International Committee of the Red Cross

Origin Correct Answer: - Henry Dunant - 1849 - Crimea War - Horses treated better than injured soldiers Function Correct Answer: - ICRC is a neutral, impartial and independent humanitarian organization - Mandate is to protect and assist the victims of armed conflict Unique Status Correct Answer: - Right to intervene in conflicts under international law - Able to promote liberal interpretations, pushes certain values and norms - Active in Geneva Convention (1947) ICRC Today Correct Answer: - Different national societies - Independent and different states - International organization but it does not have member states; is a private limited corporation - Board composed of Swiss nationals Three Parts: Correct Answer: (1) ICRC (2) The National Red Cross Societies (3) League of Red Cross Societies Humanitarian Principles Correct Answer: - Humanity - Neutrality: will not pick sides, will help anyone - Impartiality: will not cast judgement Problems of universal standards of humanity Correct Answer: - During Gulf War 1991: Highway of Death - Chechnya: Russia bombing full blocks of apartments to prevent people from joining rebels Problem of neutrality Correct Answer: - Holocaust: ICRC would not speak out against it - Nazis on the run: ICRC complicit in letting many German Nazi leaders escape - ICRC and Greece: during dictatorship in '60s and '70s, Greece used a report that the ICRC produced to say that they were cooperating and had no political prisoners (ICRC used and abused) - ICRC in Iraq: bombed by insurgents because invited in by US; seen by Iraqis that ICRC was a US pawn in their country - Swiss influence: Swiss government provide 2/3 of regular income and the government and ICRC collaborate closely in developing international la