International Committee of the Red Cross

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is an organization with the exclusively humanitarian mission of protecting victims of war and internal violence, as well as assist them. ICRC headquarters are in Switzerland, in the city of Geneva. Since 1947, it has been operating in the building of the old Carlton Hotel; building that was built in 1876 to house the National Institute of Education "La Châtelaine", which was an important boarding school in the 19th century. This same building was also the headquarters of the International Labor Organization from 1920 to 1926.

In situations of armed conflict, he directs and coordinates the international relief efforts of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. He also seeks to prevent suffering by promoting and strengthening universal humanitarian law and principles. The ICRC, a name later received in 1876, was established on February 17, 1863, as the "International and Permanent Committee for Aid to Military Wounded in Wartime".

The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement encompasses all organizations related to the Red Cross and Red Crescent, which are:

• The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
• The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
• National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

ICRC organization

The governing bodies of the ICRC are:

• The Assembly: consisting of fifteen to twenty-five persons recruited by co-optation among Swiss citizens. It is the highest authority of the ICRC and its president is also the ICRC.
• The Assembly Council: composed of five members elected by the Assembly and the President of the ICRC. It acts between the sessions of the Assembly and is responsible for the link between this and the Directive.
• The Directive is the executive body of the ICRC. It is responsible for implementing the decisions of the Assembly and the administration of the ICRC. It consists of the Director-General and three other directors, all appointed by the Assembly.
• The Presidency: composed of the president and the vice president. The president represents the organization at the international level and also deals with internal cohesion. Get the Vice President's help.
• The Internal Audit Unit: internal control body that independently and objectively monitors the development and effectiveness of the organization.

According to the ICRC statutes, all members of the governing bodies must be Swiss citizens.

Founders

The founding members of the ICRC are:

• Gustave Moynier
• Henri Dunant
• Guillaume-Henri Dufour
• Louis Appia
• Théodore Maunoir

Presidents of the ICRC

Founding members of the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Flag of the Red Cross.

The following people have been presidents of the ICRC and of the Assembly:

• Guillaume-Henri Dufour (First President and Honorary President), 17 February 1863- 13 March 1964
• Gustave Moynier, 1864-1910.
• Gustave Ador, 1910-1928.
• Max Huber, 1928-1944
• Carl Burckhardt, 1944-1948.
• Paul Ruegger. 1948-1955.
• Léopold Boissier, 1955-1964.
• Samuel Gonard, 1964-1969.
• Marcel Naville, 1969-1974
• Eric Martin, 1974-1976.
• Alexandre Hay, 1976-1987.
• Cornelio Sommaruga, 1987-1999.
• Jakob Kellenberger, 2000-2012.
• Peter Maurer, 2012-2022
• Mirjana Spoljaric Egger October 1, 2022-presente

Awards and awards

• The International Committee of the Red Cross received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1901, 1917, 1944 and 1963. The one of 1901 was for the creator of the organization the result of his efforts to help the soldiers not suffer after the conflicts. The 1917 award was given mainly by the transport of wounded soldiers to their country of origin through Switzerland. In 1944 the International Committee of the Red Cross received the Nobel Prize for its many humanitarian activities and services to prisoners of war. Finally the last prize received by this organization was that of 1963 in conjunction with the League of Red Cross Societies in recognition of its humanitarian services rendered during the first hundred years of its foundation.

• He also received the Balzan Award in 1996.

• And in 2013, he received the Jaime Brunet International Award for the Promotion of Human Rights.