International Committee of the Red Cross

International Committee of the Red Cross

Type	Private humanitarian organization
Founded	1863
Location	Geneva, Switzerland
Leaders	Jakob Kellenberger, President Angelo Gnaedinger, Director-General
Field	Humanitarianism
Purpose	Protection of war wounded, refugees, and prisoners.
Budget	CHF 822.8 million (2004)[1] 146.9 m for headquarters 675.9 m for field operations
Employees	1,330 in field operations (2004)[2]
Website	www.icrc.org

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is a private humanitarian organisation based in Geneva, Switzerland.

The ICRC has a special job, based on the Geneva Conventions as well as other international humanitarian law, to protect the victims of international and internal armed conflicts. This includes people hurt in war, prisoners, refugees, civilians, and other non-combatants. But the ICRC is a private organisation. It is not controlled by any government, group of governments or international organisation

It is the oldest organisation within the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and one of the most widely recognized organisations in the world. It is also the most honoured. The ICRC has won three Nobel Peace Prizes; in 1917, 1944, and 1963.

1. ↑ ICRC. 2005. ICRC 2004 Annual Report (Headquarters section)^{[permanent dead link]}. 35.
2. ↑ ICRC. 2005. ICRC 2004 Annual Report (Headquarters section)^{[permanent dead link]}. 32.