International Committee of the Red Cross facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
International Committee of the Red Cross

Comité international de la Croix-Rouge
Formation	17 February 1863; 162 years ago (1863-02-17)
Type	International NGO
Purpose	Protecting victims of conflicts and providing them with assistance
Headquarters	Geneva, Switzerland
Region served	Worldwide
Field	Humanitarianism
President	Mirjana Spoljaric Egger
Vice President	Gilles Carbonnier
Director-General	Pierre Krähenbühl
Budget	CHF 1576.7 million (2016) 203.7 m for headquarters 1462.0 m for field operations
Staff	15,448 (average number of ICRC staff in 2016)
Award(s)	Nobel Peace Prize (1917, 1944, 1963)

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is a special organization based in Geneva, Switzerland. It helps people affected by wars and violence around the world. The ICRC has won the Nobel Peace Prize three times for its important work.

This organization has played a big part in creating the rules of war. These rules help protect people during conflicts. The ICRC also works to promote humanitarian ideas, which means treating everyone with kindness and respect.

Countries that have signed the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and its later agreements have given the ICRC a special job. This job is to protect victims of both international and internal armed conflicts. These victims include wounded soldiers, prisoners, refugees, civilians, and others not fighting.

The ICRC is part of a larger group called the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. This movement also includes the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and 191 national Red Cross and Red Crescent groups. The ICRC is the oldest and most respected organization within this movement. It is known worldwide for its efforts to help people in need.

History of the Red Cross

How the ICRC Started

Henry Dunant, who wrote A Memory of Solferino

Before the mid-1800s, there were no organized systems to care for wounded soldiers. Hospitals were not safe places during battles. In 1859, a Swiss businessman named Henry Dunant saw the terrible aftermath of the Battle of Solferino in Italy. About 40,000 soldiers were killed or wounded in just one day. Dunant was shocked by the lack of medical help.

He decided to help the wounded soldiers himself. He encouraged local people to assist everyone, no matter which side they fought for. When he returned home to Geneva, he wrote a book called A Memory of Solferino in 1862. In his book, he suggested two main ideas:

• Create national groups of volunteers to help wounded soldiers during wars.
• Develop international agreements to protect wounded soldiers, medics, and hospitals.

The first Geneva Convention document from 1864

On February 9, 1863, a group in Geneva decided to look into Dunant's ideas. Five people, including Dunant, formed a special committee. Eight days later, on February 17, 1863, this committee decided to become a "Permanent International Committee." This group would later be known as the ICRC.

The Committee organized a meeting in Geneva in October 1863. People from different governments and organizations attended. They discussed ways to improve medical help on battlefields. Some important ideas came from this meeting:

• Start national groups to help wounded soldiers.
• Protect wounded soldiers and treat them neutrally.
• Use volunteers to help on the battlefield.
• Create international treaties to make these ideas law.
• Use a special symbol for medical staff: a red cross on a white background. This symbol honored Switzerland's neutrality by reversing its flag colors.

The First Geneva Convention

Just one year later, in 1864, the Swiss government invited countries to a meeting. Representatives from 16 countries came to Geneva. On August 22, 1864, they signed the first Geneva Convention. This agreement was "for the Betterment of the Condition of the Wounded in Armies in the Field."

This convention had ten rules. For the first time, these rules legally protected wounded soldiers, medical staff, and hospitals during war. It also set rules for national relief societies to be recognized by the International Committee.

Soon after, many countries started their own national Red Cross societies. In 1864, two ICRC delegates, Louis Appia and Charles van de Velde, became the first to work under the Red Cross symbol in a conflict. In 1876, the committee officially changed its name to the "International Committee of the Red Cross" (ICRC).

Nobel Peace Prizes and Growth

In 1901, Henry Dunant shared the first Nobel Peace Prize. This award recognized his important role in starting the Red Cross. Dunant died nine years later.

