🌍 Countdown to the 34th International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent #RCRC24!
As we gather tomorrow to begin our 34th International Conference, let’s take a moment to reflect on the enduring legacy of this extraordinary event, a platform that has shaped the course of humanitarian action since 1867 when the first conference was held.
✅17th International Conference in Stockholm met after the horrifying events of the Second World War and agreed on the imperial necessity to develop legal protection of victims of war, civilians in particular. The Geneva Conventions were adopted on August 12, 1949.
✅20th International Conference in Vienna saw the adoption of the seven fundamental principles. They served as an expression of the values and ideals around which the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is united and how humanitarian assistance is delivered.
✅In 1969, twenty years after the adoption of the four Geneva Conventions, the 21st International Conference mandated the ICRC to reflect on the development of International Humanitarian Law #IHL
✅In 2004, the International Conference approved disaster laws which provide guidance for governments and humanitarian actors on everything from emergency permissions to logistical access, ensuring that life-saving aid reaches those in need swiftly and without unnecessary barriers.
✅In 2005, the 3rd additional protocol to the Geneva Convention ratified the creation of a new emblem, red crystal, which would enjoy the same international status as those of the Red Cross and Red Crescent.
✅In 2019, the 33rd International Conference adopted a resolution on pandemic preparedness—a decision that, in hindsight, was remarkably prescient. Just two months before #COVID-19 would emerge and change the world, governments and humanitarian organizations came together to acknowledge the growing threat of pandemics and the need for collective action to address it.
✅In a landmark step for the humanitarian sector, in 2019 the International Conference adopted a comprehensive resolution on #mentalhealth, marking a global commitment to address the often-overlooked psychological needs of those affected by disasters, conflicts and other crises.
From establishing the Geneva Conventions to driving innovation in disaster response, health care, and human rights, each milestone in the history of the International Conference has fortified our commitment to protect and assist those in need.
Here’s to another impactful Conference—one that will further strengthen our mission, guided by the spirit of solidarity and humanity.
