Our story is the story of humanitarian action, the Geneva Conventions and the birth of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. Since 1863, the ICRC’s sole objective has been to ensure protection and assistance for victims of armed conflict and strife.

One mission: Preserve and prioritize humanity during war. The ICRC continues to do everything within our power to support people affected by the conflict, including trying all possible means to get aid, including critical health care, into Gaza, and persistently advocating on behalf of hostages being held in Gaza.

Mar 16, 2018 · The Red Cross, a global humanitarian network which aids victims of disasters and armed conflict, was co‑founded in 1863 by Swiss businessman Henry Dunant.

The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, born of a desire to bring assistance without discrimination to the wounded on the battlefield, endeavours, in its international and national capacity, to prevent and alleviate human suffering wherever it may be found.

The original Geneva Convention created the red cross emblem to identify protected medical personnel and objects on the battlefield. Today the red crescent and red crystal emblems also provide the same protection, and their use is strictly controlled under international law.

Red Cross provided emergency communications from family members and facilitated calls and letters home from wounded service members. Following the 1953 armistice, the American and Korean Red Cross societies ensured the transfer of nearly 90,000 prisoners of war.

On May 21, 1881, Clara founded the American Red Cross, and by 1882, the U.S. ratified the Geneva Conventions — laws that, to this day, protect the war-wounded and civilians in conflict zones. This later resulted in a U.S. congressional charter, officially recognizing Red …

Feb 27, 2025 · Red Cross and Red Crescent, humanitarian agency with national affiliates in almost every country of the world. The Red Cross movement began with the founding of the International Committee for the Relief of the Wounded (now the International Committee of the Red Cross) in 1863.

The International Committee of the Red Cross [a] (ICRC) is a humanitarian organization based in Geneva, Switzerland, and is a three-time Nobel Prize laureate. The organization has played an instrumental role in the development of rules of war and promoting humanitarian norms. [3]State parties (signatories) to the Geneva Convention of 1949 …

When Davison created the League in 1919, the Red Cross idea had already existed for fifty years. The idea was born when another Henry—a young man from Switzerland called Henry Dunant—organized local people to support the wounded in the battle of Solferino, Italy.