The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) was founded in Switzerland in 1863. This global humanitarian network, consisting of 191 national societies known as the Red Cross and Red Crescent, is guided by the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and provides protection and assistance for victims of armed conflict and other crises. The ICRC—a three-time recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize—also takes action in response to emergencies such as those resulting from natural disasters, and actively promotes national and international humanitarian law. Its long history began with an obscure 19th-century military engagement and the publication of a book.
Intrigued?
Click through and read more about the origins of the ICRC.