The emblems of the red cross and the red crescent are both the strength and the weakness of the Movement.

They are its strength because, being the visible and respected symbols of relief to war victims, over the past 125 years they have enabled the Movement to provide protection, assistance and human warmth to millions of wounded persons, prisoners, families and children during the most terrible conflicts mankind has ever known. They are the strength of our Movement because all over the world the image they convey is one of humanity and compassion.

In the first half of the nineteenth century in Europe, each army used a different colour to mark its medical services: Austria a white flag, France a red one, Spain yellow, others black. Sometimes, the emblems varied from one corps of troops to another. Moreover, the carts used to transport the wounded bore no particular markings to distinguish them from the other army service vehicles, and there was no means of identifying members of the medical corps at a distance.

A certain State-recognized civilian hospital employed two kinds of doctors who appeared on its staff lists: full-time doctors, and part-time doctors used to reinforce its medical team during an armed conflict with a neighbouring country. Some weeks later the country was occupied by the enemy. Two part-time doctors on their way home in a private car marked with a red cross for protective purposes were stopped by a police patrol, which seized the car and confiscated the doctors' identifying armlets. This was done on the grounds that improper use was being made of the Red Cross emblem as a protective device, contrary to Articles 24, 25, 26 and 44 of the First Geneva Convention of 12 August 1949 for the amelioration of the condition of the wounded and sick in armed forces in the field, and Articles 20 and 21 of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 12 August 1949 relative to the protection of civilian persons in time of war.

The emblem of the red cross was one of the most remarkable innovations of the Convention of 1864. Ever since then there have been discussions, questions and controversy as to its nature and purpose, the persons it is meant to protect, and the rules that should govern its use.

The special significance of the red cross and red crescent emblems as internationally agreed symbols of protection and neutrality in armed conflict will be diluted if these emblems, or signs closely resembling them, are used randomly or for diffuse purposes in time of peace. In countries like the United Kingdom which for the most part have been spared armed conflict for the past 40 years, the red cross emblem has frequently become closely identified with first aid and with general health or medical care, its primary and unique meaning during armed conflict often being forgotten or unknown. For this reason it is perhaps particularly important for National Societies in such countries to help the authorities monitor unauthorised uses or misuses of the emblems, and the role of National Societies in this respect has been recognised under the 1986 International Statutes of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (Article 3 [2] thereof). In addition, dissemination activities can help to enhance understanding of the purpose of the emblems. This short article will discuss practical aspects of the monitoring role of the British Red Cross Society.

On 22 August, the Swiss Confederation, the depositary State for the Geneva Conventions, celebrated the 125th anniversary of the Geneva Convention of 22 August 1864 for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded in Armies in the Field. The focus of the celebrations, which were organized by the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs in co-operation with the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Swiss Red Cross, was a solemn and dignified ceremony in Bern attended by representatives of the States party to the Geneva Conventions, Swiss federal and cantonal authorities and the ICRC, the League and National Societies.

Mr. Jean-Pascal Delamuraz, President of the Swiss Confederation, visited the International Committee of the Red Cross on 21 August 1989.

He was received by Mr. Cornelio Sommaruga, ICRC President, together with members of the Committee, senior staff of the institution, and Mr. Pär Stenbäck, Secretary General of the League of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The Swiss President was accompanied by Mrs. Delamuraz, for whom a tour of the Central Tracing Agency had been arranged.

On 22 September 1989 Mr. Flavio Cotti, Head of the Federal Department of the Interior, visited the International Committee of the Red Cross, where he was received by the institution's President, Cornelio Sommaruga. Mr. Cotti also met members of the Committee and senior ICRC staff.

At its ordinary session of 24 August 1989, the International Committee of the Red Cross decided to appoint Mr. Guy Deluz as its Director-General.

As planned in September 1988, the International Committee took stock of how its new administrative structures had functioned during their first year. It decided to strengthen the Directorate established at the time by appointing a Director-General at its head.

ICRC activities continued under the new government following President Omer Hassan el-Beshir's coup d'état on 30 June. Contact was immediately established with the new authorities who gave their permission to the ICRC to pursue its activities.

Prisoners in government hands were visited by the ICRC on 23 August in Wau and the following day in Juba. The three and five prisoners seen respectively wrote Red Cross messages. The 105 government soldiers held by rebel forces and visited in June were seen again on 24 August.