Chapter

Jean Pictet, his work and the National Societies

Enrique de la Mata Gorostizaga, Hans Hoegh

Etudes et essais sur le droit international humanitaire et sur les principes de la Croix-Rouge : en l'honneur de Jean Pictet = Studies and essays on international humanitarian law and Red Cross principles : in honour of Jean Pictet

Genève : CICR ; La Haye : Nijhoff, 1984

p. 889-892

English

The authors argue that Jean Pictet’s work contributed to the International Committee of the Red Cross adopting and disseminating principles based on humanism. In doing so, the organization united National Societies under a common ideology. The authors argue that each country’s population defines the Red Cross based on the activities undertaken by its National Society. While workers assume responsibility for ensuring the well-being of citizens, the authors suggest that their motivation could be improved by introducing them to a wider perspective of the Red Cross movement. Following the 1949 Geneva Conventions, Pictet argued that dissemination would facilitate application in war and promote the principle of humanity. Today, dissemination of the Geneva Conventions is part of the National Societies’ training programmes. Pictet also authored the ‘Red Cross Principles,’ which aimed to establish guiding principles for the movement. Although Pictet’s principles were not identical to those proclaimed by the International Red Cross Conference in 1965, the authors argue that his work was a model for the philosophy adopted by the organization. The Red Cross continues to embrace an ethos emphasizing humanity. Pictet promoted the universality of the principles and expected universal application, while accepting that National Societies require a degree of flexibility. [Summary by students at the University of Toronto, Faculty of Law (IHRP)]

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• Etudes et essais sur le droit international humanitaire et sur les principes de la Croix-Rouge : en l'honneur de Jean Pictet = Studies and essays on international humanitarian law and Red Cross principles : in honour of Jean Pictet / Christophe Swina