The Red Cross and the Red Crescent

The International Red Cross and the Red Crescent Movement consists of three types of independent institutions: the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) (I), the National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (II), and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) (III).

The three components of the Movement meet every four years, together with representatives of all the States Parties to the Geneva Conventions, at the International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (IV). The aim is to discuss and find agreement on issues related to the implementation, challenges, and advancement of international humanitarian law (IHL) and humanitarian action. However, it is interesting to note that during the 2019 meeting of the International conference, States opposed the creation of a new international mechanism to enhance compliance with IHL.

The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is organized according to its Statute, adopted by the Twenty-fifth International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent held in Geneva in 1986. Within the Movement, each institution is autonomous, with independent administrative bodies and separate statutes and mandate. The Statutes of the ICRC are annexed to the Geneva Conventions, making the ICRC the only full force mandated body under international law, in situation of armed conflict.

The relationship between the specific status of the ICRC as a neutral actor in situations of armed conflict and the role of national societies as auxiliaries of the State and the role of the Federation is a constant challenge for the International Movement. Specific rules define the division of roles and functions according to these different mandates and fields of activity, as well as the conditions for using the distinctive international emblem or protective emblem of the red cross, red crescent, or red crystal.

The Red Cross Movement’s humanitarian action rests on seven fundamentals principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality. They are codified and incorporated into the Movement’s Statute since 1965 and were further clarified in 1986. The four principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence are international norms endorsed by the United Nations. They define and frame all humanitarian action beyond the ones of the Movement. The principle of neutrality in humanitarian action has been criticized in situations of mass crimes in various historical contexts. This criticism has led to an evolution in Red Cross doctrine, allowing for a new interpretation of neutrality.

➔ Humanitarian principles, Distinctive (or Protective) Emblems, Signs or Signals

I. The international committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)

After witnessing a battle in Solferino, Italy, in 1859, Henry Dunant wrote A Memory of Solferino, published in 1863. That year, Dunant created the International Committee for Relief to the Wounded, with four other members. In 1876, it was renamed the International Committee of the Red Cross. The functioning of this first structure still inspires the current committee. The Red Cross Movement has succeeded in combining private initiative in humanitarian relief with the indispensable support of governments.

The ICRC still operates on the basis of the original structure. The Movement succeeded in linking private initiatives, in terms of relief and humanity, with the necessary support of States.

Legally, the ICRC is a Swiss association. Its mandate was conferred on it by the States parties to the Geneva Conventions for the implementation of IHL. Its Statute is annexed to those Conventions. The supreme policy-making body of the ICRC is the Assembly, which consists of fifteen to twenty-five members, co-opted from among Swiss citizens. The Assembly sets the principles and general policy of the ICRC and supervises all ICRC activities.

Approximately 82 percent of the regular budget is covered by voluntary donations from governments. The extraordinary budget (for emergencies) is financed by States, National Societies, and private donations resulting from calls for funds for specific programs. It is thus a hybrid institution and unique in that it affirms its independence by establishing firm links with States. Furthermore, it benefits from means of operation that no other private organization enjoys, such as its seat as Observer at the UN, since 1990, and an international radio station frequency allotted by the International Telecommunication Union.

The ICRC has received the Nobel Peace Prize four times: through Henry Dunant, in 1901, and in 1917, 1944, and 1963. Mirjana Spoljaric Egger has been President of the ICRC since October 1, 2022, and is the first woman to hold this position.

The ICRC intervenes in all situations of armed conflict to ensure the relief and protection to war victims (Art. 4(1)(d) of ICRC Statute).

The ICRC was the driving factor in the drafting of IHL. It has retained a privileged relationship with governments since adopting the Statute of the Committee and the Conventions governing the rules applicable in situations of armed conflict. States have formally recognized it as a neutral and impartial actor and entrusted it with protecting the rights of civilian and military victims of conflict. The ICRC can therefore intervene in all situations of armed conflict to ensure protection and assistance for victims of war.

