International Humanitarian Law

On August 12, 1949, the four Geneva Conventions in their current form came into being.  Now adopted by every nation, these laws place basic limits on how war is waged – protecting civilians, wounded and sick combatants, and prisoners of war. They are the cornerstone of international humanitarian law and are forever linked to the Red Cross. 

In fact, our Congressional Charter specifies that the American Red Cross is a "Federally chartered instrumentality of the United States," and charges us with carrying out the "purposes of the Geneva Conventions" dating back to the original in 1864.  As the women and men of the American Red Cross, our duty on behalf of the people and the government of the US is to help ensure that these humanitarian principles are widely understood and respected.

This is the reason we came into existence, and it is our oldest and most cherished mission. Over 150 years ago, the Red Cross and the Geneva Conventions were born when Henry Dunant witnessed the devastating consequences of war at a battlefield in Italy. In the aftermath of that battle, Dunant argued successfully for the creation of a civilian relief corps to respond to human suffering during conflict, and for rules to set limits on how war is waged. He would later win the first Nobel Peace Prize in 1901.

The American Red Cross educates the American public about the principles of international humanitarian law through courses at local chapters across the country. The Red Cross also promotes the Exploring Humanitarian Law curriculum for high schools. Its adaptable resources give high school teachers easy-to-use information to bring alive lessons about human life and dignity.

For More Information

• Learn more about the principles and rules of humanitarian law
• Help to promote humanitarian law in your community
• Send questions to staff at a local Red Cross chapter or directly to the Exploring Humanitarian Law program