International Committee of the Red Cross Celebrates 160 Years of Humanitarian Action
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), a neutral, impartial, and independent humanitarian organization, is celebrating over 160 years since its founding in Geneva. Established in 1863, the ICRC's mandate is rooted in the Geneva Conventions, which were partly inspired by Swiss businessman Henry Dunant's experience at the Battle of Solferino in 1859. Dunant witnessed the lack of care for wounded soldiers, leading to his 1862 book and the subsequent formation of a five-member committee that became the ICRC. The organization's emblem, a red cross on a white background, is a reversal of the Swiss federal colors and was formally recognized in the first Geneva Convention in 1864 as a tribute to Switzerland. The ICRC operates globally, with over 17,300 staff in more than 90 countries, working in protection, assistance, prevention, and cooperation with 191 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies worldwide. It has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize three times.