In all its interventions, it guarantees to States and individuals the respect of the confidentiality of what it witnesses. It also has a protected international emblem.

1. Exclusive Mandate

The Geneva Conventions and the ICRC Statute give the organization an exclusive mandate for certain interventions.

a. Visiting Places of Internment and Detention

ICRC delegates have “permission to go to all places where protected persons are, particularly to places of internment, detention and work. They shall have access to all premises occupied by protected persons and shall be able to interview them without witnesses” (GCIV Art. 143). The same applies for visiting prisoners of war (GCIII Art. 126).

➔ Detention; Prisoners of war

b. Monitoring the Implementation of Conventions

The ICRC has the mandate to receive any complaints based on alleged breaches of IHL applicable in armed conflicts (Art. 4(1)(c) of ICRC Statute).

In addition, it promotes the development and dissemination of IHL. In this capacity, it publishes commentaries on the Conventions and their Protocols, as well as other reference texts concerning IHL, in order to ensure the interpretation of IHL rules in good faith. It also identifies the need for new developments in IHL and proposes them to States, which remain the sole codifiers in this field. It defends respect for the general principles of this law. In cases where the texts are unclear, its role is not necessarily to defend an interpretation favorable to victims, but rather an interpretation consistent with the spirit and intention of state legislators as expressed in the adoption of these texts and in customary practice. 

c. Restoring Family Links: Searching for Missing Persons, Exchanging Correspondence

Families have a right to know the fate of their relatives. The Geneva Conventions therefore provide for a system through which information is received and transmitted to dispersed families. The ICRC arranges for this exchange of correspondence and traces individuals who have disappeared. This is carried out under a strict guarantee of confidentiality of information (e.g., other than that the detention visits are carried out with the knowledge of the detaining power), since it is crucial to prevent those who are threatening the protected persons from carrying out reprisals or other exaction against them (GCIV Arts. 136–141). Such activities are carried out by a separate entity: the Central Tracing Agency (CTA).

➔ Central Tracing Agency

2. De Facto Exclusive “Humanitarian” Mandate

The Geneva Conventions provide that any impartial humanitarian organization may act as a substitute protecting power for victims of conflict. The mechanism of state protecting powers is expressly provided for in the Geneva Conventions, but it rarely functions in its state form. In practice, however, only the ICRC has the diplomatic and effective capacity to assume this role of substitute for the protecting powers between the parties to a conflict. It therefore frequently participates in negotiations, for example for the release of prisoners of war.

➔ Protecting powers

3. General Humanitarian Mandate

IHL clearly recognizes the right of the ICRC and any other impartial humanitarian body to undertake relief and protection operations, in conformity with the applicable conventions. This right is established in particular in the articles concerning the right of humanitarian initiative (GCI–III Art. 9, GCIV Art. 10, API Art. 8(1), and Art. 4(2) of ICRC Statute). It is reinforced by certain specific provisions, for instance concerning the sick and wounded (GCI–IV Common Art. 3(2)), protected persons (GCIV Art. 30), and relief for populations (GCIV Art. 59).

II. The national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies

These Societies are mentioned several times in the Geneva Conventions. They are responsible for promoting and disseminating the principles of IHL and the ideals of the Movement, and for organizing relief operations, even in times of peace. Except for Israel national society (called Magen David Adom in Israel), which use its own symbol the red shield of David all other national societies use either the red cross or the red crescent as distinctive emblem.

They are established in the territory of States parties to the Geneva Conventions and serve as medical auxiliaries to the authorities. There can be only one national society per State. In times of peace, the National Societies make up a civilian health network (particularly in times of natural disasters, but also while carrying out activities such as first aid or IHL training, blood banks, etc.). In situations of armed conflict, they serve as auxiliaries to the military medical services. Hence, their personnel are subject to military laws and regulations (Art. 2 of a standard statute of a National Society; GCI Art. 26). However, it should be noted that in situation of non-international armed conflict, a non-state party to the conflict cannot get similar recognition for organs they have established.

