The first Geneva Convention took place in a. 1864 b. 1918 c. 1949
The purpose of the first Geneva Convention was to create protections for a. prisoners of war b. civilians c. injured soldiers
The original agreement was signed by a. four countries b. six countries c. twelve countries
Discussion/essay questions
Switzerland’s neutrality has caused a lot of debate. What is your opinion about countries staying neutral in wars? What are some good reasons to be neutral? Do you think it is ever unacceptable not to choose a side?
The red cross, crescent, and crystal are all recognized symbols for medics in war. Which symbol does your country use?
Transcript
The Geneva Conventions are the agreements that created an international code of laws and ethics for war. They took place in Geneva, Switzerland, because of the country’s historic neutrality. The first Geneva Convention was in 1864. It established laws to protect soldiers who had been injured in combat. It also formally recognized the red cross as a neutral symbol for medics. Twelve countries signed this original agreement, and four more joined by 1867. After World War II, many countries agreed to revisit the treaties. In 1949, the Geneva Convention was expanded to four sections. The second, third, and fourth Geneva Conventions included protections for civilians and prisoners of war. Since then, 196 countries have signed the Geneva Conventions, including all members of the United Nations.
The UN’s main purpose is to a. prevent climate change b. deal with public health emergencies c. promote peace and good relations between countries
The League of Nations failed to prevent a. World War I b. World War II c. the Cold War
When the UN was officially established, a. 26 countries were members b. 51 countries were members c. 193 countries were members
Discussion/essay questions
Although the United Nations has been successful in many ways, it has also received a lot of criticism. What opinions have you heard about the United Nations? What do you agree with? What do you disagree with?
Transcript
The United Nations, or UN, is a global organization that is meant to promote peace and good relations between countries. Before the UN, many countries were members of an organization called the League of Nations, which was created after the end of World War I for the purpose of preventing future global conflicts. However, World War II began less than 20 years after the creation of the League of Nations. The term “United Nations” was first used to refer to 26 countries that pledged to unite against the Axis powers in 1942. The UN was officially established on October 24, 1945, after the war had ended. By then, 51 countries were members. Today, 193 countries are members of the United Nations.
