|
| Red Cross |
 |
Formal Name
International Committee of the Red Cross
Local Name
Red Cross
Local Formal Name
International Committee of the Red Cross
Location:
World
Status:
International Organization
Capital City:
Geneva (Headquarters)
Red Cross [Ratio 2:3]
| The ICRC owes its creation to the Swiss, Henry Dunant. In 1863 an International Conference met in Geneva to try and improve the medical care of soldiers in war. It adopted the red cross on a white field as the emblem of societies working for the relief of wounded soldiers. These were to become the Red Cross and Red Crescent societies. The 1864 Geneva Convention, the first, officially recognized the emblems. | |
Red Crescent [Ratio 2:3]
| In 1876, during the Russo-Turkish war, the Ottoman Empire decided to use a red crescent on white instead of the red cross. Egypt also decided to use the crescent and Persia later decided to use a red lion and sun on white. These new emblems were incorporated into the 1929 Conventions. | |
Red Lion & Sun [Ratio 2:3]
| This flag has not been used since 1980 when the Islamic Republic of Irân decided to use the Red Crescent emblem instead. It is still a protected symbol under the Geneva Conventions and its misuse in combat would be a war crime. | |
Red Chevrons (proposal) [Ratio 2:3]
| The ICRC is currently considering adding a more culturally-neutral symbol to the existing cross and cresent. An initial proposal for a red diamond was not considered suitable and the latest propsal is for two chevrons, one inverted. A cross, crescent, star of David, etc can be placed within the chevrons for some uses. | |
|
