ABSTRACT
More broadly conceived, humanitarianism aims at transformation and addresses the root causes of poverty and conflict, providing education, building capacity and aiming at sustainable development. The emergence and transformation of humanitarian Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) reflects historical and political developments. Humanitarian NGOs vary with respect to their mandate, their independence from governments, their relation to religion, in size and nationally. Secular and faith-based humanitarian NGOs represent a continuum rather than distinct categories and need to be distinguished by religious identity. French NGOs representing the ‘Dunantist’ tradition emphasise their independence from and voice criticism of government policies. The battle of Solferino led Henry Dunant to initiate the formation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) which is associated with the emergen. Under the patronage of the ICRC the International Save the Children Union with members in 40 states in the British Empire and Europe was officially founded in the following year in Geneva.
