About the Movement

After almost 140 years the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement continues to unite millions of men, women and children all around the world. To date 189 countries have ratified the Geneva Conventions (the only one not to sign is the island country of Nauru which constitutionally denies war as a means of resolving conflict).

Under the terms of the Geneva Conventions, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) undertakes the role of neutral intermediary in times of armed conflict, providing protection and assistance to victims, visiting detainees, providing medical care to the sick and wounded, and tracing and reuniting separated families.

In 2001, the ICRC maintained a permanent presence in 69 countries and conducted humanitarian operations in up to 80 countries.

In times of peace, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies supports the development of humanitarian activities by National Societies. This ranges from emergency relief after natural disaster; the development of new social welfare initiatives; caring for refugees or simply the provision of comfort for the vulnerable of any society.

In 2001, the Federation deployed 337 delegates. It assisted 36.4 million beneficiaries in over 150 countries, providing support to victims of floods, drought, earthquakes and displacement. With nearly 300,000 staff and around 97 million volunteers, the Movement is the worlds largest humanitarian body.

NOBEL PRICE FOR PEACE
The humanitarian work of the Red Cross has been recognised four times by the prestigious Nobel Foundation in Norway. The Movements founder, Henry Dunant, was the recipient of the first ever Nobel Prize for Peace in 1901.

The International Committee of the Red Cross has been awarded the Prize twice in 1917 and 1944. In 1963 the ICRC and Federation were joint recipients.