The Geneva Convention was updated in 1906. In 1907, the Hague Convention extended the rules to naval warfare. By 1914, 50 years after the ICRC began, there were 45 national Red Cross societies worldwide. The movement had grown beyond Europe and North America.

The World Wars and Beyond

French postcard celebrating the role of Red Cross nurses during the First World War, 1915.

During World War I, the ICRC faced huge challenges. It worked closely with national Red Cross groups. On October 15, 1914, the ICRC set up its International Prisoners-of-War (POW) Agency. This agency helped connect prisoners with their families. It sent millions of letters, messages, and parcels. It also helped exchange about 200,000 prisoners. The agency kept millions of records to track prisoners and missing people.

The ICRC also checked if countries were following the Geneva Conventions. It protested when chemical weapons were used for the first time. Even without a direct rule, the ICRC tried to help civilians in occupied areas. ICRC delegates visited 524 POW camps across Europe.

In 1917, the ICRC received the Nobel Peace Prize for its work during the war. It was the only Nobel Peace Prize given between 1914 and 1918.

After World War I, the League of Red Cross Societies was founded in 1919. This group aimed to coordinate the work of national Red Cross societies.

In 1925, a new agreement outlawed the use of poisonous gases and biological weapons. In 1929, the Geneva Convention was updated to include rules for treating prisoners of war. These events greatly increased the ICRC's reputation and responsibilities.

Red Cross message from Łódź, Poland, 1940.

During World War II, the ICRC continued its work. Delegates visited POW camps, helped civilians, and exchanged messages for prisoners. They made 12,750 visits to camps in 41 countries. The Central Information Agency on Prisoners-of-War had 3,000 staff and tracked 45 million cards.

However, the ICRC faced major difficulties. The Nazi-controlled German Red Cross refused to follow the Geneva rules. Also, the Soviet Union and Japan had not signed the 1929 Geneva Conventions. The ICRC struggled to get access to concentration camps. It did not publicly condemn the terrible treatment in these camps. This is seen as the biggest failure in the ICRC's history.

After November 1943, the ICRC was allowed to send parcels to some concentration camp prisoners. They delivered about 1.1 million parcels. In 1944, the ICRC received its second Nobel Peace Prize. It was again the only Peace Prize given during the war years (1939-1945).

After World War II

On August 12, 1949, the Geneva Conventions were updated again. A new Fourth Geneva Convention was created to protect civilians during war. Also, agreements in 1977 made the conventions apply to internal conflicts like civil wars. Today, the conventions have over 600 rules, a big increase from the first 10 rules in 1864.

The ICRC Headquarters in Geneva.

In 1963, the ICRC and the League of Red Cross Societies received their third Nobel Peace Prize. This was to celebrate the ICRC's 100th anniversary. Since 1993, people who are not Swiss citizens can also work as ICRC delegates abroad.

In 1990, the UN General Assembly gave the ICRC a special "observer status." This meant the ICRC could attend UN meetings. This was the first time a private organization received such status. An agreement with the Swiss government in 1993 confirmed the ICRC's full independence from Switzerland.

The ICRC continued its work in the 1990s. It spoke out against the Rwandan genocide in 1994. It also tried to prevent crimes in Srebrenica in 1995. In 2007, it spoke out against human rights abuses by Burma's military government.

Learning from the Past

In 1995, the ICRC President, Cornelio Sommaruga, attended a ceremony to remember the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp. He publicly expressed regret for the Red Cross's past mistakes regarding the victims of concentration camps.

The ICRC has learned important lessons from its history, especially from World War II:

• They created new laws to protect civilians in war.
• They adopted "Fundamental Principles" (humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, volunteerism, unity, universality) to prevent future abuses.
• They made sure their relationship with Switzerland guarantees their independence.
• They took over the International Tracing Service to keep records from concentration camps.
• They opened their historical records to researchers to understand what happened.

