Council of delegates

Every two years the ICRC, the International Federation, and the 191 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies meet in the Council of Delegates of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The Council is the forum through which the Movement sets a common strategy and approaches to global humanitarian issues.

Topics may be referred to the Council by National Societies, the International Federation or the ICRC, as well as by the Standing Commission of the Red Cross and Red Crescent or the International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent.

Important decisions of past sessions of the Council have included, for example, the adoption of a Movement strategy on landmines, supporting the implementation of the Ottawa Treaty, and a Movement strategy and implementation plan on Restoring Family Links. The Council also sets – and continuously strengthens – the Movement's framework for operational coordination.

During the 2015 Council of Delegates, several significant resolutions regarding the Movement have been adopted, such as optimizing the Movement's humanitarian response through Strengthening Movement Coordination and Cooperation, the adoption of the Movement logo, and the Adoption of the Strategic Framework on Disability Inclusion.

The follow-up and reporting on these key items, among others, will be discussed in the next Council of Delegates, which will be held in Antalya, Turkey, from 10 to 11 November 2017.

In years of the International Conference (as in 2015), the Council also plays an important role in the preparation of this Conference, including adopting the provisional agenda and proposing the Conference officers.

The biennial meeting of the Council is also the occasion for the Henry Dunant Medal ceremony. This medal is the Movement's highest award recognizing outstanding contributions to humanitarian action."