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Cédric Cotter

@cedcotter.bsky.social
542 followers 238 following 137 posts

Head of Library & Public Archives @ICRC, PhD, History of ICRC, First World War, Humanitarianism. Personal opinions.

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Cédric Cotter @cedcotter.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
This week, we reached an important milestone: 10 million pages from the ICRC’s archival and library fonds and collections have now been digitized, controlled and validated!
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Cédric Cotter @cedcotter.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Quelques images des collections de la bibliothèque du CICR que nous numérisons (Ancien fonds et collection sur les prisonniers de guerre)
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Cédric Cotter @cedcotter.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Last week, after months of preparatory work, the ICRC library sent to digitization 2 important heritage collections: the “Prisoners of War” one, and the “Ancien Fonds”. The Ancien Fonds documents the first years and the development of the ICRC, of the Movement and of IHL, from the 1860s to WWI.
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Cédric Cotter @cedcotter.bsky.social · 26/07/2026
Proud to have co-authored a chapter in the edited volume « Military Humanitarianism » My colleague Daniel Palmieri and I had the opportunity to contribute with a chapter on the Internationa Committee of the Red Cross and its close relation with the military.
Cover of the book "Military Humanitarianism"Chapter 4: A special relationship? The military origins of the ICRC and its relations with armed forces
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Cédric Cotter @cedcotter.bsky.social · 26/07/2026
Proud to have co-authored a chapter in the edited volume « Military Humanitarianism » My colleague Daniel Palmieri and I had the opportunity to contribute with a chapter on the Internationa Committee of the Red Cross and its close relation with the military.
Cover of the book "Military Humanitarianism"Chapter 4: A special relationship? The military origins of the ICRC and its relations with armed forces
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infoclio.ch @infoclio.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
Recension: La croix face à l'étoile rouge - The Red Cross Facing the Red Star Le livre explore les relations entre le Mouvement international de la Croix-Rouge et le communisme à l'échelle globale tout au long du XXe siècle. Par @cedcotter.bsky.social www.infoclio.ch/fr/recension...
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Cédric Cotter @cedcotter.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
and head of trends and analysis unit careers.icrc.org/job/Geneva-%...
careers.icrc.org
Head of Humanitarian Trends and Analysis Unit
Head of Humanitarian Trends and Analysis Unit
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Cédric Cotter @cedcotter.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
Job opportunity at the ICRC: head of the general archives unit careers.icrc.org/job/Geneva-%...
careers.icrc.org
Head of General Archives
Head of General Archives
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Cédric Cotter @cedcotter.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
Très heureux d'avoir pu rédiger un compte-rendu de ce livre passionnant pour @infoclio.bsky.social
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Cédric Cotter @cedcotter.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
Il y a quelques jours, nous avons vécu un moment symbolique avec la numérisation du premier cahier de procès-verbaux du CICR. Il commence par le compte-rendu de la séance constitutive de ce qui allait devenir le CICR, rédigé par Henry Dunant lui-même. 50 millions de pages vont être numérisées.
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Cédric Cotter @cedcotter.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
"Inside the ICRC Library’s 2025-2027 Digitization Project : Selecting and Preparing Collections" Great blogpost by my colleague Charlotte Mohr on the library's significant contribution to our digitization project. blogs.icrc.org/cross-files/...
blogs.icrc.org
Inside the ICRC Library’s 2025-2027 Digitization Project : Selecting and Preparing Collections - Cross-Files | ICRC Archives, audiovisual and library
This blogpost takes you behind the scenes of the ICRC library team’s work to select and prepare collections for its ongoing digitization project. Plus, a first look at the close to 9’000 publications ...
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Cédric Cotter @cedcotter.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
As part of a Master’s thesis at the HEG Geneva, a student is looking into support tools that help navigate and understand the ICRC archival and library content. Please share your thoughts until the 10th of July 2026 by completing this survey: heg.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
heg.qualtrics.com
Support tools in the ICRC archival and library websites
The following survey is conducted as part of a Master Thesis in Information Science at the Geneva School of Business Administration. It focuses on the use of support tools for navigating/understanding...
