In 1859 a young Swiss businessman saw something which was to change his life and influence the course of history. The young man was Henry Dunant who witnesses the carnage following the Battle of Solferino, in Italy. He was deeply moved by the dreadful suffering of the wounded from both sides who were left largely uncared for. This appalling scene was the birthplace of a magnificent human idea. Henry saw every country creating a body of trained volunteers who would care impartially for the wounded of all sides, protected by international agreement. His vision led directly to the founding of the Red Cross, the signing of the First Geneva Convention, and the adoption of the Red Cross, and later the Red Crescent, as an international symbol of protection. Today the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is the world's largest voluntary organization, with a global membership close to 250, 000, 000 and a National Society in almost every country of the world.

1859年，一位年轻的瑞士商人目睹了一件后来注定改变其人生并影响人类历史进程的事情。这位青年名叫亨利·杜农特。在意大利，他目击了索菲林诺战斗之后的杀伤惨景。双方大批的受伤者得不到照顾而痛苦无比的景象深深地震撼了他的心灵。正是这一骇人的场面孕育了一个人类的伟大思想。亨利设想在国际协议的保护下，每个国家都建立一个由受过培训的、愿意公平照顾各方受伤人员的志愿者团体。他的这个设想直接促成了红十字协会的成立，首个日内瓦公约的签署，以及将红十字（及后来的红新月）定为人身保护的国际标志的决定。今天，国际红十字会以及红新月运动已成为世界上最为庞大的志愿者组织。它拥有2.5亿名会员，几乎世界上所有国家都有一个国家级协会。