Geneva Conventions

Witness History

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9d ago 10:02

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In 1859, Swiss businessman Henry Dunant witnessed the Battle of Solferino, in Italy.

He couldn’t believe the lack of aid for the wounded soldiers and came up with two ideas – a voluntary aid organisation and an international treaty to protect those injured in wartime.

They went on to become the International Committee of the Red Cross in 1863 and the first Geneva Convention in 1864.

Henry’s great great great grand nephew, Gabriel Martinez, read excerpts from his book, A Memory of Solferino, to Rachel Naylor.

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(Photo: Participants representing 16 states during the adoption of the first Geneva Convention on 22 August 1864 in Geneva. Credit: AFP via Getty Images)

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