Red cross and crescent. Medical cross: origin, meaning and description. Russian Red Cross

Headquarters of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Geneva

International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement(also known as International Red Cross or International Red Crescent) is an international humanitarian movement founded in 1863 and uniting more than 100 million employees and volunteers (volunteers) around the world.

The movement considers its main goal to be “To help all those who suffer without any unfavorable distinction, thereby contributing to the establishment of peace on Earth” .

Components of the International Red Cross:

Governing bodies of the Movement:

• International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent - held, as a rule, once every 4 years. Meetings of national societies with representatives of the states-participants of the Geneva Conventions take place there.
• Council of Delegates - Council meetings take place every 2 years.
• Permanent Commission - is the authorized body of the International Conference in the period between Conferences.

Fundamental principles[ | ]

In their activities, volunteers and employees of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies are guided by these fundamental principles.

Humanity

The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, born of the desire to provide assistance to all the wounded on the battlefield without exception or preference, strives under any circumstances, both internationally and nationally, to prevent and alleviate human suffering. The movement is called upon to protect the life and health of people and ensure respect for the human person. It contributes to the achievement of mutual understanding, friendship, cooperation and lasting peace among peoples.

Impartiality

The Movement does not discriminate in any way on the basis of nationality, race, religion, class or political opinion. It only seeks to alleviate the suffering of people, and first of all, those who need it most.

Independence

Movement is independent. National Societies, while assisting their governments in their humanitarian activities and subject to the laws of their country, must nevertheless always retain their autonomy in order to be able to act in accordance with the principles of the Red Cross.

Voluntariness

In its voluntary relief activities, the Movement is not guided in any way by the desire for profit.

Unity

There can only be one National Red Cross or Red Crescent Society in a country. It should be open to all and carry out its humanitarian activities throughout the country.

Versatility

The movement is worldwide. All National Societies enjoy equal rights and obligations to assist each other.

Emblems [ | ]

The first emblem of the ICRC - a red cross on a white background - initially had no religious meaning, representing a negative copy (inversion) of the Swiss flag (instead of a white cross on a red field - red on white). However, during the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878, the Ottoman Empire refused to use this emblem, replacing it with a red crescent, since the red cross caused negative associations with the crusaders.

Also, the sign of the red lion and the sun, the national symbol of Iran, received the status of the official symbol of the movement. However, after the Islamic Revolution of 1979, during which the lion and the sun disappeared from the flag and emblem of the country as symbols of the old monarchy, the new Iranian government established a more traditional red crescent for Muslim countries, renaming its wing of the international society accordingly. However, the formally red lion and sun continue to be considered one of the emblems of the MCRC, and Iran reserves the right to reintroduce this symbol into use at any time.

During World War I[ | ]

French leaflet from 1915

With the outbreak of the First World War, the International Committee of the Red Cross met with extraordinary difficulties, which it could only cope with with the assistance of National Societies. Red Cross workers from all over the world, including the USA and Japan, came to the aid of the medical services of European countries. On October 15, 1914, the International Committee of the Red Cross founded the International Agency for Prisoners of War, which by the end of 1914 employed 1,200 people, mostly volunteers. By the end of the war, the Agency had sent more than 20 million letters and messages, 1.9 million transmissions and collected donations worth 18 million Swiss francs. With the assistance of the Agency, about 200,000 prisoners of war were able to return home as a result of the exchange of prisoners. The Agency's card file for the period from 1914 to 1923 included more than 7 million cards for prisoners and missing persons. This catalog helped to identify more than 2 million prisoners of war and provided them with the opportunity to establish contact with their families. Now this catalog is in the Geneva Museum of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent. The right to use the catalog is limited.

During the war, the International Committee of the Red Cross monitored the implementation of the Geneva Conventions of 1907 by the parties to the conflict and, in case of violations, appealed to the offender's country with a complaint. At the first ever use of chemical weapons, the Red Cross strongly protested. Even without the mandate of the Geneva Conventions, the International Committee tried to improve the conditions of the affected civilian population. In territories that had the official status of occupied, the International Committee helped the civilian population under the terms of the Hague Conventions of 1899 and 1907. These conventions were also the legal basis for the work of the Red Cross with prisoners of war. In addition to the work of the International Agency described above, the Red Cross carried out inspections of POW camps. During the war, 41 Red Cross delegates visited 524 camps throughout Europe.

From 1916 to 1918, the International Committee of the Red Cross published a number of postcards with photographs from POW camps. They depicted the daily life of prisoners of war, their receipt of letters from home, etc. In this way, the International Committee tried to instill hope in the hearts of the families of prisoners of war, to reduce uncertainty about the fate of people close to them. After the war, the Red Cross organized the return home of more than 420,000 prisoners of war. From 1920, the task of repatriation was taken over by the newly founded League of Nations, which gave the job to the Norwegian diplomat Fridtjof Nansen. Subsequently, its legal mandate was expanded to include the provision of assistance to refugees and displaced persons. Nansen introduced the so-called Nansen passport, which was issued to refugees who had lost their citizenship. In 1922, Nansen's efforts were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

For its fruitful work during the war, the International Committee of the Red Cross was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1917. This prize was the only Nobel Prize awarded between 1914 and 1918.