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Cédric Cotter @cedcotter.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
As part of a Master’s thesis at the HEG Geneva, a student is looking into support tools that help navigate and understand the ICRC archival and library content. Please share your thoughts until the 10th of July 2026 by completing this survey: heg.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
heg.qualtrics.com
Support tools in the ICRC archival and library websites
The following survey is conducted as part of a Master Thesis in Information Science at the Geneva School of Business Administration. It focuses on the use of support tools for navigating/understanding...
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Cédric Cotter @cedcotter.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
Deliberate cruelty does not happen by chance. There is no such thing as accidental torture or abuse. It is the product of a system designed to rationalize acts born from a disregard of the law and military strategies designed to irreversibly destroy. www.icrc.org/en/statement...
icrc.org
ICRC President: "We can no longer pretend that what we are witnessing across war zones is in accordance with the law"
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Cédric Cotter @cedcotter.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
Lebanon: ICRC outraged by deadly strikes in densely populated areas www.icrc.org/en/news-rele...
icrc.org
Lebanon: ICRC outraged by deadly strikes in densely populated areas
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is outraged by the devastating death and destruction in densely populated areas across Lebanon today following intensified military operations.
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Cédric Cotter @cedcotter.bsky.social · 27/03/2026
The ICRC is looking for a historian! careers.icrc.org/job-invite/3... This is a great position focusing on absolutely fascinating and meaningful topics.
careers.icrc.org
Historian
Historian
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ICRC Law & Policy Outreach @icrclawpolicy.bsky.social · 24/03/2026
To mark 75 years of the Geneva Conventions, the International Committee of the Red Cross hosted a global colloquium exploring these fundamental questions. More → lnkd.in/eW6qiWSU #IHL #GenevaConventions #GC75#HumanitarianLaw #ICRC
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Cédric Cotter @cedcotter.bsky.social · 20/03/2026
"How to plan a birthday party: Reflecting on how African voices have shaped IHL over the last 75 years" This new article by Paola Forgione and Tamalin Bolus highlights how African voices and traditions have significantly shaped IHL over the past 75 years. blogs.icrc.org/cross-files/...
blogs.icrc.org
How to plan a birthday party: Reflecting on how African voices have shaped IHL over the last 75 years - Cross-Files | ICRC Archives, audiovisual and library
Introduction In the months leading up to the 75th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions of 1949, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) embraced its role as the lead party planner, ensuri...
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Cédric Cotter @cedcotter.bsky.social · 12/03/2026
Frequently asked questions: The ICRC's work in Iran www.icrc.org/en/article/F...
icrc.org
Frequently asked questions: The ICRC's work in Iran
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has been in Iran since 1977. We work in partnership with the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) and other Iranian organizations in the fields of pr...
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Cédric Cotter @cedcotter.bsky.social · 11/03/2026
The Geneva Conventions at 75: A Common Heritage of Humanity - International Colloquium on IHL, Religions, Cultures and Traditions The report of a great colloquium that took place in 2024 is now online: shop.icrc.org/the-geneva-c...
shop.icrc.org
The Geneva Conventions at 75: A Common Heritage of Humanity - International Colloquium on IHL, Religions, Cultures and Traditions
Who invented humanity in war? Before IHL was codified into the Geneva Conventions, how did people across the world feel about war? What does it mean that the principle of humanity is “universal”? On t...
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Cédric Cotter @cedcotter.bsky.social · 03/03/2026
This is super exciting
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Margot Tudor @drmargottudor.bsky.social · 03/03/2026
After years of calls, events, and track changes, Brian Drohan and I are excited to announce the publication of our edited volume, Military Humanitarianism: Aid Operations and Armed Forces, with @cornellupress.bsky.social in July 2026! www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9781501...
