On 17 January 1996, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) opened its general archives to the public, marking a turning point in the possibility of analysing the history of the ICRC, humanitarian action, and armed conflicts[1]. Since then, the ICRC archives and library have welcomed thousands of researchers, students or journalists, and answered dozens of thousands of requests.
The funds and collections held in our archives and library are more than a repository of documents. They constitute a collective memory of humanitarian action and the protection of human dignity in times of armed conflict. Through their collection of reliable evidence of ICRC’s activities and decisions, the archives play a crucial role in preserving the ICRC’s institutional memory and enabling transparency, accountability, and research. They provide essential insights into how humanitarian action has been carried out across different conflicts and historical periods, highlight the development and significance of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) over times, and help families searching for information about relatives affected by war — sometimes decades after the events themselves[2].
In this sense, our collections are not only historical. They also have a strong humanitarian value.
Thirty years on, the ICRC’s archives and library are entering a new era by embarking on an ambitious digitization project that will facilitate access to our funds and collections and enable a truly global reach for our unique archival materials, documenting more than 160 years of humanitarian history.
The possibilities of accessing archival information in a digital age
For much of its history, the ICRC has produced and preserved information on paper, accessible onsite at its headquarters in Geneva. This significantly limits the possibilities for researchers to consult our archives. Another constraint at present relates to the significant number of requests we receive for information about prisoners of war and detainees throughout the 20th Century. Processing these requests is time-consuming, as our archivists must sift through millions of files stored across different locations in Geneva, in multiple formats – paper, microfiches, and microfilms. The index cards from the Second World War alone amount to over 36 million documents. To manage this effort, a quota system was introduced. However, such a system is unsustainable in the long run. These various limits and constraints can lead to frustration among our users.
While physical records remain invaluable, the past decades have seen a profound shift in information and communication technologies. It transformed users’ expectations, shifting from local, physical access to a demand for universal, digital availability of archival information[3].
In response, the ICRC has made available more and more resources online over the past years[4]. With this new project to digitize our extensive paper and microforms archives, more and more collections will be made available online.
Providing online access to millions of archival records, however, requires careful consideration of ethical responsibilities, data protection, and respect for the individuals whose lives are documented in our public archives.
Digital transformation – An institutional priority
In addition to digitizing archival records, we also invest in our long-term digital preservation capabilities. Together, they are essential to ensuring sustainable worldwide access to records, protecting sensitive information, and maintaining the ICRC’s commitment to accountability and transparency.
This has been recognized as a key element of ICRC’s digital transformation and is reflected in its institutional strategy 2024-2027, in point 7.4[5].
As such, the ICRC established the Safeguarding Archives Programme. The program addresses three objectives. First, organizing digital records and enabling the ICRC to archive and preserve digitally born information. Second, ensure the preservation and wide access of paper archives through digitization. Third, preparing the release of the next series of classified archives (1976-1985) in 2035.
Launching a major digitization effort in 2026
In the years to come, dozens of millions of records from our general public archives, tracing archives, and library collections will be digitized and ultimately available online on a future unified platform that should come online by the end of 2027. This includes the archives of the Central Prisoners of War Agency of the Second World War and its 36 million index cards documenting the fate of prisoners of war and civilian internees, all ICRC publications since its creation, the library’s heritage collections[6], as well as numerous general archives collections documenting the ICRC’s action from 1863 to 1975.
The digitization project will create a unique opportunity to offer access to this world heritage to a global audience. People affected by armed conflict, their descendants, researchers, practitioners and students around the world will get an online access to valuable resources to find information about the fate of their ancestors or conduct their own research. Enhanced search and discovery tools will make it easier to navigate collections, identify relevant materials, and conduct research across large bodies of records. Over time, these tools will open new possibilities for historical analysis, education, and humanitarian learning.
Moreover, it will help us preserve fragile collections by reducing their physical manipulation.
Temporary unavailability of certain collections and impact on users
We want to achieve our objectives in accordance with the highest professional standards. As with any large-scale digitization, this requires careful preparation and handling of physical materials.
The digitization project will have an impact on our services to users and the availability of our collections. While they move through the digitization and preservation pipeline, some of our collections will be temporarily withdrawn from public consultation in the coming years:
- General public archives: From January 2026, some series will be successively and temporarily withdrawn from consultation and will not be available for consultation in the reading room. We recommend that our readers prepare their visit well in advance and check with our service the availability of the series they wish to consult. More information is available in our Q&A: https://blogs.icrc.org/cross-files/digitization-of-archives-our-faq/
- Library: During Summer-Fall 2026, some library heritage collections will be temporarily unavailable for consultation. Contact the team at library@icrc.org for any related questions.
