Who was Henri Dunant and how did he help create the Red Cross and the Geneva Conventions?

Henri Dunant (1828–1910) was a Swiss humanitarian whose experiences at the Battle of Solferino in 1859—where he witnessed nearly 40,000 casualties—inspired his lifelong commitment to alleviating the suffering of war victims.12

In his 1862 book, A Memory of Solferino, Dunant proposed the creation of voluntary relief societies in every country to aid the wounded without discrimination. This vision led to the 1863 founding of the International Committee for the Relief of the Wounded, now known as the International Committee of the Red Cross.12

Dunant also advocated for an international agreement to protect the wounded, which resulted in the first Geneva Convention in 1864. This landmark treaty established the neutrality of medical personnel, the impartial treatment of all combatants, and the recognition of the Red Cross symbol as a protective emblem. His pioneering efforts laid the foundation for modern international humanitarian law, earning him the first Nobel Prize for Peace in 1901.13