, including physical and mental categories. Examples include castration, constant beatings, waterboarding, forced nudity, and more, especially towards POWs and civilians. The practice of torture as a way to crush the spirit of the enemy has been a widespread tactic and thus proves to be an issue regarding the gentlemanly conduct of war. This practice could potentially permanently damage a person's mental and physical health. These practices are illegal after the ratification of the United Nations Convention Against Torture.

A widespread practice in both World Wars, the Yugoslav War, and the Vietnam War involved employing bomber airplanes to conduct aerial bombardments on areas with high concentrations of civilians. These bombings mostly targeted civilian infrastructure to disrupt economic activity but came at the expense of the lives of non-combatants. These aerial operations must comply with the three principles of humanitarian laws in the convention: military necessity (it must be a military objective), distinction (it should separate combatants from passive civilians), and proportionality (it shouldn't be excessively intense).