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Elisabeth Piller @elisabeth-piller.bsky.social · 03/03/2026
So excited to see this out (soon) - @drmargottudor.bsky.social and @briandrohan.bsky.social did such an amazing job!!!
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Cédric Cotter @cedcotter.bsky.social · 26/02/2026
Faramir, très clairement. Et si on peut comprendre la nécessité d'ajouter une "épreuve" pour le groupe Frodo dans les Deux Tours, ça a trop dénaturé un personnage sage, ami de Gandalf, et lucide. Le traitement de Denethor n'est pas top non plus. Le personnage du livre est bien plus complexe.
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Cordula Droege @corduladroege.bsky.social · 24/02/2026
The @icrc.org Advisory Service on International Humanitarian Law #IHL supports states in translating their international obligations into domestic legislation, policy and practice to create a universal culture of compliance with #IHL. Here’s how👇 youtu.be/bPJT2H4czj4
youtu.be
What is the ICRC Advisory Service? | International Humanitarian Law
YouTube video by International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
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Cédric Cotter @cedcotter.bsky.social · 23/02/2026
The ICRC's audiovisual archive online portal (AVA) is celebrating its 10th anniversary (and one week)! It was launched on 16 February 2016. avarchives.icrc.org
avarchives.icrc.org
Home
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Cédric Cotter @cedcotter.bsky.social · 10/02/2026
Reprisals: another battlefield of the First World War The English version of my blogpost is now online blogs.icrc.org/cross-files/...
blogs.icrc.org
Reprisals: another battlefield of the First World War - Cross-Files | ICRC Archives, audiovisual and library
Introduction Contrary to popular belief, the First World War did not remain in the trenches. The war had a direct impact on civilians, the economy, cities, ideas, science and the very rules that were ...
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Cédric Cotter @cedcotter.bsky.social · 05/02/2026
"The materiality of archives: from preservation to consultation" An excellent set of guidelines for researchers on how to correctly handle archival material in a reading room, by my colleague Camille Meyre blogs.icrc.org/cross-files/...
blogs.icrc.org
The materiality of archives: from preservation to consultation - Cross-Files | ICRC Archives, audiovisual and library
In the absence of digitised copies, researchers must work with original documents. Consulting original archive documents provides privileged access to historical sources. It makes us aware of the hist...
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Cédric Cotter @cedcotter.bsky.social · 23/01/2026
Le CICR a commencé un ambitieux programme de numérisation de ses archives publiques (archives générales, archives agence, collections patrimoniales de la bibliothèque). Plus d'informations sur les objectifs et conséquences pour nos publics ici : blogs.icrc.org/cross-files/...
blogs.icrc.org
Des fichiers papier à l'accès numérique : la transformation numérique des Archives du CICR - Cross-Files | ICRC Archives, audiovisual and library
Le 17 janvier 1996, le Comité international de la Croix-Rouge (CICR) a ouvert ses archives générales au public. Cet événement a marqué un tournant dans la possibilité d’analyser l’histoire du CICR, de...
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ICRC_Library @icrclibrary.bsky.social · 22/01/2026
Big news! We’re kicking off the operational phase of our most ambitious digitization project yet. One step closer to online access to the ICRC archives and library collections for all. Read more ⬇️
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Cédric Cotter @cedcotter.bsky.social · 21/01/2026
The ICRC has launched an ambitious digitization programme that will facilitate access to funds collections and enable a truly global reach for our unique archival materials blogs.icrc.org/cross-files/...
blogs.icrc.org
From paper files to digital access: the digital transformation of the ICRC Archives - Cross-Files | ICRC Archives, audiovisual and library
On 17 January 1996, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) opened its general archives to the public, marking a turning point in the possibility of analysing the history of the ICRC, huma...
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Cédric Cotter @cedcotter.bsky.social · 17/01/2026
Thirty years ago, on 17th January 1996, the ICRC Assembly decided to open its archives to the general public.
