International Services

The ICRC Mission

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is an impartial, neutral and independent organization whose exclusively humanitarian mission is to protect the lives and dignity of victims of armed conflict and other situations of violence and to provide them with assistance.

The ICRC also endeavours to prevent suffering by promoting and strengthening humanitarian law and universal humanitarian principles.

Established in 1863, the ICRC is at the origin of the Geneva Conventions and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. It directs and coordinates the international activities conducted by the Movement in armed conflicts and other situations of violence.

Measles Initiative Project

This year we are kick starting the Measles Initiative here at the Capital Area Red Cross. In case you don’t know, the American Red Cross & its Measles Initiative partners have collaborated to vaccinate children against one of the world’s most deadly diseases — village after village — across the globe. Since it was founded, the Measles Initiative has supported the vaccination of more than 1 billion children, mostly in Africa and Asia. That translates to roughly 4.3 million lives saved! Measles is entirely preventable, yet 450 people still die every day. The cost for one vaccine is a mere $1 and our goal is to vaccinate an entire village which costs $500.

 View this Measles Initiative video for more infromation about our goal or email: international@tallyredcross.org

International Humanitarian Law Classes now being offered!

In a world where warfare and civil strife are a daily reality for millions, International Humanitarian Law (IHL) provides a framework for protection for civilians and combatants alike. The conduct for warfare as embodied by IHL is laid out in the Geneva Conventions of 1949. The American Red Cross has a unique mandate to educate the American public about the guiding principles and framework of IHL as they apply to the protection of members of the armed forces, including prisoners of war, and civilians. If you would like to learn more, we invite you to enroll in Humanity in the Midst of War: Introduction to International Humanitarian Law. This half day introductory course is intended to raise awareness among Red Cross representatives and general audiences about the Geneva Conventions, the basic rules of IHL and the role of the Red Cross during armed conflict to implement IHL.

The Capital Area Chapter of the American Red Cross is currently organizing International Humanitarian Law Courses. If you are interested in attending, planning, or hosting an IHL Course please email: international@tallyredcross.org