Henry Dunant, speaking briefly in his memoirs of a visit to a Dr. Chéron in rue Taitbout, Paris, on 4 September 1870, added the following interesting detail: “We had just published a book, under his name, which we wrote together.”

The traditional annual press conference given by the President of the ICRC took place on 10 January 1985 at the headquarters of the Committee. It provided not only an opportunity to make the usual assessment of events in the year 1984 but, in particular, was the moment chosen by the ICRC to launch an “Appeal for a Humanitarian Mobilization”.

One of the basic principles of the Geneva Conventions and of Protocol I is that the persons protected shall be treated without any adverse distinction, in particular one founded on sex (C. I and II, art. 12; C. III, art. 16; C IV, art. 27; P. I, art. 75) and that women shall in all cases benefit by treatment as favourable as that granted to men (C. III, art. 14).

During a private visit to Geneva, Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands and His Royal Highness Prince Claus on 3 September 1985 received the Vice-President of the International Committee, Mr Maurice Aubert, in the absence of the ICRC President. The audience took place at the residence of Ambassador Robert J. van Schaik, Permanent Representative of the Netherlands in Geneva; the conversation was concerned mainly with the activities of the ICRC.

We have the honour to inform you of the official recognition of the Red Cross Society of São Tomé and Principe by the International Committee of the Red Cross. This recognition, which took effect on 3 October 1985, brings to 137 the number of National Societies members of the International Red Cross.

In early August, Mr. Jean-Marc Bornet, ICRC delegate-general for Africa, went to Khartoum where he met, inter alia, General Abdel Rahman Sewar el-Dahab, Head of State, and the Deputy Prime Minister. Various humanitarian issues (refugees in Sudan, situation in the southern part of the country) were broached during the discussions.