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Cédric Cotter @cedcotter.bsky.social · 09/01/2026
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Cédric Cotter @cedcotter.bsky.social · 06/01/2026
A Memory of Solferino: The ‘Fiaccolata’ and a Brief Research Guide New contribution on a great experience and the origins of a prominent book by my colleague @clarapalmisano.bsky.social blogs.icrc.org/cross-files/...
blogs.icrc.org
A Memory of Solferino: The ‘Fiaccolata’ and a Brief Research Guide - Cross-Files | ICRC Archives, audiovisual and library
A humanitarian torchlight procession in Solferino and a research guide to the archival and library materials about Solferino and its enduring humanitarian legacy.
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Cédric Cotter @cedcotter.bsky.social · 31/12/2025
Cédric Cotter Vue sur la vallée de Derborence, que mes ancêtres ont arpentée depuis des siècles, pour clore cette année 2025. A toutes et tous, le meilleur pour 2026.
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Cédric Cotter @cedcotter.bsky.social · 19/12/2025
The blogpost is also available in English: blogs.icrc.org/cross-files/...
blogs.icrc.org
The First World War postcards: Reaching out to the families of prisoners of war - Cross-Files | ICRC Archives, audiovisual and library
During the First World War, the International Prisoner-of-War Agency (IPOWA) of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) published a collection of postcards that depicted what kind of place...
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Cédric Cotter @cedcotter.bsky.social · 19/12/2025
Les cartes postales de la Première Guerre mondiale : une initiative au service des familles. Une contribution de mon collègue Damian Gonzalez sur Cross-Files blogs.icrc.org/cross-files/...
blogs.icrc.org
Les cartes postales de la Première Guerre mondiale : une initiative au service des familles - Cross-Files | ICRC Archives, audiovisual and library
Au cours de la Première Guerre mondiale, le Comité international de la Croix-Rouge (CICR), par le biais de son Agence internationale des prisonniers de guerre (AIPG), s’attelle à faire éditer des cart...
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Cédric Cotter @cedcotter.bsky.social · 18/12/2025
Et c'est valable pour les autres sciences humaines et sociales. Notre chef de délégation à Kigali en 1994 avait étudié la littérature allemande médiévale et s'est révélé être la personne parfaite dans ces circonstances tragiques.
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Cédric Cotter @cedcotter.bsky.social · 18/12/2025
Dans l'organisation où je travaille, je ne compte plus le nombre de collègues qui ont fait des études d'histoire et ont atteint des postes clés ou hauts niveaux hiérarchiques (chef/cheffe de délégation, chef adjoint, coordinateur, ancienne directrice-générale adjointe, conseillers, etc.)
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Cédric Cotter @cedcotter.bsky.social · 17/12/2025
This includes publications from the ICRC at the time, reports of PoWs camps visits (they were public at that time), as well as secondary literature. We also have numerous from WWI on our audiovisual archives: avarchives.icrc.org
avarchives.icrc.org
Home
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Cédric Cotter @cedcotter.bsky.social · 17/12/2025
Dear Ana, Thank you for your question. I'll answer in English. Most of our archives related to the First World War are on paper only and have not been digitized yet. But some collections are already online. You can find links in this article: blogs.icrc.org/cross-files/...
blogs.icrc.org
The ICRC during World War I - Cross-Files | ICRC Archives, audiovisual and library
World War I represents a major turn in the history of the International Committee of the Red Cross. The explosion of humanitarian needs on the ground triggered a rapid and substantial transformation o...
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Cédric Cotter @cedcotter.bsky.social · 16/12/2025
En attendant la version anglaise, le texte en français est aussi disponible ici: blogs.icrc.org/cross-files/...
blogs.icrc.org
Les représailles, un autre champ de bataille de la Première Guerre mondiale - Cross-Files | ICRC Archives, audiovisual and library
Cet article présente certaines représailles pendant la Première Guerre mondial. Il s’intéresse ensuite à l’action du Comité international de la Croix-Rouge (CICR) face à ce phénomène. Une dernière sec...
