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The International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent and the Council of Delegates are the main statutory meetings of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. They are unique platforms allowing the members of the world’s largest humanitarian network to discuss humanitarian issues and adopt the resolutions that guide their action. They also play a leading role in the development, dissemination and implementation of international humanitarian law, which regulates the conduct of hostilities and protects victims of armed conflict.
This research guide is conceived as an entry point into the newly digitized documentation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Statutory Meetings. Simply select a year in the tables below to consult the available documents.
Conference Proceedings
International Conference and Council of Delegates
Intermediate Council of Delegates
2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 |
2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 |
1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 |
1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 |
1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 |
1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 |
1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | 1947 | 1948 | 1949 |
1930 | 1931 | 1932 | 1933 | 1934 | 1935 | 1936 | 1937 | 1938 | 1939 |
1920 | 1921 | 1922 | 1923 | 1924 | 1925 | 1926 | 1927 | 1928 | 1929 |
1910 | 1911 | 1912 | 1913 | 1914 | 1915 | 1916 | 1917 | 1918 | 1919 |
1900 | 1901 | 1902 | 1903 | 1904 | 1905 | 1906 | 1907 | 1908 | 1909 |
1890 | 1891 | 1892 | 1893 | 1894 | 1895 | 1896 | 1897 | 1898 | 1899 |
1880 | 1881 | 1882 | 1883 | 1884 | 1885 | 1886 | 1887 | 1888 | 1889 |
1870 | 1871 | 1872 | 1873 | 1874 | 1875 | 1876 | 1877 | 1878 | 1879 |
1863 | 1864 | 1865 | 1866 | 1867 | 1868 | 1869 |
Conference Documents*
International Conference and Council of Delegates
Intermediate Council of Delegate
1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 |
1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 |
1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 |
1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 |
1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | 1947 | 1948 | 1949 |
1930 | 1931 | 1932 | 1933 | 1934 | 1935 | 1936 | 1937 | 1938 | 1939 |
1920 | 1921 | 1922 | 1923 | 1924 | 1925 | 1926 | 1927 | 1928 | 1929 |
*The documentation of the later conferences will be added in 2020, as the newly digitized documents are processed and included in the ICRC Library’s catalogue. In the meantime, please get in touch with the Library team (library@icrc.org) for any research or documentation request related to the RCRC Statutory Meetings.
The Statutory Meetings of the Movement
The International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent
The International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (IC) is the world’s leading humanitarian forum. Every four years, delegates from the Movement’s different components – the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the 192 National Societies – meet together with the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Conventions. The IC is a non-political conference dedicated to humanitarian action and law, following the Movement’s guiding principles. It was held for the first time in Paris in 1867. Its 33rd edition took place in Geneva from December 9-12, 2019.
The Council of Delegates
Every two years, all components of the Movement — the ICRC, the Federation and the National Societies — meet for the Council of Delegates (CoD). The CoD was held for the 1st time in 1884 during the 3rd International Conference. Since 1961, it also takes place in between two Conferences. The CoD allows members of the Movement to meet and discuss issues related to its internal organization, to align their policies, and develop common strategies. When it takes place before an International Conference, the Council of Delegates has the task of adopting its provisional agenda and proposing its officers.
Highlights from the ICRC audiovisual archives
Check out our selection of films, photographs and sound recordings from past statutory meetings
Further Readings: Selected Bibliography
Handbook of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, 14th ed., Geneva: ICRC: Federation, 2008.
François Bugnion, “The International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent: Challenges, Key Issues and Achievements”, International Review of the Red Cross, Vol. 91, no. 876, December 2009, p. 675-712.
Hans Haug et al., Humanity for all: the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, Geneva: Henry Dunant Institute ; Bern, Stuttgart, Vienna : P. Haupt, 1993.
International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum, The Humanitarian Endeavour: from Solferino (1859) to Sarajevo (1995) , Genève : MICR; 1995.
Michael Meyer, “The importance of the International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent to National Societies: fundamental in theory and practice”, International Review of the Red Cross, Vol. 91, no. 876, December 2009, p. 713-732.
Thank you for this fantastic work!
Compliments to all involved. Very well done!