1863 - The birth of the Red Cross

A Swiss private association is already willing to help him implement his proposals. A committee was formed which, on February 17, 1863, created the "International Permanent Committee of Relief for Wounded Soldiers" which would become the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in 1880. Driven by this Committee, representatives of 16 European states came to a meeting in Geneva in October of the same year. They approve Dunant's proposal to create associations of volunteer aid workers. A red cross on a white field - the inverse of the Swiss flag - is also adopted as a badge. On Oct. 29, 1863, the conference ends. This date can be considered the birthday of the International Red Cross.