International Committee of the Red Cross

The emblem associated with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is a red cross on a white background. Its design reverses the colours of the Swiss flag, reflecting the historical origins of the Red Cross movement in Switzerland. The emblem is not a religious symbol: under international humanitarian law, it is a protective sign intended to identify certain medical personnel, units and transports during armed conflict. It is also used as an identifying emblem by components of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The red cross should therefore be understood primarily as a sign of humanitarian protection, impartial assistance and respect for people affected by war. Its protective use is governed by specific legal rules and must not be confused with ordinary decorative use.

The ICRC was founded in Geneva in 1863, following the humanitarian initiatives inspired by Henry Dunant's account of wounded soldiers left without adequate care after the Battle of Solferino in 1859. The committee helped convene discussions that led to the first Geneva Convention in 1864, an important milestone in the protection of wounded soldiers. Over time, its work expanded from assistance to wounded combatants to visiting detainees, helping separated families reconnect and protecting civilians and others affected by armed conflict. The Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their Additional Protocols strengthened the legal framework within which the ICRC operates. Today, the organization combines confidential humanitarian dialogue with practical relief and protection activities, working in situations of international and non-international armed conflict. Although it belongs to the wider International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, the ICRC has its own distinct mandate and responsibilities.

• Founded in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1863.
• Its early history is closely connected to Henry Dunant and the Battle of Solferino (1859).
• The first Geneva Convention was adopted in 1864.
• The ICRC is an independent, impartial and neutral humanitarian organization.
• It works primarily in situations of armed conflict and other violence.
• Its delegates visit people deprived of liberty in connection with conflict and discuss detention conditions with authorities.
• It helps families trace missing relatives and restore contact when conflict separates them.
• It promotes knowledge of international humanitarian law among armed forces and other actors.
• The red cross emblem is one of several internationally recognized protective emblems; the red crescent and red crystal are also recognized.

Key Facts
• Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
• Established: 1863
• Field: Humanitarian protection and assistance
• Core principles: Humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence
• International framework: Geneva Conventions and related humanitarian law

The International Committee of the Red Cross is a humanitarian organization with a specific mandate under international humanitarian law. Its central purpose is to protect the lives and dignity of people affected by armed conflict and to assist those in need. Its activities include supporting emergency medical care, helping communities obtain clean water and essential supplies, addressing the needs of detainees and working to clarify the fate of missing persons. The ICRC also facilitates family contact and engages confidentially with parties to conflicts to encourage compliance with humanitarian law. Its neutral and impartial approach is designed to allow dialogue across front lines and access to vulnerable people. The ICRC is distinct from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and from national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies, although all are part of the same international Movement. Its work focuses on humanitarian needs rather than political positions or judgments about the causes of a conflict.