“In the face of crises, the strength of commitment”: the book of our 160th anniversary

“Facing crises, the strength of commitment”, published by Éditions Autre (Flammarion), appears in bookstores on October 9.

The opportunity to discover or rediscover our history through these 200 illustrated pages; a story that began on May 25, 1864 when, on the intuition of a man, Henry Dunant, our association was born and would become part of the largest humanitarian movement in the world… The story of a neutral and impartial organization, equipped with ‘a universal emblem, whose sole objective will be to relieve suffering, first in times of war then in times of peace.

Today, facing an uncertain world, facing new challenges, we continue to write this story with a capacity to constantly innovate and transform ourselves to meet the needs of our time. This energy and this permanent ability to adapt permeate our entire history and constitute the common thread of this work.

A huge fresco of solidarity and commitment

We have chosen to tell the story of the Red Cross through six chapters retracing the major periods of history which are turning points in the evolution of our association.

From 1859 to 1914, on the battlefields where the Red Cross is slowly gaining recognition, well beyond our borders.

From 1914 to 1939, between two wars, where she learned to serve in peacetime and embarked on new health and social missions, to combat infant mortality, tuberculosis, help the “badly off”… It was also the age of gold of “white angels” and the progressive recognition of the nursing and social worker professions.

From 1939 to 1945, in the turmoil of the Great War, among civilians and on the routes of exodus, until the Liberation and the birth of rescue groups.

From 1945 to 1974 and the Thirty Glorious Years with major missions abroad, the development of personal services, first aid training, etc.

From 1974 to 2004, Faced with the challenges of a new world and new realities, the time has come for long-term humanitarian missions, the creation of emergency response teams and our regional intervention platforms. It was also the time of major laws in the health (1970) and medico-social (1975) fields.

Finally, from 2004 to 2024we are entering the 3rd millennium with a bang. The tsunami in South-East Asia opens this new era, marked by globalized crises and increasingly complex challenges: pandemics, natural disasters, attacks, effects of climate change which are forcing us to fundamentally transform ourselves.

Throughout the pages and chapters, an incredible epic takes shape, made of courage, audacity and tenacity. This book is a tribute to our predecessors and to all those who act alongside us for a more united world. The strength of their commitment allows us to believe that anything is possible.