The international committee of the red cross icrc is a humanitarian. The international red cross and red crescent movement is an international humanitarian movement with approximately 97 million volunteers, members and staff worldwide which was founded to protect human life and health, to ensure respect for all human beings, and to prevent and alleviate human suffering. Today, as throughout our long history, the red cross depends on generous contributions of time, blood, and money from the american public to support our lifesaving services and programs. History of the international committee of the red cross in 5 volumes. The international committee of the red cross and the adoption of the geneva conventions of 12 august 1949 the international committee played a similar role at the diplomatic conferences of 1906, 1929, and 1949, which revised the 1864 convention and adopted several new ones, and also at the diplomatic conference of 197477, which adopted the protocols additional to the 1949 conventions. They provide an overview of the icrc operational and. The icrc is an independent, neutral organization ensuring humanitarian protection. This article seeks to analyze how the international committee of the red cross icrc, the oldest existing humanitarian organization, coped with the outbreak of the first world war and its aftermath.
History of red cross henri dunant, founder of red cross. The work of the icrc in both world wars was recognized by the. State parties signatories to the geneva convention of 1949 and its additional protocols of 1977 protocol i, protocol ii and 2005 have given the icrc a mandate to protect victims of international and internal armed conflicts. International committee of the red cross simple english. Purpose the purpose of this paper is to examine the branding and communications strategy of the international committee of the red cross icrc. Report of the international committee of the red cross on its.
War, switzerland, and the history of the red cross, harper. International committee of the red cross the icrc, established in 1863, works worldwide to provide humanitarian help for people affected by conflict and armed violence and to promote the laws that protect victims of war. In 1876, the committee adopted the name international committee of the red cross icrc, which is still its official designation today. The icrc advisory service on international humanitarian law. The international committee has just lost, by the death of dr. It covers the institution from 1859 to 1912 and the evolution of the law of war from the 1864 geneva convention to the hague convention no. Report of the international committee of the red cross on. International committee of the red cross international. The group, which eventually became known as the international committee of the red cross, adopted the symbol of a red cross on a white background, an inverse of.
The movement the red cross was born in 1863 when henry. Member of the international committee of the red cross. Andre durand its role as a neutral intermediary in armed conflicts and its activities in aid of millions of victims of war throughout the world have made the icrc a key figure in history. X of 1907, as battles raged from solferino 1859 to tsushima 1905. International committee of the red cross how does law. It has been accepted for inclusion in chicago journal of international law by an authorized administrator of chicago unbound. The international committee of the red cross icrc has a complex position in international relations, being the guardian of international humanitarian law but often acting discretely to advance human dignity. Its 25member committee has a unique authority under international humanitarian law to protect the life and dignity of the victims of international and internal armed conflicts. It was therefore most fitting for the landesverband badenwiirttem berg of the german red cross in the federal republic, the oldest. Report of the international committee of the red cross on its activities during the second world war september 1, 1939 june 30, 1947, volumes 1.
History of the international committee of the red cross in 5. It covers the history of the international red cross and red crescent movement from 1863 to 1912 and the evolution of the law of war from the 1864 geneva convention to the hague convention no. After the attack on pearl harbor on december 7, 1941, the red cross. Committee for relief to the wounded, that later became the international committee of the red cross. Since its creation in 1863, the icrcs sole objective has been to ensure protection and assistance for victims of armed conflict and strife. History lowerintermediate level this text is licensed under the creative commons attributionnoncommercial 4. International committee of the red cross icrc guidestar.
The international committee of the red cross icrc ifrc. The international committee of the red cross icrc is an impartial, neutral and independent organization whose exclusively humanitarian mission is to protect the lives and dignity of victims of war and other situations of violence and to provide them with assistance. The international committee of the red cross icrc is a private humanitarian institution founded in 1863 in geneva, switzerland by henry dunant. The international committee of the red cross icrc is an impartial, neutral and independent organization whose exclusively humanitarian mission is to protect the lives and dignity of victims of war and internal violence and to provide them with assistance. The international committee of the red cross icrc ensuring humanitarian protection and assistance for victims of war and other situations of violence. The group, which eventually became known as the international committee of the red cross, adopted the symbol of a red cross on a white background, an inverse of the swiss flag, as a way to. The international committee of the red cross icrc is a humanitarian institution based in geneva, switzerland, and a threetime nobel prize laureate.
Treated by most governments as if it were an intergovernmental organization, the icrc is a nongovernmental organization, allswiss at the top, and it is given rights and duties in. Bugnion francois, the international committee of the red cross and the development of international humanitarian law, in chicago journal of international law, vol. The official youtube channel of the international committee of the red cross. But they also generate waste, 20 percent of which entail risks either of infection, of. International committee of the red cross regional delegation for united states and canada washington, 14 february 2007 was 0776 dear sir, please find enclosed a report on the findings and recommendations of the international. Role of the international committee of the red cross oxford. He founded the organization after being touched by the intense suffering and neglect of wounded soldiers of the battle of solferino, north italy in 1859. Dec 20, 2017 international red cross was founded by john henry dunant, a swiss businessman. X of 1907, as battles raged from solferino 1859 to tsushima. The international committee of the red cross, associated with four nobel peace. Governance international committee of the red cross. The international committee of the red cross icrc has greatly expanded its activities on behalf of political prisoners since the second world war. It also vows to uphold international humanitarian law ihl and universal humanitarian principles.
