International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement Essay Example

Among these, 188 National Societies have been officially recognized by the ICRC and admitted as full members of the Federation.

Each National Society operates within its country by adhering to international humanitarian law and the statutes of the international Movement. Depending on their individual circumstances and capabilities, these National Societies can undertake additional humanitarian duties that are not explicitly outlined by international humanitarian law or the mandates of the international Movement. In numerous countries, they establish robust connections with the national healthcare system by offering emergency medical services.

During the mid-19th century, there were no established army nursing systems or safe institutions for treating battlefield casualties. Jean-Henri Dunant, a Swiss businessman, traveled to Italy in June 1859 to meet Napoleon III. His purpose was to discuss the challenges of conducting business in French-occupied Algeria.

When he arrived in Solferino on June 24th, he witnessed the Battle of Solferino, an engagement in the Austro-Sardinian War. Approximately 40,000 soldiers on both sides perished or were left injured on the battlefield. Jean-Henri Dunant was appalled by the devastating aftermath of the battle, the agony of the injured soldiers, and the glaring absence of medical aid and basic care. He completely shifted his original purpose for visiting and spent several days offering assistance in treating and caring for the wounded.

By motivating the local villagers without any discrimination, he successfully coordinated a significant amount of aid. Upon his return to Geneva, he chose to author a self-published book entitled A Memory of Solferino in 1862. He distributed copies of the book to influential political and military figures throughout Europe. In addition to recounting his experiences in Solferino

in 1859, he openly advocated for the establishment of national-level voluntary relief organizations to support injured soldiers during wartime.

In addition, there was a call for international agreements to protect neutral medical personnel and field hospitals caring for injured soldiers in times of war. In 1863, Gustave Moynier, a lawyer from Geneva and president of the Geneva Society for Public Welfare, received Dunant's book. He shared it at a society meeting, which sparked further discussions and the creation of a commission to evaluate the feasibility of Dunant's suggestions. The main goal of this commission was to organize an international conference to investigate the possible adoption of these concepts.

The "Committee of the Five," composed of Dunant, Moynier, Appia, Maunoir, and Dufour, was established. In addition to Dunant and Moynier, the committee included Louis Appia, a physician with extensive experience as a field surgeon. Theodore Maunoir, from the Geneva Hygiene and Health Commission, was a friend and colleague of Appia. Guillaume-Henri Dufour, a highly esteemed Swiss Army general, also joined the committee. After eight days, these five individuals decided to rename the committee as the "International Committee for Relief to the Wounded".

The committee arranged a conference in Geneva from October 26-29, 1863. The purpose of the conference was to explore methods for improving medical services during times of war. There were a total of 36 participants at the conference, consisting of 18 official delegates from national governments, 6 delegates from non-governmental organizations, 7 foreign delegates representing unofficial bodies, and the 5 members of the International Committee. The official delegates hailed from different states and kingdoms.

The text mentions several countries that

were present at the conference, including Austria, Baden, Bavaria, France, Hanover, Electorate of Hesse, Italy, The Netherlands, Prussia, the Russian Empire Saxony, Spain, Sweden-Norway, and the United Kingdom. On October 29th 1863,the conference adopted final resolutions which included proposals such as establishing national relief societies for injured soldiers. It also proposed implementing neutrality and protection for wounded soldiers and utilizing volunteer forces to assist on the battlefield. Additionally,it suggested organizing future conferences to create legally binding international treaties based on these ideas and introducing a universal identifying symbol for medical personnel in the field - a white armlet with a red cross.

The Swiss government organized a diplomatic conference, inviting the governments of all European countries, as well as the United States, Brazil, and Mexico. Sixteen countries sent twenty-six delegates to Geneva for this event. On August 22, 1864, the conference unanimously adopted the first Geneva Convention "for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded in Armies in the Field". The convention was signed by twelve states and kingdoms: Baden, Belgium, Denmark, France, Hesse, Italy,the Netherlands, Portugal, Prussia,S witzerland (the hosting country), Spain,and Wurttemberg.

The convention included ten articles that established legally binding rules to ensure neutrality and protection for wounded soldiers, field medical personnel, and specific humanitarian institutions during armed conflicts. Additionally, the convention outlined two criteria for the International Committee to recognize a national relief society: first, the society must be recognized by its own national government as a relief society according to the convention, and second, the respective country's government must be a state party to the Geneva Convention.

Following the establishment of the Geneva Convention, national societies were formed

in Belgium, Denmark, France, Oldenburg, Prussia, Spain, and Wurttemberg. In 1864, Dutch Army captain Louis Appia and Charles van de Velde became the initial independent and neutral representatives to operate under the Red Cross emblem during armed conflict. Subsequently, in 1867, the first International Conference of National Aid Societies for the Nursing of the War Wounded was arranged.

In 1867, Jean-Henri Dunant faced bankruptcy as a result of business failures in Algeria. His tireless activities for the International Committee had caused him to neglect his business interests, contributing to his financial troubles. These difficulties, along with controversies surrounding Dunant's business dealings and a continuing conflict with Gustave Moynier, resulted in his expulsion from his position and a warrant for his arrest on charges of fraudulent bankruptcy. Consequently, Dunant was compelled to leave Geneva and was unable to return to his hometown.

