International Committee of the Red Cross History

The International Committee of the Red Cross was founded in February 1863 in Geneva, Switzerland (Forsythe & Rieffer-Flanagan, 2016). Initially, the major goal of the organization was to enhance the care of wounded soldiers during the conflict, as well as to provide medical services to the military. The organization evolved over time; for example, from 1914 to 1918, the ICRC established a Central Prisoners of War Agency in Geneva to maintain contact with detained troops and their families (Maurer, 2016). Furthermore, the error was distinguished by the introduction of multiple ambulances staffed by volunteers who were able to provide services on the battlefields.After the First World War, the formation of the League of Red Cross Societies took place in 1919 to coordinate and support the activities of the ICRC. In 1929, the association started to provide greater protection to the prisoners of war (Forsythe & Rieffer-Flanagan, 2016). During the Second World War, the ICRC worked jointly with the league to provide relief supplies through shipping across the globe to reach both civilians and prisoners of war (ICRC, 2017a). When the strife was over, the organization settled on helping the families seek for their loved ones.

From 1945 henceforth, the ICRC has been continually appealing to the government to reinforce the international humanitarian laws as well as abiding by it (Walker & Maxwell, 2014). Hence, it has been dealing with the conflicts revolving around the charitable aspects. To date, the association actively takes part in the internal and international conflicts and natural calamities like disasters.

Missions and the Changes in Structure and Management of ICRC

Since the formation, the ICRC has been working to protect and offer assistance to the victims of armed conflict and other violence situations (ICRC, 2009). Over time, the mission has transformed to provide humanitarian services by upholding the lives and dignities of armed conflict and other casualties of fierceness. The structure of the ICRC at the formation year in 1963 comprised a committee of five individuals headed by Henry Dunant. Notably, the team was known as Geneva families, investigatory commission, and Geneva Society for Public Welfare (ICRC, 2009). The membership gradually advanced to representatives of the official delegates from the national Government, NGOs, and foreign officials. Currently, the configuration entails an assembly with 25 co-opted members with Swiss nationality, assembly council with delegated powers, and the directorate where executives are found.

The management is consisting of the assembly (committee) that defines the aims, strategies, and guidelines for overseeing financial matters (ICRC, 2017b). Unlike the initial times when the association was purely Genevan members, other Red Cross actors have equal chances to take part in the commission (ICRC, 2009). Also, the delegates and integrated partnership have been actively managing the Red Cross activities in the entire 80 operating countries contrary to the formation time where the administration was just centered in Switzerland.

Structure of the Organization and the Summary of the Leadership Framework

The Assembly

The organization has five governing bodies (ICRC, 2017b). The assembly, for instance, is the supreme administrator that is overseeing all the ICRC’s activities. Apparently, the association formulates policies, defines general objectives, and approving the budgets and accounts. Besides, they appoint the key management officials such as the directors, director general, and the head of internal audit.

Assembly Council And the Office of the President

The assembly council is the subsidiary body of ICRC that prepares the activities of the assembly while taking decisions on matters of strategic financial and human resources, management concerns, and communications (ICRC, 2017b). Likewise, the office of the president maintains the external relations, ensuring that there is a smooth running of the organization. Additionally, agency carries out ICSC humanitarian diplomacy.

The Directorate and Internal Audit Unit

Being an executive body, the Directorate is in charge of implementation and overseeing the institutional strategies of attaining the general objectives as proposed by the assembly and the council (ICRC, 2017b). Also, the officials are in charge of managing the ICSC’s staff and the overall smooth running of the establishment. The internal audit, on the other hand, monitors, assess the efficiency and the performance of the ICSC.

Overall, the ICSC’s leadership framework has the topmost board which has the assembly together with the president and the vice president. Both the offices jointly make decisions as well as fostering effectiveness of the operation of the entire organization (ICRC, 2017b). With the input from the assembly council and internal audit leaders, the organization can strategize on various matters and better management. The directorate department, headed by the directorate general apparently undertakes the duty of running the staff as well as implanting the strategies of achieving the goals (ICRC, 2017b). Notably, the department obtains assistance from various sections such as the human resources, financial resources, and logistics, operations, international law, and policy, as well as the communication and information management.

Outside Organizations that ICSC Has Established Relationship With

Being an institution that extends the relief services to the victims of warfare, the ICSC has been intermingling with other organizations to reach out people (Flaherty, 2017). For instance, the organization collaborated with the UN to deliver relief foods and other assistance after the Second World War. Also, since 1994, the ICSC has been colluding with the UN to enable it to take part in the international debates and accessing deliberation and negotiation with the international organizations.

Also, the ICSC works together with the UNHR to develop and implement the first AID training programs to in the entire areas of operation (Parliamentary Assembly, 2002). Also, the association works closely with the research institutions and the private sectors to monitor the trends of humanitarian assistance including methodologies, funding, and the standard.

References

Flaherty, S. (2017). Encompassing Reality: The International Committee of the Red Cross’s engagement in transnational governmentality, and its subsequent implications regarding neutrality and independence (Master’s thesis).

Forsythe, D. P., & Rieffer-Flanagan, B. A. (2016). The International Committee of the Red Cross: a neutral humanitarian actor (Vol. 117). Routledge.

ICRC (2017a). Mandate and mission. Retrieved on 18th September, 2017 https://www.icrc.org/en/who-we-are/mandate

ICRC (2017b). Governance. Retrieved on 18th September, 2017 https://www.icrc.org/en/who-we-are/the-governance

ICRC. (2009). The icrc its mission and work. Retrieved on 18th September, 2017 https://www.icrc.org/eng/assets/files/other/icrc_002_0963.pdf.

Maurer, P. (2016). The Evolution in the Legal Protection of Victims of Armed Conflict. In Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law Volume 17, 2014 (pp. 3-8).

Parliamentary Assembly. (2002). Activities of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Retrieved on 18th September, 2017 https://www.icrc.org/eng/resources/documents/article/other/57jpt6.htm

Walker, P., & Maxwell, D. G. (2014). Shaping the humanitarian world. Routledge.