W. Orehowsky

The article is devoted to the history of the emergence and formation of international humanitarian law («laws and customs of war»). The author notes that decisive steps were taken here in the nineteenth century, as rapid progress in the development of weapons and martial arts led to a sharp increase in the number of casualties. In this regard, much attention is paid to the figure of Swiss businessman and public figure Henri Dunan. It is stated in the article that it was the activity of the latter that became the basis for the adoption of the famous Geneva Convention (1864) «On improving the fate of wounded and sick warriors in the land war».