In 2005, on the 60th anniversary of Auschwitz's liberation, the ICRC stated: "Auschwitz also represents the greatest failure in the history of the ICRC... This failure will remain part of the ICRC's memory."

Staff Safety and Risks

After the Cold War, the ICRC's work became more dangerous. In the 1990s, more delegates were killed than ever before. This often happened because people did not respect the rules of the Geneva Conventions or the Red Cross symbols. Many brave staff members have lost their lives while helping others.

In 2011, the ICRC started the Health Care In Danger campaign. This campaign highlights the dangers faced by humanitarian healthcare workers.

What the ICRC Does

The emblem of the International Committee of the Red Cross

The ICRC's original motto is Inter Arma Caritas, which means "Amidst War, Charity." This motto shows their main goal. The ICRC uses three official languages: English, French, and Spanish.

The official symbol of the ICRC is a red cross on a white background. This is the opposite of the Swiss flag. This symbol, along with the Red Crescent and the Red Crystal, protects medical and aid workers in conflicts. These symbols are placed on humanitarian vehicles and buildings. The Red Crystal was added in 2005. It is a symbol without any national, political, or religious meaning.

ICRC's Mission

The ICRC's official mission is to be a fair, neutral, and independent organization. Its only goal is to protect the lives and dignity of people affected by war and violence. It also provides them with help. The ICRC also works to promote and strengthen international humanitarian law.

The main tasks of the ICRC, based on the Geneva Conventions, include:

• Checking if countries involved in conflicts follow the Geneva Conventions.
• Organizing care for wounded soldiers.
• Overseeing the treatment of prisoners of war and talking privately with authorities.
• Helping to find missing people during conflicts (tracing service).
• Organizing protection and care for civilians.
• Acting as a neutral go-between for groups fighting each other.

In 1965, the ICRC created seven basic principles for the whole Red Cross Movement: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, volunteerism, unity, and universality.

Legal Status and Funding

The ICRC is the only organization specifically named in international humanitarian law as a controlling authority. Its legal power comes from the four Geneva Conventions of 1949 and its own rules. The ICRC also does work not specifically required by law, like visiting political prisoners or helping in natural disasters.

The ICRC is a private Swiss association. It has special privileges and legal protections in Switzerland. For example, its property is protected, its staff have legal immunity, and it is exempt from taxes.

The ICRC's budget for 2023 is 2.5 billion Swiss francs. Most of this money comes from countries, especially those that signed the Geneva Conventions. It also receives money from national Red Cross societies and international organizations like the European Union. All payments to the ICRC are voluntary donations.

In 2021, the United States was the biggest donor, giving over 544 million Swiss Francs. Other top donors included Germany, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. In March 2023, the ICRC announced budget cuts and job losses due to fewer donations. However, the Canton of Geneva later provided 40 million CHF in additional support.

Working with Other Red Cross Groups

The ICRC is responsible for officially recognizing a relief group as a national Red Cross or Red Crescent society. Once recognized by the ICRC, a national society can join the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). The ICRC and the IFRC work with national societies on international missions.

According to the 1997 Seville Agreement, the ICRC leads Red Cross efforts in conflicts. Other organizations in the movement lead in non-war situations. National societies often lead when a conflict happens in their own country.

Acceptance of Magen David Adom

From 1930 until 2006, the Magen David Adom (MDA), Israel's equivalent to the Red Cross, was not fully accepted. This was because it used the Star of David symbol, which the ICRC did not recognize. This meant Israeli ambulances were not protected in the same way as others.

In 2005, the ICRC adopted a new symbol, the Red Crystal. MDA then placed its Star of David inside the Red Crystal. In 2006, MDA was accepted as a full member of the movement. MDA continues to use its own emblem.

How the ICRC Works with Countries

The ICRC prefers to talk directly with countries in private. They use quiet, secret discussions to gain access to prisoners of war and improve their treatment. Their findings are not made public. They are only shared with the government involved. This is different from groups like Doctors Without Borders or Amnesty International, who often use public pressure. The ICRC believes its approach helps it gain more access and cooperation from governments in the long run.

