The Ben Shapiro show is sponsored by ExpressVPN.

Protect your online privacy today at ExpressVPN.com.

In 1859, a human rights activist named Henry De Nant, who had later co-found the Red Cross,

observed the aftermath of the Battle of Solferino between French Piedmontese and Austrian armies in northern Italy.

He was shocked by the treatment of wounded soldiers on the battlefield.

He worked diligently to bring together a variety of governments to sign onto a series of rules governing the treatment

of captured and wounded soldiers sign in Geneva in 1964. These would become known as the

first Geneva Conventions. It took another 85 years, however, before the world began to think

about the treatment of civilians in wartime. In horror at the German treatment of civilians

during World War II, the Geneva Conventions were expanded in 1949 to protect non-combatant

civilians. This was accomplished in the fourth Geneva Convention designed to protect civilians

by encouraging military actors to separate themselves from civilian populations. The 1977

edition protocols made clear the use of human shields

was absolutely forbidden by the rules of war. Article 12-4 states, quote, under no circumstances

shall medical units be used in an attempt to shield military objectives from attack. Article 51-7

states, quote, the presence or movements of the civilian population or individual civilians

shall not be used to render certain points or areas immune from military operations,

in particular in attempts to shield military objectives from attacks or to shield favor or impede

military operations. Article 8.2b of the 1998 ICC statute says, quote, utilizing the presence

of a civilian or other protected

person to render certain points, areas, or military forces immune from military operations,

constitutes a war crime in international armed conflicts.

...