Armed Forces and Non-State Armed Groups Delegate

In 1863, Swiss businessman Henry Dunant witnessed the horrific aftermath of the Battle of Solferino in northern Italy, where 40,000 dead and wounded soldiers lay abandoned on the battlefield. Moved by this tragedy, Dunant mobilized local villagers to care for the wounded regardless of their nationality - and an idea was born. He proposed creating relief committees in peacetime that could train volunteers to treat the wounded in times of war. This vision led to the founding of the International Committee of the Red Cross, an organization that would become the guardian of international humanitarian law and a beacon of hope in humanity's darkest moments.

Today, the ICRC stands as the world's leading humanitarian organization operating in conflict zones, with over 18,000 staff working in more than 90 countries. Guided by the Fundamental Principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence, the organization provides protection and assistance to people affected by armed conflict and violence. From running field hospitals in war zones to reconnecting families separated by conflict, visiting detainees to ensuring clean water reaches communities cut off by fighting, the ICRC's work embodies the simple but powerful conviction that even in war, there are limits. The red cross, red crescent, and red crystal emblems serve as symbols of protection, allowing humanitarian workers to reach those who need help most, when others cannot.