One hundred and fifty years ago, a battle in northern Italy sparked an idea that has since changed the world. On 24 June 1859, Henry Dunant, a young Geneva businessman, witnessed horrifying suffering and agony following the battle of Solferino. In response, he mobilized the nearby village of Castiglione to care for all wounded, regardless of their nationality. Unable to forget what he had seen when he returned home, Dunant wrote a book, in which he proposed the idea of voluntary relief societies.
Henry Dunant's vision of voluntary humanitarian assistance has since become the world's largest humanitarian network, counting tens of millions of volunteers and 186 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies around the world. They are putting Dunant's ideals into practice, every day, in every corner of the Earth where battles are fought, epidemics decimate populations and natural disasters destroy lives and communities. Every year the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement assists more than 200 million vulnerable people.
The need for humanitarian action is still as vital today as it was in 1859. To mark the 150th anniversary of the battle and to highlight Red Cross and Red Crescent emergency disaster response as well as long-term humanitarian programmes, more than 500 volunteers and staff from 149 National Societies gathered in Solferino from 23 to 28 June 2009.
They took part in several events:
The Third World Red Cross and Red Crescent Youth Meeting took place under the slogan "Youth on the Move". This training event brought together youth volunteers who attended seminars in many fields, including how to mitigate the humanitarian impact of climate change, the promotion of social justice, preventing the spread of HIV as well as sessions on disaster management. They pass on this knowledge to their peers back in their countries.
During the world meeting, they also discussed how to address today's ‘Solferinos', i.e. the most pressing humanitarian challenges facing our world. Based on that reflection, they drafted the ‘Solferino Declaration'.
The "Fiaccolatta" – thousands of people took part in the annual impressive torchlight march on 27 June, which retraces the footsteps of the volunteers who carried the wounded soldiers from the battlefield of Solferino to the fist aid posts in Castiglione delle Stiviere .
From 28 June to 1 July, some 240 Red Cross and Red Crescent youth took part in the commemorative march "The Journey of an Idea", symbolizing Henry Dunant's return to Geneva from Solferino. Along the way, they stopped and met with other youth and local authorities, to share their message.
The commemoration activities culminated with the presentation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent youth's 'Solferino Declaration' to the international community – i.e. the Geneva and Swiss authorities, representatives of the United Nations, of States, and of the Movement. This global call to greater and more decisive humanitarian action was made public at an official ceremony, in Geneva, on 2 July.
Note:
ECHO, a major donor to International Federation programmes and operations, largely contributed to the global participation achieved in the Solferino events. Their significant support allowed young people from many countries to come to Solferino and attend the World Red Cross and Red Crescent Youth Meeting.
Over the years, ECHO has also provided funding for many Federation Emergency Response Units (ERU) to be deployed during natural disasters and other crises. Six ERUs were in Solferino to demonstrate their expertise and to train Red Cross and Red Crescent youth in emergency response techniques. |
Meetings and events
Youth declaration 
Making their move for a better world
World youth meeting opens in Solferino
Youth leaders address modern challenges during historic event
