Created in 1863, the Library of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) holds a wide collection of specific IHL documents that can be consulted by the public: preparatory documents, reports, records and minutes of Diplomatic Conferences where the main IHL treaties were adopted; records of Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement conferences, during which many IHL matters are discussed; every issue of the International Review of the Red Cross since it was founded; all ICRC publications; rare documents published in the period between the founding of ICRC and the end of the First World War and charting the influence of Dunant’s ideas; and a unique collection of legislation and case law implementing IHL at domestic level.

The Library also acquires as many external IHL publications as possible, with those produced in English and French being the priority. Each journal article, chapter, book, working paper, report etc. is catalogued separately, making the Library’s online catalogue one of the most exhaustive resources for IHL research.