If they only get partial access, the ICRC accepts it and keeps working quietly for more. For example, during apartheid South Africa, the ICRC could visit prisoners like Nelson Mandela. After his release, Mandela praised the Red Cross. He said the ICRC helped improve how prisoners were treated.

Organization of the ICRC

The ICRC's main office is in Geneva, Switzerland. It has offices called Delegations in about 80 countries. Each delegation is led by a Head of Delegation, who represents the ICRC in that country. The ICRC has about 3,000 professional employees. About 1,000 work in Geneva, and 2,000 work in the field. Field workers include delegates, doctors, engineers, and interpreters. About 15,000 local staff also help in the delegations. This brings the total staff to around 18,000. Delegations often work closely with the national Red Cross societies in those countries.

The ICRC's main parts are the Directorate and the Assembly.

The Directorate

The Directorate is the part of the ICRC that handles daily operations. It manages the ICRC's work every day, while the Assembly sets the main goals. The Directorate includes a Director-General and five other directors. These directors manage areas like operations, human resources, finances, communication, and international law. The Assembly chooses the members of the Directorate for four-year terms.

The Assembly

Marguerite Frick-Cramer, the first ever female member of the ICRC

The Assembly, also called the Committee, meets regularly. It decides the ICRC's goals, rules, and plans. It also oversees the ICRC's money. The Assembly can have up to 25 Swiss citizens as members. Members are chosen for four-year terms and can serve many terms if they remain active.

In the past, all Committee members were from Geneva, Protestant, white, and male. The first woman, Marguerite Frick-Cramer, joined in 1918. In recent years, more women have joined, and about 15% of members are now female. Since 1923, people from other parts of Switzerland have also been allowed to join.

The Committee believes that having only Swiss citizens as members is a strength. Because Switzerland is always neutral, countries fighting each other can trust that the ICRC's decisions are fair.

Assembly Council

The Assembly also chooses a five-member Assembly Council. This council is a very active part of the Assembly. It meets often and can make decisions for the full Assembly on some matters. The Council helps organize Assembly meetings and connects the Assembly with the Directorate. It usually includes the President, two Vice Presidents, and two other elected members.

The President

The Assembly also chooses one person to be the President of the ICRC for four years. The President is a member of both the Assembly and the Council. The President leads the ICRC. The President's role can change depending on the times and their personal style.

Mirjana Spoljaric Egger became the President on October 1, 2022. She is the first woman to hold this important position.

The Presidents of the ICRC have been:

• 

  Guillaume Dufour,
  (1787-1875)

• 

  Gustave Moynier,
  (1826-1910)

• 

  Gustave Ador,
  (1845-1928)

• 

  Max Huber,
  (1874-1960)

• 

  Carl Burckhardt,
  (1891-1974)

• 

  Alexandre Hay,
  (1919-1991)

• 

  Cornelio Sommaruga,
  (1932-2024)

• 

  Jakob Kellenberger,
  (1944- )

• 

  Peter Maurer,
  (1956- )

• 

  Mirjana Spoljaric Egger,
  (1972- )

ICRC Staff

Over the years, the ICRC has grown and now has more professional staff than volunteers. In 1914, it had only 12 employees. During World War II, it had 1,900 paid staff and 1,800 volunteers. The number of paid staff has increased in recent decades. The ICRC trains its staff to be highly professional. Working for the ICRC can be demanding. The staff comes from many different countries.

The ICRC Around the World

The ICRC works in over 80 countries. It has 18,000 employees worldwide. This large network helps people affected by conflict and violence. In recent years, the ICRC's biggest operations have been in places like Yemen, Syria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, Iraq, and Ethiopia.

See also

In Spanish: Comité Internacional de la Cruz Roja para niños