Mr Richard Morgan, National Chairman of Australian Red Cross and Secretary General, Ms Martine Letts, will accept Humanity United on behalf of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies at The Billich Gallery, 100 George Street, Sydney from 7.00pm.

The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement has been nominated to receive the Nobel Prize for Peace in 2001. The Red Cross has proudly accepted the Nobel Prize for Peace three times in 1917, 1944 and 1963.

Humanity United beautifully captures the vision of Swiss banker Henry Dunant, who founded the International Committee of the Red Cross at a meeting of 36 delegates from 14 European states in October 1863.

Dunant had witnessed the horrifying aftermath of the Battle of Solferino - a fierce and bloody conflict in Northern Italy between 300 000 soldiers from Imperial Austria and the Franco-Sardinian Alliance - in June 1859. Moved by the sight of the thousands of seriously injured young men returning from the battlefield, he rallied local villagers from the town of Castiglione della Pieve to assist and tend the wounded.

Confronted by the absolute horror and senseless injuries, the experience left him convinced that the power of humanity could be engaged to alleviate suffering and distress on a global scale.

Today Henry Dunant's vision is active in 176 countries. It is a network that is totally independent, not aligned to any religion, culture or political group with more than 105 million volunteers.

Humanity United will eventually be installed at the Red Cross Museum in Geneva, Switzerland. Prints of the work will be presented to each of the 176 member Societies in the Federation and will also be available for purchase.

A limited number of tickets, priced at $100 per person, can be purchased for the black-tie function by telephoning 02 9229 4227.