International committee of the red cross, international nongovernmental organization headquartered in geneva, switzerland, that seeks to aid victims of war and to ensure the observance of humanitarian law by all parties in conflict. Ernest gloor on may 30, one of its most devoted members and who had for many years given valuable support to the work of the red cross. The international committee of the red cross the international committee of the red cross also. Committee for relief to the wounded, that later became the international committee of. Medical waste management international committee of the. The international committee of the red cross came into being by chance. In this section directorate icrc and data protection office of the president the assembly the assembly council the members of the international committee of the red cross news detail icrc organizational chart pdf. The red cross is an international humanitarian network founded in 1863 in switzerland, with chapters worldwide that provide assistance to victims of disasters, armed conflict and health crises. The international committee of the red cross icrc is a private humanitarian organisation based in geneva, switzerland the icrc has a special job, based on the geneva conventions as well as other international law, to protect the victims of international and internal armed conflicts. The red cross was born in 1863 when five geneva men, including dunant, set up the international committee for relief to the wounded, later to become the international committee of the red cross. The international red cross and red crescent movement at. International committee of the red cross history since the red cross has figured four times in the award of the nobel peace prize 1917, 1944, and 1963, as well as in the award to henri dunant 1901, and has therefore been made the subject of various presentation speeches and nobel lectures which give details of its inception, history, and activities, the following brief summary of its. The international committee of the red cross icrc is an impartial, neutral.
A committee was formedwhich included dunant and an early iteration of the red crossin geneva to explore ways to implement dunants ideas in october 1863, delegates from 16. The international committee of the red cross icrc, a private, independent group of swiss citizens chosen by cooptation limited to twentyfive in number, acts during war or conflict whenever intervention by a neutral body is necessary, such action constituting its special field of activity. International committee of the red crossthe international committee of the red cross icrc, the founding agent of the international red cross and red crescent movement, is registered under the laws of switzerland, where it has its headquarters, as a private association. International committee of the red cross icrc youtube. In 1859 jeanhenri dunant, a swiss business man, came across a particularly. History of the international committee of the red cross, volume ii. Founding first world war 19191939 second world war since 1945 icrc archives 150 years of humanitarian action. The international committee of the red cross icrc is an independ ent, neutral organization that provides humanitarian assistance and protection to victims of. An additional element, which brings us much closer to the red cross, is dunants last message to the unions later to become the ymcas on 10 march 1855 setting forth his views on the structure of the organization which he would have liked to be international. By entering this website, you consent to the use of technologies, such as cookies and analytics, to customise content, advertising and provide social media features. The international committee of the red cross 2nd ed. I would especially recommend dunants dream to those interested in human rights or history. International committee of the red cross sourcewatch. More and more countries signed the geneva convention and began to respect it in practice during armed conflicts.
You may copy, share or adapt this material so long as it is not used for commercial purposes. This volume was published in 1963, marking the centenary of the founding of the red cross. Introduction healthcare activities are a means of protecting health, curing patients and saving lives. The national red cross, red crescent, red lion and sun societies commemorated the event with much dignity. This first volume of the history of the icrc was initially published in 1963, marking the centenary of the founding of the red cross. Five historical volumes covering the period 18631975 are available online in pdf format. The red cross developed the first nationwide civilian blood program in the 1940s and we still provide more than 40% of the blood products in this country. The international committee of the red cross icrc is an independent and impartial organization dedicated to the protection and care of victims of armed conflict and other violent situations.
The icrcs involvement with this issue has resulted from a series of incremental steps, taken over more than a hundred years, and it raises difficult legal, political, and moral questions. The following year, 12 governments adopted the first geneva convention. International committee of the red cross wikipedia. The international committee of the red cross icrc is an impartial, neutral and independent organization whose exclusively humanitarian mission is to protect the lives and dignity of victims of armed con. Caroline morehead is a gifted writer who balances objectivity with revealing glimpses at the men and women who have made the international committee of the red cross the premier human rights and relief agency in the world.
In february 1941, the red cross responded to a request by the u. Its story is about the development of humanitarian action, the geneva conventions and the red cross and red crescent movement. On the ground in over 90 countries, we provide humanitarian aid to victims of c. Bugnion francois, the international committee of the red cross and the protection of war victims, genevaoxford, icrcmacmillan, 2003, 1161 pp. The international committee of the red cross icrc is an impartial, neutral and independent organization whose exclusively humanitarian mission is to protect the lives and dignity of victims of armed conflict and other situations of violence and to provide them with assistance.
The international committee of the red cross and the development. An independent and neutral organization, its mandate stems essentially from the geneva conventions of 1949. Five years later, the american red cross was founded through the efforts of clara barton. His character and education impelled him to help the distressed and the unfortunate and to be concerned about social. The international committee of the red cross and political. History of red cross henri dunant, founder of red cross jean henri dunant was born in geneva on 8 may 1828. History of the international committee of the red cross. History of the international red cross and red crescent movement and of. The international committee of the red cross and the development of international humanitarian law francois bugnion this article is brought to you for free and open access by chicago unbound. The history of the founding of the red cross is well known and there is abundant literature.