Founding and early years of the ICRC (1863-1914)
The Red Cross came into being at the initiative of a man named Henry Dunant, who helped wounded soldiers at the battle of Solferino in 1859 and then lobbied political leaders to take more action to …
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1945-1965: two decades of challenges
At the end of the Second World War, the ICRC finds itself in an ambivalent position. Its humanitarian work during the conflict – in particular in aid of prisoners of war – has been widely commended. …
Issues raised regarding the Rome Statute of the ICC by national Constitutional Courts, Supreme Courts and Councils of State
This document contains a summary of the most important issues of constitutionality raised by different national judicial and quasi-judicial bodies with regard to the ratification of the Statute for …
Prison visits in Uruguay: memories of an ICRC delegate
Hernán Reyes has been an ICRC doctor for 26 years. During this time, he has visited hundreds of prisons across five different continents. In 1984, during the period of military rule in Uruguay, he …
Movement policy on internal displacement
The Movement has long been active in addressing the needs of individuals and communities affected by internal displacement. The Movement Policy on Internal Displacement, adopted by the Council of …
Migration policy - Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
In 2007, the 16th General Assembly of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies requested the Governing Board to establish a Reference Group on Migration to provide …
A Memory of Solferino
This is the book that prompted the creation of what is now a worldwide movement with millions of members and made the name of Henry Dunant known everywhere. The account has moved many people and …
ICRC and ICC: Two separate but complementary approaches to ensuring respect for international humanitarian law
As the guardian of international humanitarian law (IHL), the ICRC supports efforts to end impunity for international crimes and is keenly interested in the establishment and jurisprudence of …
Guiding Principles / Model Law on the Missing
Document suggesting model legislative provisions to be used by States as guidance in the drafting of legislation on the protection of missing persons and on the prevention of this situation. ADVISORY …
Direct participation in hostilities: Questions & answers
The ICRC recently published an interpretative guidance clarifying what international humanitarian law says concerning civilians directly participating in hostilities. The aim is to help distinguish …
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ICRC library
Created in 1863, the ICRC library, alongside the ICRC archives, provides an indispensable documentary reference on the organization itself and international humanitarian law.
IHL treaties
International humanitarian law is based on a number of treaties, in particular the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their Additional Protocols, and a series of other instruments.
Customary IHL
Customary international humanitarian law consists of rules that come from "a general practice accepted as law" and that exist independent of treaty law.