The Red Cross gained global recognition with the establishment of national societies in nearly all European countries. In 1876, the committee became officially known as the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Five years later, Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross. As more nations ratified and adhered to the Geneva Convention during times of war, the Red Cross earned significant international esteem. The volunteer opportunities offered by national societies also grew in popularity.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the first Nobel Peace Prize in 1901 to Jean-Henri Dunant and Frederic Passy, an influential pacifist. Alongside the prestigious prize, the International Committee of the Red Cross officially congratulated Dunant, signifying his long-awaited rehabilitation and honoring his critical contribution to the establishment of the Red Cross. Dunant passed away in Heiden,

a Swiss health resort, nine years later.

Just two months ago, Gustave Moynier, the longest-serving president of the Committee and a long-standing adversary, passed away. The 1864 Geneva Convention underwent its first revision in 1906. As a result of this revision, Hague Convention X was adopted at the Second International Peace Conference in The Hague to broaden the scope of the Geneva Convention by including naval warfare. By 1914, which marked the onset of World War I, it had been 50 years since the ICRC's establishment and initial adoption of the Geneva Convention. Consequently, there were now 45 national relief societies worldwide.

The movement has spread to various regions, including Central and South America (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Cuba, Mexico, Peru, El Salvador, Uruguay, Venezuela), Asia (the Republic of China, Japan,
Korea,
Siam), and Africa (Union of South Africa). The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) was established in 1919 when representatives from the national Red Cross societies of Britain,
France,
Italy,
Japan,
and the US met in Paris. This organization was initially proposed by Henry Davison,
who at that time
was serving as the president of the American Red Cross.

The American Red Cross played a significant role in expanding the international activities of the Red Cross movement by providing relief aid for non-war emergencies, both man-made and natural calamities. Due to its extensive experience in disaster relief, the American Red Cross was well-prepared to take on this new responsibility. However, controversy arose with the establishment of an additional international Red Cross organization called the League. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) expressed concerns about potential competition from the League and viewed it as

an attempt to undermine their leadership position within the movement while gradually transferring their responsibilities to a multilateral institution.

Furthermore, all the original members of the League were national societies from countries affiliated with the Entente or its associated partners. The initial statutes of the League, established in May 1919, also included additional regulations that provided the five founding societies with a privileged position. Thanks to the efforts of Henry P. Davison, these regulations gave them the right to permanently exclude the national Red Cross societies from countries belonging to the Central Powers: Germany, Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Turkey. Additionally, Russia's national Red Cross society was also excluded. These rules contradicted the Red Cross's principles of universality and equality among all national societies, which raised concerns for the ICRC. The League's first relief assistance mission was organized to aid victims of a famine and subsequent typhus outbreak in Poland.

In just five years since its establishment, the League has already made 47 donation appeals for missions in 34 countries. This serves as a remarkable indication of the necessity for such Red Cross efforts. The total funds raised through these appeals amounted to 685 million Swiss Francs. These funds were utilized to provide immediate support to those affected by famines in Russia, Germany, and Albania, as well as earthquakes in Chile, Persia, Japan, Colombia, Ecuador, Costa Rica, and Turkey. Additionally, they aided in assisting refugee flows in Greece and Turkey.

The League's first major disaster mission occurred after the 1923 earthquake in Japan, resulting in the deaths of approximately 200,000 individuals and leaving numerous others injured and homeless. Through the League's coordination,

sister Red Cross societies worldwide contributed goods worth around $100 million to aid the Red Cross society of Japan. Additionally, the League played a key role in establishing youth Red Cross organizations within national societies.

During the Russian Civil War from 1917 to 1922, both the ICRC and the League were involved in an internal conflict, although they lacked a specific mandate from the Geneva Conventions at that time. The League organized assistance missions and distributed food and aid goods to civil populations suffering from hunger and disease, with support from over 25 national societies. Meanwhile, the ICRC maintained its neutrality while closely collaborating with the Russian Red Cross society and later with the society of the Soviet Union. In 1928, coordination between the ICRC and the League was established through the "International Council," which later transferred this responsibility to the "Standing Commission." That same year, a common statute for both organizations was introduced to define their roles within the movement. During the Abyssinian war between Ethiopia and Italy from 1935 to 1936, The League provided aid supplies worth approximately 1.7 million Swiss Francs.

Exclusively Ethiopia received the goods due to the refusal of cooperation by the Italian fascist regime led by Benito Mussolini with the Red Cross. About 29 individuals lost their lives during the war, mainly as a result of attacks from the Italian Army, despite being under explicit protection of the Red Cross symbol. The League once again collaborated with ICRC during Spain's Civil War between 1936 and 1939, receiving support from 41 national societies. In anticipation of World War II in 1939, the League relocated its headquarters from Paris

to Geneva, taking advantage of Switzerland's neutrality.