The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement's mission is to "prevent and alleviate human suffering wherever it may be found, to protect life and health and ensure respect for the human being, in particular in times of armed conflict and other emergencies, to work for the prevention of disease and for the promotion of health and social welfare".

In other words, this implies mobilizing the resources of civil society to come to the assistance of victims of war and to provide humanitarian assistance to vulnerable people worldwide. National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies must maintain close relations with their governments in order to ensure that their humanitarian services are accepted. Hence the dual character of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement: it is an institution born of a private initiative, but which maintains close working relations with governments.

This also explains the role of the International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent. It is the only event that brings together delegations both from all of the Red Cross and Red Crescent institutions (the International Committee of the Red Cross, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and the National Societies) and from States parties to the Geneva Conventions. At the same time it provides a non-political forum for dialogue on issues of common interest.

The International Conference is also a forum for dialogue on implementation of and respect for international humanitarian law; there is no point in adopting humanitarian law treatises if they are not put into practice. Through its resolutions, the Conference has often been able to exert effective pressure in order to restore respect for international humanitarian law and put an end to violations it has denounced.

One of the main points of common interest remains the development of international humanitarian law. Historically, all proposals for the revision of the Geneva Conventions, as well as drafts of new humanitarian treaties, have been submitted to the International Conference, which has endorsed them before forwarding them, with its recommendations, to a diplomatic conference empowered to adopt them.

More generally, the Conference has dealt with a number of issues broader than international humanitarian law, i.e. concerning humanitarian matters in general. From this angle, the International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent can be considered as one of the most important humanitarian forums in the world, and a unifying force for States parties to the Geneva Conventions and the diverse components of the Movement.

The participants

The International Conference is the supreme deliberative body for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. It generally meets every four years.

- Members

The Members of the International Conference participate in its deliberations. They are:

• International Committee of the Red Cross
• International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
• Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies recognized (176 in October 1999)
• States party to the Geneva Conventions (186 in October 1999)
  
Each of these members has one vote.

- Observers

Observers may attend the International Conference but are not entitled to vote. They represent over 60 governmental, non-governmental, regional and international organizations that have working relations with the Movement or that have a specific interest in humanitarian concerns or humanitarian law. National Societies not yet recognized are also invited to be observers.

The proceedings

After an opening ceremony, the International Conference meets in a plenary session to elect its chairman, Vice-Chairmen, Secretary General and two assistants to the Secretary General. Following the plenary session, delegates separate into two Commissions. Each Commission may propose resolutions for the Conference as a whole to adopt. These resolutions determine the States and the Movement's approach to the global humanitarian issues of the day.

Important Conferences of the past

In 1863 the International Committee decided to convene an International Conference in Geneva to consider ways of remedying the inadequacy of medical services of armies in the field. That first International Conference brought together 36 delegates, including representatives of 14 governments, and adopted the "Draft Covenant". Its discussions concentrated on the organization of national committees, the future national red cross and red crescent societies. Ten resolutions and recommendations were adopted and addressed to governments. The Conference marked a milestone in the development of humanitarian law.

In 1867 the 1st International Conference of the Red Cross was held in Paris. It brought together the ICRC, 16 National Societies and representatives of nine European States. Henry Dunant himself spoke at that Conference. It affirmed the Red Cross mission to bring help to wounded members of the armed forces.

In 1869 the 2nd International Conference was held in Berlin. The body created through one resolution led to the creation of the Central Tracing Agency.

In 1912 the 9th International Conference was held in Washington. In a resolution that foreshadowed the forthcoming era, the Conference established the respective wartime responsibilities of the National Societies and the ICRC in providing protection and assistance not only for the wounded and sick but also for prisoners of war.

In 1921 the 10th International Conference was held in Geneva. It gave a mandate to the National Societies and to the ICRC to assist victims of civil war and internal disturbances.

In 1928 the 13th International Conference was held in The Hague. It adopted the "Statutes of the International Red Cross", thus providing the Movement with a structural, operational and legal framework.

In 1938, on the eve of the Second World War, the 14th International Conference was held in London. It requested, in vain, the convening of a Diplomatic Conference to draw up a new Geneva Convention affording better protection to civilian victims of war.

In 1948 the 17th International Conference was held in Stockholm. At this Movement's first meeting in the aftermath of the war, the representatives of 50 governments, 52 National Societies and the then League (today International Federation) endorsed the ICRC's proposals for the revision of the three existing Geneva Conventions and the adoption of a fourth Convention, the last for the protection of civilians in wartime. These four Conventions were adopted by the governments the following year at a Diplomatic Conference in Geneva.

In 1952 the 18th International Conference was held in Toronto. It revised the "Statutes of the International Red Cross".

In 1965 the 20th International Conference was held in Vienna. It solemnly proclaimed the seven "Fundamental Principles of the Red Cross" that guide its work in all circumstances.

In 1969 the 21st International Conference was held in Istanbul. It adopted the "Principles and Rules for Red Cross Disaster Relief". It also gave the ICRC a mandate to begin drafting new instruments to adapt humanitarian law to new forms of armed conflict.

In 1973 the 22nd International Conference was held in Teheran. Two draft protocols additional to the Geneva Conventions were presented by the ICRC. It was the year before the beginning of the 1974-1977 Diplomatic Conference.

In 1977 the 23rd International Conference was held in Bucharest. The two main themes were the reappraisal of the role of the Red Cross, and the Red Cross as a factor of peace. The Conference adopted measures to expedite international relief, which were proposed by the then League in conjunction with the United Nations Disaster Relief Office (UNDRO).

In 1986 the 25th International Conference was held in Geneva. "Humanitarian mobilization", was the main theme of the Conference, in view of the deteriorating socio-political situation in the world. The Conference also adopted the revised "Statutes of the International Red Cross", which thus became the Statutes of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

In 1995 the 26th International Conference was held in Geneva. The 26th Conference focused on practical measures to enhance respect for international humanitarian law with special attention to the needs of the civilian population and the most vulnerable groups such as children and women. The Conference emphasized the increasing role of the Movement in providing protection and assistance to refugees and displaced persons, the adverse impact of economic sanctions on the most vulnerable, and the fundamental principle of maintaining humanitarian action as distinct from political and military action. The Conference also stressed the role of National Societies as auxiliaries to public authorities in the humanitarian field, took note of the revised Principles and Rules for Red Cross and Red Crescent Disaster Relief and the Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and NGOs in Disaster Relief. It adopted a certain number of resolutions, some of them will be treated during the 27th Conference. One should underline the importance of that Conference as it took place nine years after the 25th Conference. The Conference planned in 1991 in Budapest was cancelled, for political reasons, 48 hours before its opening .

Extract from "26th International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent" (updated October 1999)