International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
The
International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is the world's largest group of
humanitarian organisations, often known simply as the
Red Cross, after its original symbol.
The movement consists of the
International Committee of the Red Cross in
Geneva, the
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and 178 individual
national societies. On
October 29,
1863 sixteen
countries finished meeting in
Geneva and agreed to form the International Red Cross.
The organisation has more than 115 million volunteers.
Fundamental principles of the movement
\n* Humanity\n* Impartiality\n* Neutrality\n* Independence\n* Voluntary service\n* Unity\n* Universality
The emblem debate
\nArticle 38 of the First Geneva Convention of August 12 1949 recognized three emblems for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement:\n* Red cross\n* Red crescent\n* Red lion and sun
The Red lion and sun has not been used since 1980.
The organisation currently (as of 2003) accepts three religious symbols and refuses to recognize additional religious symbols, requiring all organisations to accept either the Red Cross or the Red Crescent emblems. For this reason, it is proposed to create a new emblem which will be acceptable by all nations regardless of their culture or religion.
For more information, you may visit the following sections of the official www.redcross.int website:\n* Information regarding the Emblem Debate\n* Graphic images of the traditional emblems plus the new proposed one
See also
\n*Henry Dunant: The Founder of the Red Cross movement\n*List of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
External link
\n*Official Web Site\nCategory:International organizations\nCategory:Nobel Peace Prize winners\nCategory:Charities
