The Hague Conventions are a set of treaties and agreements that set the stage for modern rules concerning human rights. They are referred to as the ‘Hague Conventions’ because they were held in The Hague, Netherlands. In general, the Hague Conventions dealt with the conduct of people and countries during wartime. Furthermore, when discussing the Hague Conventions it is also important to consider the Geneva Conventions, as the two are both significant to the development of human rights.
WHAT WERE THE HAGUE CONVENTIONS?
As stated above, the Hague Conventions were a set of treaties and agreements that emerged from two different meetings, which included the Hague Conventions of 1899 and 1907. In general, the two Hague Conventions were centered on topics surrounding war, and what is considered acceptable during wartime. For example, the main topics of discussion in both of the Hague Conventions included: rules of war and war crimes. In all, the two Hague Conventions were attended by some of the most powerful countries at time.
HAUGE CONVENTION OF 1899
The First Hague Convention began on May 18th, 1899 and was finalized on July 29th of the same year. It was first called by Tsar Nicholas II of Russia with the goal of creating an international understanding on the rules of war. For example, the Hague Convention of 1899 dealt with six main rules, including three declarations and three treaties. The three treaties were:
- Convention for the Pacific Settlement of International Disputes
- Convention with respect to the Laws and Customs of War on Land
- Convention for the Adaptation to Maritime Warfare
The first treaty, led to the creation of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Netherlands. This court seeks to resolve disputes between member nations. The second treaty details different aspects of war that the member nations agreed to follow. This includes topics such as prisoners of war, conditions for the wounded, and rules surrounding the concept of surrender. Furthermore, this second treaty included aspects of the earlier Geneva Convention of 1864. The third treaty details how to treat certain ships and enemy sailors who are stranded following a shipwreck. In all, these three treaties show an early step by the member nations to create certain customs and conduct of war, that would play an important role in the decades that followed.
The three declarations from the First Hague Convention of 1899 were:
- Declaration concerning the Prohibition of the Discharge of Projectiles and Explosives from Balloons or by Other New Analogous Methods
- Declaration concerning the Prohibition of the Use of Projectiles with the Sole Object to Spread Asphyxiating Poisonous Gases
- Declaration concerning the Prohibition of the Use of Bullets which can Easily Expand or Change their Form inside the Human Body such as Bullets with a Hard Covering which does not Completely Cover the Core, or containing Indentations
The first declaration called for a five-year ban on the use of projectile weapons (rifles or explosives) from a balloon. The second declaration banned the use of projectiles with elements of poisonous gas. The third declaration banned the use of ammunition that caused excessive internal damage to the human body. For example, some bullets could be used or modified to expand in the human body, thus causing injuries that are more devastating. In general, these three declarations can be viewed as an attempt to create a set of rules in regards to war. Almost all of the participants in the First Hague Convention of 1899 agreed to the terms of these three declarations (except for the United States), thus creating a general agreement on the rules of war.
HAGUE CONVENTION OF 1907
Another Hague Convention was held just eight years later in 1907. This time, the convention was called by American President Theodore Roosevelt and took place from June 15th to June 18th in 1907. The goal of this Second Hague Convention was to add to the rules first formed at the First Hague Convention in 1899. In total, the Second Hague Convention included thirteen treaties and one declaration.
The thirteen treaties of the Second Hague Convention were:
- Convention for the Pacific Settlement of International Disputes
- Convention respecting the Limitation of the Employment of Force for Recovery of Contract Debts
- Convention relative to the Opening of Hostilities
- Convention respecting the Laws and Customs of War on Land
- Convention relative to the Rights and Duties of Neutral Powers and Persons in case of War on Land
- Convention relative to the Legal Position of Enemy Merchant Ships at the Start of Hostilities
- Convention relative to the Conversion of Merchant Ships into Warships
- Convention relative to the Laying of Automatic Submarine Contact Mines
- Convention concerning Bombardment by Naval Forces in Time of War
- Convention for the Adaptation to Maritime Warfare of the Principles of the Geneva Convention
- Convention relative to Certain Restrictions with regard to the Exercise of the Right of Capture in Naval War
- Convention relative to the Establishment of an International Prize Court
- Convention concerning the Rights and Duties of Neutral Powers in Naval War
In general, the Second Hague Convention focused more on naval warfare, but continued the theme of the First Hague Convention in that it set out general terms of warfare between the member nations. For example, the third treaty focused on creating a set of rules around how a nation declares war against another nation.
As stated above, the second Hague Convention also include one declaration, which was:
- Declaration Prohibiting the Discharge of Projectiles and Explosives from Balloons
This declaration was actually first introduced in the Hague Convention from 1899, and extended upon in the Second Hague Convention.
HAGUE CONVENTIONS – SIGNIFICANCE
Today the two Hague Conventions are considered important stepping-stones towards modern issues related to human rights. For example, when combined with the main principles of the Geneva Conventions, they both set out the basics of a war crime. As such, the Hague Convention is an important topic when learning about modern issues related to conflicts, war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocides.