- Tracing archives: Requests for information about people held during the Inter-War period, the Spanish Civil War, or the Second World War will only be accepted once a year. The next openings will take place on 26 January 2026, and then in January 2027, depending on the advancement of the digitization process. The website “Grande Guerre” (https://grandeguerre.icrc.org/en/), dedicated to the First World War, remains available online. From January 2026, we will however not be able to help users with personalized support in relation with this platform. The research and issuing of attestations of detention for ex-beneficiaries related to collections closed to the public, as well as the ICRC’s services to trace people caught up in current conflicts and other situations of violence remain unchanged[7]. More information, including on exceptions, is available in our Q&A: https://blogs.icrc.org/cross-files/tracing-archives-our-faq/
- Audiovisual archives: This service is currently undergoing significant structural changes. We will not be able to help users with personalized support or answer individual requests until further notice. Our public collections remain available on our online portal: https://avarchives.icrc.org
This large-scale digitization project mobilizes our teams to the maximum of their capacities, and unfortunately does not allow us to maintain the usual level of service. We are fully aware of the inconvenience that these changes generate.
These temporary inconveniences will be offset by the long-term benefits of offering access globally through a new online experience.
A legacy for generations to come
Preserving the ICRC’s archives is not only about keeping traces of the past; it is about serving the future. By safeguarding its institutional memory, the ICRC reaffirms its commitment to transparency, accountability, and respect for those affected by conflict.
As the Safeguarding Archives Programme moves forward, we invite our users to continue exploring our available collections and follow the forthcoming project updates. We invite them to stay in touch and follow the updates on the programme that will be shared on Cross-Files in the coming months.
Our efforts will ensure that over 160 years of humanitarian history remain accessible for generations to come.
[1] Rules governing Access to the Archives of the International Committee of the Red Cross Adopted by the Assembly of the International Committee of the Red Cross on 2 March 2017, https://www.icrc.org/sites/default/files/wysiwyg/About/history/rules_access_icrc_archives.pdf ; Valérie McNight Hashemi, “A balancing act: The revised rules of access to the ICRC Archives reflect multiple stakes and challenges”, International Review of the Red Cross, 2018, 100 (1-2-3), 373–394, https://international-review.icrc.org/articles/balancing-act-revised-rules-access-icrc-archives-reflect-multiple-stakes-and-challenges ; Camille Meyre, « Une brève histoire des outils de recherche aux archives générales du CICR », Cross-Files, 12 juin 2025, https://blogs.icrc.org/cross-files/fr/histoire-outils-recherche-archives-generales ; Daniel Palmieri, ”Geneva, 1996: The International Committee of the Red Cross Archives”, in Online Atlas on the History of Humanitarianism and Human Rights, edited by Fabian Klose, Marc Palen, Johannes Paulmann, and Andrew Thompson, 2015-12, https://hhr-atlas.ieg-mainz.de/articles/palmieri-geneva ; Jean-François Pitteloud, “New access rules open the archives of the International Committee of the Red Cross to historical research and to the general public”, International Review of the Red Cross, 1996, 36 (314), 551-553, https://international-review.icrc.org/sites/default/files/S0020860400076130a.pdf
[2] Cédric Cotter, Ellen Policinski, “War, memory and identity”, Cross-Files, 24 November 2020, https://blogs.icrc.org/cross-files/war-memory-and-identity/
[3] Council of Europe, “Access to archives in the digital age. Implementation of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. Recommendation No. R (2000) 13 on a European policy on access to archives”, February 2024. Conseil de l’Europe.
[4] For instance, see our online audiovisual archives portal: https://avarchives.icrc.org/; and the online portal related to the tracing archives of the First World War: https://grandeguerre.icrc.org/en/ The library’s catalogue also grants access to numerous online resources, including digitized collections: https://library.icrc.org/library/
[5] ICRC Strategy 2024–2027, Geneva, 2023, https://library.icrc.org/library/search/notice?noticeNr=58678
[6] For instance: Ismaël Raboud, Matthieu Niederhauser, Charlotte Mohr, “Reflections on the development of the Movement and international humanitarian law through the lens of the ICRC Library’s Heritage Collection”, International Review of the Red Cross, 2018, 100 (907-909), https://international-review.icrc.org/articles/reflections-development-movement-and-international-humanitarian-law-through-lens-icrc; Cynthia A. Germond, « 1863-1918 : L’Ancien Fonds de la Bibliothèque du CICR », Cross-Files, 9 January 2018, https://blogs.icrc.org/cross-files/fr/l-ancien-fonds-de-la-bibliotheque-du-cicr/
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