The Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is founded on the experience of the Genevese Henry Dunant who observed in Solferino one of the 19th century’s bloodiest battles. Haunted by the. terrible sigh of the carnage, he helped the war wounded `with the assistance of the residents.
In 1862, in his moving book “A MEMORY OF SOLFERINO,” he urged the creation of permanent “Voluntary Aid Societies” to succor the victims of wars and conflicts. He also induced the idea of assuring protection to these voluntary aid societies by governments.
In compliance with these ideas, the Red Cross Movement was formally established in Geneva in 1863. Following this, in 1864, the Diplomatic Conference was held and the first Geneva Convention signed, thus laying the basis for modern International Humanitarian Law.
In the light of new circumstances, additional conventions were developed, later codified as the Four Geneva Conventions of 1949. A further Diplomatic Conference convened in Geneva in 1977 adopted the two Additional Protocols which are designed to make the 1949 Conventions more closely applicable to current circumstances.
In line with its basic principles – Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, independence, Voluntary Service, Unity and Universality. The Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement has through the past 125 years been rendering both war and peacetime services. Apart from the areas of its traditional mandates, the Red Cross also contributes its due share to lasting world peace, international friendship and understanding.
Today, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement comprises the International Committee of the Red Cross, the 145 recognized national Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the League of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
The Ethiopian Red Cross Society (ERCS), a family of the Red Cross Movement, was established on the eve of the Fascist Italy’s aggression on July 8, 1935, in accordance with the Red Cross basic principles and the Society’s declared objectives, the ERCS since its inception has been rendering humanitarian services to alleviate human suffering;