TOGETHER, WE BRING HOPE

INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS We work worldwide to bring hope to people affected by armed conflict and violence, and do all we can to protect their dignity and alleviate their suffering.

We are: Independent Neutral Impartial Humanitarian

2 Heger/ICRC Boris 3 Thank you for getting in touch with us TOGETHER, WE ARE A SURE about making a bequest. It is because of the support of people like you that SIGN OF HOPE we can keep bringing hope to those caught up in the horror of war.

In the next few pages we will explain why our humanitarian work worldwide is more important than ever, and how you can contribute to it by naming the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in your will. Your generosity makes all the difference.

“... thanks to the support of people like you...“

4 Revol/ICRC Didier 5 OUR SHARED THE ICRC IS THE FOUNDING The Movement is made up of: The ICRC and its Movement partners HUMANITARIAN VALUES BODY OF THE INTERNATIONAL work together on a great many RED CROSS AND projects, although they are separate, The Movement’s seven independently financed bodies. Fundamental Principles: RED CRESCENT MOVEMENT The ICRC coordinates the Movement’s the International Committee of the International Federation activities in conflict zones. Unity the Red Cross, which assists people of Red Cross and Red Crescent The International Red Cross and affected by armed conflict and other Societies, the umbrella organization It is essential for us to be in the field Impartiality Red Crescent Movement is the largest situations of violence throughout of the National Societies, whose main as close as possible to the people we humanitarian network in the world, the world; task is to coordinate relief in the event help. Our partnerships with National Neutrality with more than 100 million volunteers. of natural disaster; Societies make such proximity possible. In a country affected by armed conflict, the ICRC and the Independence country’s National Society – the ICRC’s natural and favoured partner – pool Universality the 190 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies around the world, their operational capacities to make which support the public authorities in their own countries in the humanitarian their action more effective. Volontary service field, providing a whole range of services, including disaster relief and health and social assistance programmes. Humanity

6 Albert Madrazo/ICRC 7 In the twentieth century, the two Promoting and developing HOW IT ALL BEGAN world wars and the development of international humanitarian law is one ever more lethal weapons brought way of protecting victims of conflict. home the relevance of Henry Dunant’s At the same time, the ICRC has also ideas. In 1949, after millions of civilians been working in the field with the INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW: had been killed in the Second World victims to try to alleviate their suffering War, States amended the existing for 150 years.

Frédéric Boissonnas/ICRC IMPOSING LIMITS ON WARFARE Conventions and adopted new ones in Over 150 years ago, Henry Dunant, to be done to see they were abided order to protect civilians in time of war: With the experience we have gained a citizen of Geneva, was an unwilling by. In 1863, with four of his fellow these are the four Geneva Conventions. over the years, we conduct a whole witness to the atrocity of war at the citizens, Henry Dunant established range of activities, all of which share a Battle of Solferino in Italy. He was the International Committee of the Two requirements underpin single goal: to meet the essential needs appalled by the human suffering Red Cross and, the following year, international humanitarian law: of people affected by conflict and that had always been regarded as States adopted the original Geneva other situations of violence throughout an inevitable consequence of war, Convention to improve the lot of people 1. People who are not or no longer the world. and determined that laws should be wounded during conflict. The idea fighting must be protected passed to limit that suffering. The laws was simple: all the wounded would be would have to be promoted and, if treated, whatever side they were on. 2. Weapons and methods of warfare necessary, amended, and work had International humanitarian law was born. must be limited.

