Tuesday, August 22 2006 17:22 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Geneva: The 1949 Geneva Conventions on the protection of civilians and prisoners during war has now achieved universal acceptance following the recent accessions of Montenegro and Nauru, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said.

The ICRC, which is the official guardian of the conventions, said that with the ratification by Nauru, the south Pacific island nation, on June 27 and that of recently independent Montenegro on August 2, 194 nations are now signatories.

"For the first time in modern history an international treaty has achieved universal acceptance," the humanitarian organisation said yesterday (Aug 21, 2006).

"The recent accessions confirm the status of these conventions as the most widely accepted international treaties and represent a landmark in the development of protection for victims of armed conflict," it said.

The conventions aim to protect the rights of people not taking part in hostilities such as civilians, first aid and religious workers as well as humanitarian organisations as well as those not taking part in combat, such as the sick, wounded and prisoners of war.

Nauru and Montenegro also ratified 1977's first and second protocols additional to the conventions. One hundred and sixty six countries have ratified the first convention on international conflicts and 162 the second on on-international conflicts, the ICRC said.