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At the initiative of this committee, a congress of representatives of 16 countries was organized the same year. The Forum recommends the establishment of national relief societies and calls on governments to support these organizations. Congress endorsed the idea of recognizing the warring countries' inviolable territory, where the wounded are housed and military paramedics. It is proposed to establish a common distinctive sign for the protection of people and property during military conflicts.
In 1864, the Swiss Federal Council organized in Geneva a diplomatic conference of plenipotentiaries from 16 countries, which drafted the "Geneva Convention for the Facilitation of the Participation of the Wounded in Armies on the Battlefield" , signed on August 22 and ratified in subsequent years by almost all European countries. . This convention is the cornerstone of modern international humanitarian law. It stipulates that wounded or sick members of the armed forces must be assisted and cared for, without any unfavorable distinction, and regardless of which country they belong to. The document affirms the neutrality of medical actions during conflict, which in essence are not an expression of support for any of the warring parties, and regulates the respect of the military forces for medical personnel, the territory of facilities and their equipment. It was decided to mark them with a distinctive emblem - a red cross on a white background.
In 1864, the Committee of Five was transformed into the International Committee for the Relief of Wounded Soldiers , and was later renamed the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), a name still known today. He then set himself the task of encouraging the establishment of national Red Cross societies, facilitating their joint activities and, during the war, acting as a neutral body to provide assistance and protection to victims. Bulgaria is the 19th country in the world to establish its national Red Cross Society in 1878, and on March 1, 1884 the Bulgarian government formally acceded to the Geneva Convention. During the Serbo-Bulgarian War, the Geneva Convention was applied for the first time in the Balkans, as the Bulgarian government assisted in the exchange of prisoners of war and organized dressings for the wounded, facilitated the free passage of humanitarian aid.
Founded in 1919, the League of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, later renamed the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, unites national organizations around the world. In this way, they can share experiences and help each other. Today, there are 191 national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies, with the humanitarian idea long ago transcending Europe's borders and most of the movement's tasks becoming peaceful. The promotion and development of national societies, the stimulation and coordination of aid in peacetime and especially in non-military disasters are identified as the most important and main tasks of the Federation. From "care for the wounded and sick soldiers" has already moved to help prisoners, civilians wounded, detained and deported, evacuated and homeless, to protect the population in the occupied territories, refugees, etc. Assistance for the sick and disabled, for the elderly and children, for victims of catastrophic earthquakes, etc. is becoming more and more a priority.
In 1928, the International Committee, the League and the National Societies merged into the International Red Cross. This is how the international Red Cross movement was created and with it the international humanitarian law was born.
Today, 24th of June, marks 164 years, from the Battle of Solferino.
As a result of the horrific experience gained by mankind from Solferino, during the two world wars, and to this day, in defense of the right to protection of victims, the four Geneva Conventions and the so-called First and Second Protocols to them have been developed. They extend the protection of the wounded, sick and captives; the clauses for the protection of the civilian population in the areas of conflict, the inviolability of the civilian medical services, the medical transport and the civilian medical staff are being improved, and attacks on the civilian population are prohibited. Starvation is prohibited as a means of conducting military operations, and facilities are provided to send aid to the civilian population in the event of war. Revolutionary in its significance is the Fourth Geneva Convention, which greatly expands the legal protection for a huge category of victims, namely the civilian population.
Bulgaria has been a party to the Geneva Conventions since 1954, and on September 26, 1989 ratified both Additional Protocols to them.
The Third Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions of 1949, which introduces a protective emblem - the Red Crystal, along with the existing emblems of the Red Cross and Red Crescent - has been in force since 14 January 2007. The Third Protocol was adopted by a majority of the parties at a diplomatic conference held in December 2005 in Geneva.
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