of Public Welfare. This organization backed Dunant’s
ideas and recommendations and created a five-person Committee in February,
1863. The first meeting of this committee met on February 17 of that year, and
it is “now considered the founding date of the International Committee of the
Red Cross.”
Dunant continued to travel and promote his ideas, but had
conflicts with Gustave Moynier about development plans for the new
organization. However Dunant was successful in his promotional efforts, and on
August 24, 1864 “a diplomatic conference organized by the Swiss Parliament led
to the signing of the First Geneva Convention by 12 nations.
Following this success, however, Dunant’s fortunes declined.
He was forced into bankruptcy, which led to scandal about his handling of
financial affairs of his company. He was ultimately forced to resign from the
Red Cross Committee. He was Also expelled from the YMCA and finally left Geneva in
March, 1867, never to return. Moving to Paris, he continued his advocacy
humanitarian ideas, and “argued for disarmament negotiations and for the
creation of an international court to mediate international conflicts.” During
the Franco-Prussian War (1870-71) he founded the Common Relief Society and the
Common Alliance for Order and Civilization.
Neglecting his personal finances, Dunant sank deeper into
poverty. He eventually moved to a Swiss resort town, Heiden where he eventually
lived in a hospital and nursing home. His acquaintance with a young Heiden
teacher led to his writing another book about his life’s experiences. In 1895
he met with a German newspaper editor who wrote an article about “the found of
the Red Cross, which appeared in a German magazine and was later republished in
other European countries. This led to recognition of his accomplishments, the
awarding of a prize, and an opportunity to write articles, which he did, one of
which dealt with women’s rights.
In 1901, the renewed interest and attention to Dunant’s
humanitarian efforts throughout his life resulted in a singular honor, he
became the first recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.
The final years of Dunant’s life were spent suffering from
depression and paranoia. He rejected religion and attacked Calvinism. He died
on October 30, 1910. His last words were “Where has humanity gone?” perhaps
reflecting a bitterness over the way he was treated in later life.
He is buried in a cemetery in Zurich, Switzerland. His
birthday, May 8, is celebrated as International Red Cross and Red Crescent Day.
The second highest peak in Switzerland, Dunantspitze, was named after him by
the Swiss president on October 6, 2014.
(Note: Rule 55 of the Fourth Geneva Convention states: The parties to
the conflict must allow and facilitate rapid and unimpeded passage of
humanitarian relief for civilians in need, which is impartial in character and
conducted without any adverse distinction, subject to their right of control.)