Explosive remnants of war: the lethal legacy of armed conflict
ICRC, Geneva, 2003

This brochure highlights the deadly risks that unexploded and abandoned ordnance pose to civilians and war-affected countries long after the conflict is over. In addition to the human and social costs inflicted by these weapons, the brochure outlines the work being done at the international level to address the problem. The brochure is intended to increase awareness about explosive remnants of war and to urge comprehensive action by the international community to prevent and reduce the impact of these weapons on civilian populations.

Available from the ICRC in English, French and Spanish.

Genève-Paris 1863-1918, Le droit humanitaire en construction
Véronique Harouel, Henry Dunant Society, ICRC, French Red Cross, 2003

This comprehensive and detailed work analyses the relations between France and the ICRC from the latter's founding up to the end of the First World War. Characterized by a constant ambivalence, the relationship between Paris and Geneva throws new light on the birth and early development of humanitarian law.

Available from the ICRC in French.

Moi, Henry Dunant, j'ai rêvé le monde
Mémoires imaginaires du fondateur de la Croix-Rouge
Serge Bimpage, Albin Michel, Paris, 2003

Drawing on meticulous research into the life of the founder of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, this fictional account written in the first person provides fresh insight into Dunant, the idealistic philanthropist and anxious visionary. We discover a complex man, whose life was marred by professional failure — that of his father followed by his own bankruptcy in Algeria — spurred into action by the shock of Solferino and wounded by his expulsion from the Red Cross and banishment from Geneva. This approach gives us hitherto unpublished clues to the inner workings of a man whose creative energy changed the course of history.

Available from Albin Michel, Paris, in French. 20 euros.

Community home-based care for people living with HIV/AIDS
International Federation, Geneva, 2003

The purpose of this document is to outline generic approaches that can be adapted to the specific conditions of each country and enable National Societies to implement community home-based care programmes. This document is meant for National Society staff who work at the planning, implementation and evaluation phases of home-based care programmes.

Available from the International Federation in English.

World Disasters Report: Focus on ethics in aid
International Federation, Geneva, 2003

In its eleventh annual edition, the World Disasters Report examines the ethical challenges faced by those working on the front line in post-conflict situations, chronic food crises and natural disasters. It questions the capacity of the humanitarian system to assess the needs of vulnerable people. And it challenges the aid community to promote and practise the overriding principle of saving life with dignity, wherever it is under threat.

Available from Kumarian/Eurospan.
www.kpbooks.com
www.eurospanonline.com

FedNet on the way

The Federation is moving ahead on developing a global, private web site that will be open to all National Societies, International Federation delegations and Geneva staff. Called FedNet, the site will be a forum for all Red Cross Red Crescent people to share information and collaborate online.

The idea is to open up access to information that it is currently difficult to find or to share, and provide a place for people working on the same activities to talk to each other. It will display data such as phone and address lists, calendars, documents/reports, photographs and information by topic (e.g. training, logistics, volunteering). FedNet will also have interactive functions such as discussion forums, newsletters, mailing lists and e-learning. FedNet will be launched in November 2003 and will be available in English, French, Spanish and Arabic. For more information, please see: www.ifrc.org/fednet or contact project manager Carolyn Oxlee at: carolyn.oxlee@ifrc.org

ICRC web site update

The ICRC web site is now available in Arabic at: www.icrc.org/ara. Following the same structure and graphic design as the English and French sites, it hosts many of the same resources including audio and video downloads. This is a significant step for the ICRC towards improving communication with the approximately 300 million Arabic speakers around the world.

Child soldiers: the law says No!
ICRC, Geneva, 2003

This ten-minute film focuses specifically on the problem of child soldiers. Emotive portrayals of former child soldiers promote the message that children should not be recruited into armed forces, nor take part in hostilities. It also highlights how international law protects children from being recruited as soldiers, requires families torn apart to be reunited and helps rebuild childhoods shattered by war. It calls for these provisions to be respected. For more information on Children in War and associated products, please visit: www.icrc.org/eng/children

Available from the ICRC in English; to be available in French and Spanish.