The Geneva Accords: Legal Basis for the Peace Movement in Southern Vietnam (1954 – 1956)

Following the victory at Dien Bien Phu, the signing of the 1954 Geneva Accords opened the possibility of resolving Indochina War through peaceful means. The Geneva Accords were not merely an instrument to end hostilities; they also established international legal principles upholding national self-determination, peace, and unification. On this legal foundation, numerous peace movements emerged in Southern Vietnam, most notably the Peace Movement, involving intellectuals, artists, lawyers, students, and other social groups. These movements invoked the legal basis provided by the Geneva Accords to engage in legitimate political mobilization, protesting the division of the country, demanding nationwide elections, and promoting peace and democratic rights. This article aims to analyze the core legal content of the Geneva Accords and their role in legitimizing the peaceful movements in Southern Vietnam during 1954–1956.