The Villa Moynier, home to the Geneva Academy since 2009, stands as one of Geneva’s most emblematic landmarks of humanitarian history.
Built in 1846, the Villa was the residence of Gustave Moynier, co-founder and first President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). It also served as the first headquarters of the ICRC, and it was within its walls that the draft of the first Geneva Convention of 1864 was prepared – an event that marked the birth of modern humanitarian law.
In 2008, the City of Geneva and the Geneva Graduate Institute signed an agreement granting the use of the Villa Moynier and its adjoining buildings to host the Geneva Academy. The Swiss Confederation contributed to the renovation, and in 2009 the Academy moved from its original premises at Uni Mail to the Villa.
In 2013, a commemorative plaque was unveiled in front of the building during the celebrations marking 150 years of humanitarian action, honouring the Villa’s historical role in the creation of the Geneva Conventions.
Today, the Villa Moynier remains a place of learning and reflection, connecting past and present – a living symbol of Geneva’s humanitarian tradition and a home for dialogue between law, justice, and humanity.