The Geneva Conventions of 1949 and Additional Protocol I of 1977 describe the ICRC as an impartial humanitarian body or organization, the relevant provisions generally using the expression “an impartial humanitarian body, such as the International Committee of the Red Cross”. The Statutes of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement themselves refer to the ICRC as a “neutral institution ” and as a “specifically neutral and independent ” institution and intermediary. The ICRC is thus described as a humanitarian, neutral, impartial and independent body (or organization) in texts adopted by States alone, such as the instruments of international humanitarian law, and in those, such as the Statutes of … Continue reading Denise Plattner