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Cédric Cotter @cedcotter.bsky.social · 16/12/2025
Mi artículo sobre represalias durante la Primera Guerra Mundial y la reacción del CICR acaba de ser traducido al español. Está disponible en Cross-Files, el blog de Archivos y Biblioteca del CICR. blogs.icrc.org/cross-files/...
blogs.icrc.org
Las represalias, otro campo de batalla de la Primera Guerra Mundial - Cross-Files | ICRC Archives, audiovisual and library
Introducción Lejos de los estereotipos, la Primera Guerra Mundial no se limitó a las trincheras. La población civil, la economía, las ciudades, las ideas, la ciencia o, incluso, las normas que debían ...
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Cédric Cotter @cedcotter.bsky.social · 12/12/2025
Important notice: AI-generated archival references www.icrc.org/en/article/i...
icrc.org
Important notice: AI-generated archival references
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Cédric Cotter @cedcotter.bsky.social · 24/11/2025
One week left to apply
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Cédric Cotter @cedcotter.bsky.social · 15/10/2025
Call for paper on a fascinatig topic: The Committed Neutrality. A Transnational History of Spanish Humanitarianism in a Global Context from the First World War to the 1920s calenda.org/1305081
calenda.org
La neutralité engagée
Grâce à la dynamique lancée lors d’un atelier en 2024 sur l’institution humanitaire créée en 1915 par Alphonse XIII, le Bureau de la Guerre européenne, ce colloque permettra de réunir des initiativ...
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Cédric Cotter @cedcotter.bsky.social · 07/11/2025
The ICRC’s Advisory Service, a specialized team that helps States translate IHL into concrete national legislation, celebrates its 30th anniversary. To mark this milestone, I had the opportunity to write a short article about its history. blogs.icrc.org/cross-files/...
blogs.icrc.org
The ICRC Advisory Service: 30 years of expertise in strengthening the national implementation of IHL - Cross-Files | ICRC Archives, audiovisual and library
In 2025, the ICRC’s Advisory Service celebrates its 30th anniversary[1]. For three decades, this specialized team has played a pivotal role in helping States translate IHL obligations into concrete na...
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ICRC Law & Policy Outreach @icrclawpolicy.bsky.social · 07/11/2025
📅 Save the date: 20 November | Implementing IHL in Challenging Times Marking 30 years of the ICRC’s Advisory Service on #IHL, this event reaffirms that even in challenging times, implementing IHL is both possible and essential. 🔗 Sign up now: bit.ly/4nKxhgH
bit.ly
EVENT: Implementing IHL in Challenging Times: A Panel Discussion to Mark the 30th Anniversary of the ICRC’s Advisory Service on IHL
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Cédric Cotter @cedcotter.bsky.social · 06/11/2025
International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict: Books Selection New blogpost on Cross-Files by my colleague Melissa Skander blogs.icrc.org/cross-files/...
blogs.icrc.org
International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict: Books Selection - Cross-Files | ICRC Archives, audiovisual and library
November 6th marks the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict. For this occasion, we have put together a selection of books on this subject from...
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Cédric Cotter @cedcotter.bsky.social · 05/11/2025
Histoires d’évasion de prisonniers de guerre – Episode 1 : Roger Bushell, le professionnel. Super blogpost écrit par mes collègues Marie Allemann, Sonia Crenn et Charlotte Mohr, entre autres à partir des archives du CICR. blogs.icrc.org/cross-files/...
blogs.icrc.org
Histoires d'évasion de prisonniers de guerre - Episode 1 : Roger Bushell,le professionnel - Cross-Files | ICRC Archives, audiovisual and library
Derrière les barbelés des camps de prisonniers de la Seconde Guerre mondiale, certains ont tenté l’impossible pour retrouver la liberté. Les Archives et la Bibliothèque du Comité international de la C...
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