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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[6] 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
1980 1981 1982 1983 1984[5] 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989
1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975[4] 1976 1977 1978 1979
1960 1961 1962 1963[3] 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[2] 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[1] 1864 1865 1866 1867 1868 1869

Conference Documents

International Conference and Council of Delegates
Intermediate Council of Delegates

2020 2021 2022
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
1990 1991 1992 1993[6] 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
1980 1981 1982 1983 1984[5] 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989
1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975[4] 1976 1977 1978 1979
1960 1961 1962 1963[3] 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

 

Note: the documents of the sessions prior to 1921 are part of our heritage collection and not yet digitized. Please get in touch with the Library team (library@icrc.org) for any related questions.

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.

[1] 1863: Conference organized by the ‘Geneva Committee’ (future ICRC) in order to disseminate Henry Dunant’s ideas. Representatives of 16 States adopted a draft convention, which became the basis for the first Geneva Convention (1864). Prompted the creation of the first National Societies and laid down the foundations for their action. Although it is at the origin of the Movement, the International Conference of 1863 was not an International Conference of the Red Cross (the first of which was held in Paris in 1867). Not numbered. Held in Geneva (26-29 October 1963).

[2] 1926: Special international conference as set in the 1925 12th International Conference’s resolutions 1 and 2. The 1925 Conference set up a commission to study the prerogatives of the ICRC and the League of Red Cross Societies within the International Red Cross (now referred to as the Movement) and produce a report on their findings. The Special International Conference of 1926 was held to examine this report and discuss a potential reorganization of the Movement. The British Red Cross, opposed to the project, did not attend the Special Conference. Not numbered. Held in Bern (16-18 November 1926).

[3] 1963: Centenary Congress of the International Red Cross held in place of the 20th International Conference of the Red Cross, which was postponed to 1965. Representatives of the National Societies only. Held in Geneva (23 August to 10 September 1963).

[4] 1975: First World Red Cross and Red Crescent Conference on Peace to study the role and activities of the Red Cross in the promotion of peace. Held in Belgrade on the invitation of the Red Cross of Yugoslavia (11-13 June 1975). Note: the Council of Delegates met on 24-25 October of the same year in Geneva.

[5] 1984: Second World Red Cross and Red Crescent Conference on Peace. Extraordinary session of the Council of Delegates. Held on Aaland Island and in Stockholm at the invitation of the National Societies of Finland and Sweden (2-7 September 1984).

[6] 1993: International Conference for the Protection of War Victims. Held in Geneva, convened by the Swiss government on the initiative of the ICRC which was appointed special rapporteur. Attended by delegates representing 160 States as well as NGOs representatives (31st of August to the 1st of September 1993). Note: the Council of Delegates met on 29-30 October of the same year in Birmingham.