carried out under the name and guiding principles of the Red Cross by three separate organizations that make up the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. (The Red Crescent is used instead of the Red Cross symbol in Islamic countries.) The three organizations are: the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC); the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies; and the national Red Cross Societies.

In addition to all of the activities above, the Red Cross has the unique mission of educating the public about International Humanitarian Law (IHL), also known as the laws of war. International Humanitarian Law are the principles and agreements contained in the four treaties of the Geneva Conventions which were signed by almost every nation in the world. [See sidebar, right, for more on the Geneva Conventions.]

Red Cross Movement 
The Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is based on seven fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality. They are defined as follows:

Humanity: The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, born of a desire to bring assistance without discrimination to the wounded on the battlefield, endeavors, in its international and national capacity, to prevent and alleviate human suffering wherever it may be found. Its purpose is to protect life and health and to ensure respect for the human being. It promotes mutual understanding, friendship, cooperation and lasting peace amongst all peoples.

Impartiality: It makes no discrimination as to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinions. It endeavors to relieve the suffering of individuals, being guided solely by their needs, and to give priority to the most urgent cases of distress.

Neutrality: In order to continue to enjoy the confidence of all, the Movement may not take sides in hostilities or engage at any time in controversies of a political, racial, religious or ideological nature.

Independence: The Movement is independent. The National Societies, while auxiliaries in the humanitarian services of their governments and subject to the laws of their respective countries, must always maintain their autonomy so that they may be able at all times to act in accordance with the principles of the Movement.

Independence: The Movement is independent. The National Societies, while auxiliaries in the humanitarian services of their governments and subject to the laws of their respective countries, must always maintain their autonomy so that they may be able at all times to act in accordance with the principles of the Movement.

Unity: There can be only one Red Cross or one Red Crescent Society in any one country. It must be open to all. It must carry on its humanitarian work throughout its territory.

Universality: The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, in which all Societies have equal status and share equal responsibilities and duties in helping each other, is worldwide. ◆

Birth of the Red Cross

The movement traces its roots to 1863 and to Jean Henry Dunant, a Swiss businessman and humanitarian, who wrote A Memory of Solerino where he proposed a network of international societies of trained volunteers who would care equally for the wounded of all sides in times of war and for all nations to sign legal agreements to recognize and protect these societies. Dunant’s ideas were further refined by a committee of five Swiss citizens (which included Dunant) and adopted by 12 nations as the first Geneva Convention in 1864. The red cross on a field of white would be recognized as the protective symbol for hospitals, medical workers and others giving aid to the wounded.

The committee of five became the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which promoted the establishment of volunteer Red Cross Societies in the countries that signed the Geneva Convention. In 1919, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies was formed to coordinate the work of the national societies. Today, there are over 180 countries with a National Red Cross and Red Crescent Society, making it the world’s largest humanitarian organization, providing assistance without discrimination as to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinions.

The International Committee of the Red Cross has also worked to enforce and expand the Geneva Conventions. An 1899 treaty prohibited the use of suffocating gas and expanding bullets. In 1907, 13 separate treaties were signed, followed in 1925 by the Geneva Gas Protocol, which prohibited the use of poison gas and the practice of bacteriological warfare. In 1929, two more Geneva Conventions dealt with the treatment of the wounded and prisoners of war. In 1949, four Geneva Conventions extended protections to those shipwrecked at sea and to civilians. The Hague Convention on the Protection of Cultural Property was signed in 1954, the United Nations Convention on Military or Any Other Hostile Use of Environmental Techniques followed in 1977, together with two Additional Protocols to the Geneva Conventions of 1949, extending their protections to civil wars. ◆

What are the Geneva Conventions?

The First Geneva Convention of 1864 protects the wounded and sick members of the armed forces, no matter to which side they may belong. The wounded are to be cared for, given medical attention, and protected against ill treatment. The Convention also protects medical workers, military religious personnel, military medical facilities, and ambulances. The Second Geneva Convention of 1907 extended these protections to wounded combatants and medical ships at sea.

The Third Geneva Convention of 1929 dealt with the humane treatment of prisoners of war. The Convention prohibited the torture of prisoners and required that they be protected against acts of violence, insults, and public curiosity.

The Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 revised the earlier conventions and addressed the rights of civilians in times or war. Civilians are not to be targeted by military operations or have their property taken or destroyed. Civilians must be permitted to live as normally as possible and protected against murder, torture, pillage, reprisals, and being taken hostage. Their honor, family rights, religious convictions and practices are to be respected. Occupying forces are required to allow safe passage of food and medical supplies and to establish hospital and safety zones for the wounded, sick, elderly, children, expectant mothers, and mothers of young children. This convention provides special protection for women and children. The hospital workers caring for these individuals are to be respected and protected.

In 1977, two protocols were added to the Geneva Conventions that further protect civilians during wartime and extended coverage of the Conventions to armed conflict within a nation. The United States has signed and ratified the four Geneva Conventions but not the 1977 protocols. ◆