the icrc is a private association registered in switzerland that has enjoyed various degrees of special privileges and legal immunities within the territory of switzerland for many years. on 19 march 1993, a legal foundation for this special treatment was created by a formal agreement between the swiss government and the icrc. this agreement protects the full sanctity of all icrc property in switzerland including its headquarters and archive, grants members and staff legal immunity, exempts the icrc from all taxes and fees, guarantees protected and duty-free transfer of goods, services, and money, provides the icrc with secure communication privileges at the same level as foreign embassies, and simplifies committee travel in and out of switzerland. on the other hand, switzerland does not recognize icrc-issued passports.