International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum

Geschichte

The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum is a museum located in Geneva (Switzerland).It first opened in 1988 and underwent a significant renovation in from 2011 to 2013.The exhibition named “The Humanitarian Adventure” presents three contemporary problems through three distinct spaces; each created by a different architect: Defending human dignity (Gringo Cardia, Brazil), Reconstructing family links (Diébédo Francis Kéré, Burkina Faso ), Reducing natural risks (Shigeru Ban, Japan).Although it gives pride of place to knowledge and reflection, the museography introduces a new dimension into its device: emotion. As they enter each of the three thematic areas, visitors are invited to engage in an awareness-building experience even before they discover the area’s informational content.Twelve witnesses trace the main thread of “The Humanitarian Adventure”. They first welcome visitors in a scenographic device and then accompany them on their tour of the exhibition. The witnesses are there to remind us that human relations are at the heart of all humanitarian action.Controversy over funding by the tobacco industryIn 2012, the museum was under heavy criticism by health groups for partnering with multinational tobacco corporation Japan Tobacco International, which was funding the renovation of the museum. Health groups considered such partnership a violation of the fundamental principles and rules of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. After reviewing the situation, the director of the museum admitted they had made a mistake in accepting JTI's money, mistake which was the result of a "lack of vigilance". The museum has decided to return the money to JTI.