The scope of these laws is more limited than those of the rest of the Geneva Conventions out of respect for sovereign rights and duties of national governments.

As of July 2024, the Protocol had been ratified by 169 countries, with the United States, India, Pakistan, Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Israel being notable exceptions.

However, the United States, Iran, and Pakistan signed it on 12 December 1977, which signifies an intention to work towards ratifying it.

Historically, international law of armed conflict addressed traditional declarations of war between nations.

Common Article 3 applies to armed conflicts that are not of an international character, but that are contained within the boundaries of a single country.