The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement along with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and 190 National Societies. It is the oldest and most honoured organization within the Movement and one of the most widely with a mandate to protect victims of international and internal armed conflicts. Such victims include war wounded, prisoners, refugees, civilians, and other non-combatants. The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is the largest humanitarian network in the world. Its mission is to alleviate human suffering, protect life and health, and uphold human dignity especially during armed conflicts and other emergencies. It is present in every country and supported by millions of volunteers. The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is dedicated to preventing and alleviating human suffering in warfare and in emergencies such as epidemics, floods and earthquakes.
It is not a single organization. It is composed of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the 189 individual National Societies. Each has its own legal identity and role, but they are all united by seven Fundamental Principles. These principles are humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality. Each component of the Movement is committed to respect and uphold them.
The ICRC’s exclusively humanitarian mission is to protect the lives and dignity of victims of armed conflict and other situations of violence and to provide them with assistance. It directs and coordinates the Movement’s international relief activities during armed conflicts. Established in 1863, it is at the origin of the Movement. The Federation inspires, facilitates and promotes all humanitarian activities carried out by its member National Societies on behalf of the most vulnerable people. It directs and coordinates its members’ actions to assist the victims of natural and technological disasters, refugees and those affected by health emergencies. It was founded in 1919.
National Societies act as auxiliaries to their national authorities in the humanitarian field. They provide a range of services including disaster relief, and health and social programmes. In wartime they may assist the civilian population and support the medical services of the armed forces. The official mission statement says that: “The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is an impartial, neutral, and independent organization whose exclusively humanitarian mission is to protect the lives and dignity of victims of war and internal violence and to provide them with assistance.” It also directs and coordinates international relief and works to promote and strengthen humanitarian law and universal humanitarian principles.
The core tasks of the Committee, which are derived from the Geneva Conventions and its own statutes are:
- to monitor compliance of warring parties with the Geneva Conventions
- to organize nursing and care for those who are wounded on the battlefield
- to supervise the treatment of prisoners of war and make confidential interventions with detaining authorities
- to help with the search for missing persons in an armed conflict (tracing service)
- to organize protection and care for civil populations
- to act as a neutral intermediary between warring parties
The ICRC drew up seven fundamental principles in 1965 that were adopted by the entire Red Cross Movement. They are humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, volunteerism, unity, and universality.
Headquarters of Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement: Geneva, Switzerland.
Source of Funding of Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement: Donations mostly from the United States and European Nations, mix of institutional and individual donations. Institutions include governments, non-governmental organizations, multilateral agencies, corporations, trusts and foundations. The Federation also benefits enormously from funds donated by individuals via bequests, trusts, annuities, regular giving and appeal funds.
Inter-relationship between the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and other NGOs
- The Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement help other NGOs to provide relief for wounded soldiers;
- The Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement collaborates with other NGOs to protect wounded soldiers;
- The utilization of volunteer forces for relief assistance on the battlefield;
- The organization of additional conferences to enact these concepts in legally binding international treaties
Relationship between the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and National Health Agencies
In a country affected by armed conflict, the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and that country’s National Society − the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement principal partner − pool their operational resources. In addition to dealing with emergencies, the purpose of the partnership is to enable the National Society to better address the needs of the most vulnerable people. Operational cooperation covers various activities such as providing first aid and health care, distributing food, taking war causalities to hospital and restoring family links.
This type of cooperation can also include National Societies which wish to operate outside their own countries in contexts where the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is working. In this case, the Societies can contribute to Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement operations:
- by managing projects which the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement delegates to them entirely;
- by making a financial contribution towards Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement operations
- by making donations in kind or
- by lending staff.
Relationship between the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and the United Nation Health Agencies
- the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement work with the United Nations health agencies to promote international humanitarian law and of the Movement’s Fundamental Principles;
- Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement assist the United Nation health agencies to provide emergency aid and health care for those affected by conflict;
- The Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement collaborates with United Nations health agencies in restoring family links;
- The Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement assists the United Nations health agencies in creating mine-hazard awareness education;
- The Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement in collaboration with the United Nations health agencies device measures to strengthen the legal bases and statutes of the National societies.