Although the National Societies have the function of medical auxiliaries to government authorities in general, their aim is to retain sufficient independence of action from their own government to ensure that they always respect the seven fundamental principles of the Movement, listed below. There are 191 national societies recognized by the ICRC in 2025, in accordance with GCI article 26(2) and 5(2)(b) of the Statute of the Movement since they were found to meet the criteria for recognition stated at article 4 of the Statute. Moreover, it should be stressed that a State recognizing a National Society must be party to the 1949 GCs and that regarding the question of statehood, the ICRC largely relies on the decision of the Swiss Federal Council, the depository of the Geneva Conventions. In that regard, the North Cyprus Red Crescent Society, the Kurdish Red Crescent, the Sahrawi Red Crescent Society and the Red Cross Society of the Republic of China (also referred to as the Taiwan Red Cross) have been unable to be recognized as Nations Societies due to political realities.

III. The international federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent societies (formerly the league of Red Cross and Red Crescent societies) and related bodies

The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent societies (often referred to as the Federation) is the umbrella organization of the National Societies (Art. 6 of Statute of the Movement). It promotes the establishment and assists the activities of National Societies in each country. It also has the function of permanent body of liaison, coordination, and study between the National Societies, to which it should give any assistance they might request (Art. 6(4)(a) of Statute of the Movement).

The IFRC coordinates the projects of National Societies and provides them with operational support, such as financing expertise (Art. 5(1)(a) of Statute of the Movement). It coordinates emergency activities (e.g., in cases of earthquakes or epidemics) in which several Societies participate. The IFRC may also directly carry out certain relief projects for victims of natural disasters (Art. 5(1)(c) of Statute of the Movement).

Despite the unity and universality principles, some regional or linguistic grouping of national societies co-exists within the IFRC. However, those regional or linguistic grouping have no statutory authority within the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

The Arab Red Crescent and Red Cross National Societies (ARCO) was created in 1975 during the 7th regional Conference of the Arab red Crescent and Red Cross societies as a forum to a distinct culture and language. The ARCO, whose permanent headquarter is in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) is made up of societies spread between the geographical zones of Africa and Asia-Pacific. The ARCO aims to coordinate cooperation between Arab National Societies, to achieve the mission of the Red Crescent and Red Cross according to fundamental principles of the International Movement. It differs from other regional organizations, such as the regional Association of French, Spanish and Portuguese speaking African Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (ACROFA) in Africa or the Regional Inter-American Red Cross Committee (CORI) in Latin America, which are built on the criterion of regional membership.

The Islamic Committee of the International Crescent (ICIC) was established in 1977 by the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) but has only been officially active since 2006, when the necessary number of OIC members finally ratified the founding text. The ICIC, headquartered in Benghazi, Libya, is the humanitarian arm of the OIC and should only be made up of states.

The ICIC is not member of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. However, the resemblance of its name and its objectives (“to alleviate the suffering caused by natural disasters and wars”) and the fact that some Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies have joined the ranks of the ICIC may create some confusion with the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and the work of the ICRC.

Instead of committing to the fundamental principle of Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement fundamental, the ICIC is an organization affiliated to a political body (the OIC) and refers to Justice and religious principles drawn from the Quran and Islamic Law.

IV. International conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement

As per article 1(3) of the Statute of the Movement, the International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement serves as a deliberative and legislative body. Held every four years, the International Conference is a unique opportunity for debate between all States party to the Geneva Conventions and the various organizations of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The objective is to identify challenges relating to humanitarian action and law in general, as well as areas and opportunities for improvement, implementation, development, and advancement of IHL in situations of armed conflict.

In 2019, during the XXXIII International Conference, States have opposed a new international mechanism to enhance compliance with IHL, co-sponsored by the Swiss government and the ICRC. They have however adopted eight other resolutions by consensus.