The four Geneva Conventions of 1949 turn seventy on 12 August 2019. 70 years is a moment to celebrate. The Geneva Conventions have regulated practically all wars between states after World War II. Their common Article 3 has provided fundamental rules for non-international armed conflicts. Additionally, the Geneva Conventions have set the grounds for their three Additional Protocols, customary international law and jurisprudence on the treatment and protection of the wounded, shipwrecked, sick, prisoners of war and civilians in times of war. Considerable efforts around the globe are devoted to disseminate, train and strengthen compliance with the Geneva Conventions. As a result, the Geneva Conventions are more than just international treaties; they have become the symbol par excellence of humanity in warfare. 
Yet numerous are conflicts in which the Geneva Conventions are not respected. Atrocities are being committed, rights of combatants and civilians disregarded. Moreover, new technologies with uncertain effects on human dignity, such as autonomous weapons, are emerging. This raises a pressing question: Do the Geneva Conventions actually matter? Do they really have an impact on behavior in war? 70 years after their adoption, are the Geneva Conventions ready for retirement or is their legacy just getting started?