August 22

On August 22, 1864. the Red Cross was formed, as well as twelve nations signing the first Geneva Convention.

The International Committee of the Red Cross has a very interesting special status in international law. It is charged with protecting the life and dignity of victims of wars, including soldiers. The Red Cross is prohibited in taking sides in conflicts. In return, Red Cross workers are supposed to be respected in conflicts.

The Red Cross has an analogue in the Red Crescent. The Red Crescent operates by the same rules, among which are the societies have to be recognized as relief societies by their own government, and the governments in question have to be signatories to the Geneva Convention. Most countries are. There are other afflilated organizations, but not recognized in the same way.

The UN has given the Red Cross official observer status, the first organization to be so recognized. The Red Cross today traces the dead, oversees prisoners of war, and arbitrates in international conflicts.