However, as Jean S. Pictet, Director of the International Committee of the Red Cross, noted in 1951, "the law, however, always lags behind charity; it is tardy in conforming with life's realities and the needs of humankind", as such it is the duty of the Red Cross "to assist in the widening the scope of law, on the assumption that…law will retain its value", principally through the revision and expansion of these basic principles of the original Geneva Convention.
Kuigi, nagu Jean S. Pictet, Rahvusvahelise Punase Risti komitee direktor, märkis 1951. aastal, „seadus, siiski, jääb alati heategevusest maha; see on pikaldane ühildamaks elu reaalsusega ning inimkonna vajadustega“, sellepärast on Punase Risti kohustus „assisteerida seaduse rakendusala avardamisel, eeldades, et seadus jätab oma väärtuse samaks“, peamiselt läbi revisioonide ja algupärase Genfi konverentsi alusprintsiipide laiendamisega.