While earlier versions existed, the horrors of World War II led to the comprehensive revision and expansion of the Geneva Conventions in 1949. These international treaties established the legal standards for humanitarian treatment in war. They specifically addressed the protection of civilians in war zones for the first time, along with the rights of prisoners of war and the treatment of the wounded. They also banned torture and the taking of hostages. Today, the Geneva Conventions are signed by nearly every nation in the world and form the bedrock of international humanitarian law, ensuring that even in the midst of conflict, certain basic human rights must be respected.