For some decades now, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has periodically undertaken the difficult task of reassessing its policy in respect of situations of internal violence. Since 1872, when it made its first offer of services to the parties to a non-international armed conflict, and 1918, when it carried out its first visit to security detainees, the ICRC has accumulated a wealth of experience. During that time it has gradually extended its mandate to cover situations in which human suffering called for action on its part which it would not have contemplated a few years previously.

In his book “A Memory of Solferino”, Henry Dunant set out two proposals for action on the international level to alleviate the suffering of war victims: the first was to have governments adopt an international treaty to be respected in time of war, and the second was to establish an organizational framework for ensuring compliance with such international obligations. Dunant seemed to realize that only the combination of international, treaty-based obligations and an organization to implement them could induce governments to act in the way he wished. The outcome of his proposals was of course the adoption of the Geneva Convention of 1864 on the one hand, and the founding of the Red Cross Movement on the other.

In recent years, and especially in 1992, the number of United Nations peace-keeping operations has increased at an unprecedented rate. Thirteen such operations were carried out between 1945 and 1987, whereas fourteen have been initiated since 1987. In 1992 alone, three new operations were started — in Cambodia, the former Yugoslavia and Somalia — and 1993 brought another, in Mozambique. The number of United Nations personnel deployed in the field quadrupled during 1992 to more than 50,000 persons, with a total budget of some $2,500 million at the end of the year.

The ICRC President, Mr. Cornelio Sommaruga, and his special adviser, Mr. André Pasquier, took part on 5 and 6 March 1993 in the 25th session of the Academy for Peace and International Security in Monaco, chaired by the Academy's President, Professor René-Jean Dupuy.

At its meeting on 29 April, the Assembly of the International Committee of the Red Cross elected two new members, Ms. Lilian Uchtenhagen and Mr. Georges-Andrè Cuendet.

Lilian Uchtenhagen was born in 1928 in Sissach in the Canton of Basel-Land. She attended school in Olten and Neuchâtel before studying at Basel University and the University of London. Mrs. Uchtenhagen holds a doctorate in economics and was a member of the Swiss National Council from 1971 to 1991.

Today, 8 May 1993, is World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day.

The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement wishes to take this opportunity to pay tribute to all who serve its humanitarian cause, whose selfless activities bring not only healing and assistance to millions of people in distress but also hope to a world overshadowed by disasters, war and suffering.

Fourteen Red Cross or Red Crescent Societies in developing countries will benefit from grants totalling 423,000 Swiss francs under the seventy-second distribution of income from the Empress Shoken Fund. The money will finance activities relating to disaster preparedness, health, social welfare, first aid and youth programmes.