8 Turin Bossoli,Carlo Museo Nazionale del Risorgimento, 9 Diplomacy Emergency relief

Restore damaged Restore contact Confidential dialogue with infrastructure (hospitals, Improve conditions of Emergency relief between dispersed all the parties to a conflict Public condemnation of serious, schools, water services, detention (food and other family members (governments, armed repeated violations of IHL, if this is housing) and training Dialogue with influential actors on essentials, medical groups, etc.)) in the victims’ interest local staff the world stage and campaigns on care, drinking subjects central to the ICRC’s mandate water, etc.) (health care in danger, landmines, etc.) WE ACT WE SPEAK WE SUPPORT PEOPLE AFFECTED Support and restore livelihoods (providing BY CONFLICT AND OTHER ARMED VIOLENCE farming and fishing equipment, training, Physical Develop new IHL norms Trace the missing grants, microcredit, rehabilitation for Disseminate, promote and (in response to new weapons and and support their cash-for-work) amputees and monitor implementation methods of warfare) families others of IHL on the ground

Promotion of international humanitarian law (IHL) Relief during long conflicts and reconstruction 10 11 Alberto Cairo has directed the ICRC’s saw Mahmoud, this man, who had on the production line. He had DEDICATED PEOPLE physical rehabilitation programme lost an arm and both legs, was in something to prove to himself and in Afghanistan since 1992. He his wheelchair in the middle of the that’s how he regained his dignity.” WORKING FOR HUMANITY manages seven centres where people road with his terrified young son. with disabilities receive physical I invited Mahmoud to our centre in The centre eventually reopened rehabilitation services, and much more. Kabul, although it was closed at the and today all the people the ICRC He explains: “Helping people to walk time because of the fighting. Being employs there are people who have again isn’t enough. They need to be able to stand wasn’t enough for been treated in its centres. More than able to stand on their own feet with Mahmoud: he needed a job as well 80,000 people receive treatment dignity and be proud of having a job as his arms and legs. He referred to every year. and a place in society. himself as ‘a wreck’ and desperately wanted to regain his dignity. I asked The ICRC is proud to have workers In 1992, quite by chance, I met a man him to assemble artificial limbs. He as dedicated as Alberto, whose life is who changed my life and the life developed a passion for his work dedicated to attending to the needs of of many other people. When I first and soon became the fastest worker people affected by conflict.

12 World Picture News / CONLAN, Seamus 13 HOW IMPORTANT ARE BEQUESTS HOW DO WE USE FOR OUR WORK? BEQUESTS?

Very. In 2015, for example, 40% of the bequests we received went to For every donation of 100 Swiss francs to A single legacy left to the ICRC help fund our operations in Africa, particularly in Liberia, where the ICRC our field budget, 93.50 goes directly to enabled us to finance 25% of our provides water and sanitation and promotes international humanitarian our field operations and the rest goes to relief operations in the southern law. We also help refugees who have fled the violence in Côte d’Ivoire support those operations. Philippines after Typhoon Bopha. and the Liberian families who have taken them in.

Many donors do not specify how a bequest should be used. We value such trust highly; it gives us the leeway to use those funds immediately where they are needed the most. That might be to help and protect the victims of forgotten conflicts or to come to the aid of people in an emergency. Olivier Mathys/ICRC 14 15 WHEN YOU PLEDGE A BEQUEST YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN OUR THANKS We show our gratitude to people who name the We will honour your memory in a number of organization in their will and pay tribute to their ways, in accordance with your wishes: generosity. n thanks published on the website and in the annual report We do this in modest – but heartfelt – ways: n a letter of thanks to your family n a tribute published in the press n a certificate of appreciation signed by our president – a colour print n an annual greetings card of a work by the Genevan painter Gérald Poussin. n a subscription to the In Action magazine for ICRC donors n invitations to humanitarian events n meetings with ICRC specialists in small groups.

16 ICRC 17 TOGETHER, WE ARE A SURE As conflicts become ever more indiscriminate and bloody, civilian populations SIGN OF HOPE are systematically targeted. The ICRC’s activities are more necessary than ever to preserve a haven of humanity in the midst of war.

Together, we can make all the difference. Thank you for your support.

18 Torgovnik/GettyJonathan Images/ICRC 19 Marie-Jo Girod Bequests and donations manager Direct line: +41 22 730 33 76 Email: [email protected] www.icrc.org/bequest CICR-WPANG0616 Harold Frejas/CICR

Front cover: Ibrahim Malla/ICRC, Krista Armstrong/ICRC, Dominic Sansoni/ICRC, Tom Stoddart/Getty Images/ICRC