eli5 How does the Geneva convention work? How can it be enforced if nations are already at war? What incentive do armies have for following it?

Question

I mean there are no referees on the battlefield.

In: 3

Answer 1

Abiding by the Geneva convention is in the best interest of both belligerents for several reasons. 1) it looks good on the international stage. 2) your soldiers will likely be treated better as pows if you treat your prisoners well. 3) if you loose, mistreatment of prisoners will be prosecuted as war crimes. 4) if the enemy knows they will be treated poorly as prisoners, they will fight to the death to not get captured