In 1923 the Committee changed its policy regarding the election of new members. Until then, only residents of Geneva could serve on the Committee. This restriction was lifted, and now all Swiss have received the right to work in the Committee. Taking into account the experience of the First World War, in 1925 a new addition to the Geneva Convention was approved, outlawing the use of asphyxiating and poisonous gases and biological substances as weapons. Four years later, the Convention itself was revised, and the second Geneva Convention "for the treatment of prisoners of war" was approved. The war and the activities of the Red Cross during the war period significantly raised the reputation and authority of the Committee in the international community, and led to the expansion of the scope of its activities.

In 1934, a draft of a new convention for the protection of civilians in times of armed conflict appeared and was approved by the International Committee. However, most governments had little interest in implementing this convention, and it did not enter into force until the outbreak of World War II.

During the Second World War[ | ]

Red Cross message from Lodz, Poland, 1940.

The legal basis for the work of the International Committee of the Red Cross during World War II was the Geneva Convention as amended in 1929. The activities of the committee were similar to those of the First World War: inspection of prisoner-of-war camps, organization of assistance to the civilian population, ensuring the possibility of correspondence between prisoners of war, reporting missing persons. By the end of the war, 179 delegates had made 12,750 visits to POW camps in 41 countries. Central News Agency for Prisoners of War (Zentralauskunftsstelle fur Kriegsgefangene) had 3 thousand employees, the card file of prisoners totaled 45 million cards, the Agency ensured the forwarding of 120 million letters. A significant obstacle was that the German Red Cross, which was controlled by the Nazis, refused to abide by the Articles of Geneva.

The International Committee of the Red Cross was unable to reach an agreement with Nazi Germany on the treatment of people in concentration camps, and eventually stopped exerting pressure so as not to jeopardize the work with prisoners of war. He also could not get a satisfactory answer on the death camps and the mass extermination of European Jews, Gypsies, etc. In November 1943, the International Committee received permission to send to concentration camps in cases where the names and whereabouts of the addressees are known. As the message of receipt of the parcels was often signed by other prisoners, the International Committee was able to identify some 105,000 prisoners and hand over some 1.1 million parcels, mostly to Dachau,

May 8 marks the World Day of the International Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (ICRC), which serves as a neutral mediator in armed clashes and provides protection and assistance to the victims of conflict. AiF.ru has collected interesting facts about this organization.

1. The ICRC operates throughout the world on the basis of the principle of neutrality and impartiality.

The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is the world's largest humanitarian organization. It includes the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the International Committee of the Red Cross and National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in 186 member countries.

Henri Jean Dunant. Photo: Public Domain

2. The initiator of the creation of the Red Cross was Swiss writer Henri Jean Dunant.

In June 1859, the Swiss writer Henri Jean Dunant was at the site of the Battle of Solferino and saw 40,000 dying wounded soldiers on the battlefield, whom no one cared about. It was then that Dunant became convinced of the need for an organization that, acting on the basis of international treaties, would provide assistance to the wounded. He began to voice this idea at all European courts, and his efforts were crowned with success. In 1863, the International Committee for the Relief of Wounded Soldiers (the Red Cross) was established in Geneva.

3. The Swiss flag was chosen as the first emblem of the ICRC, on which the color of the red field was changed to white, and the color of the white cross to red.

It was decided to use the Swiss flag as the emblem of the Red Cross, in which the colors were reversed - the cross became red instead of white, and the background became white instead of red.

4. The red cross is not the only symbol of the organization.

The intention to use the red crescent emblem during the Russian-Turkish war (1877-1878) was announced by the Ottoman Empire, believing that the red cross is offensive to Muslim soldiers, causing them negative associations with the crusaders. Since then, in most Islamic countries, the red crescent has been used as the emblem of the organization. In Iran until 1980, the sign of the red lion and the sun was used as a symbol of the organization.

5. During armed conflicts, international humanitarian law protects representatives of the ICRC.

Representatives of the ICRC may not take sides in armed conflicts and enter into disputes of a political, racial, religious or ideological nature. The red cross and red crescent emblem also protects medical facilities, such as ambulances or hospital buildings, as long as they are not used for military purposes.

6. Israel delayed joining the ICRC for 60 years because of the emblem.

Israel's admission to the International Red Cross Movement was delayed for almost 60 years by a controversy over the organization's symbolism, as the ICRC did not accept an additional emblem, and the Israelis refused to use the Christian cross and the Muslim crescent as symbols. Under the Third Additional Protocol, adopted in December 2005 at the 29th Conference, Israel was allowed to use the Red Crystal - a red diamond on a white background - as the emblem of the national society.

7. The ICRC has received the Nobel Prize three times.

There was only one three-time winner in the history of the Nobel Prize - the International Committee of the Red Cross, who received the Peace Prize in 1917, 1944 and 1963.

The Battle of Solferino is the largest battle of the Austro-Sardino-French war, which took place on June 24, 1859 between the combined troops of France and the Kingdom of Sardinia against the Austrian army. The battlefield was the surroundings of the Lombard village of Solferino. The battle ended with the victory of the Franco-Sardinian coalition.

Let's start with the fact that there is an International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The Red Crescent of Kazakhstan is part of it. It is the largest and most respected humanitarian movement in the world, with some 100 million members and volunteers, and is represented in 190 countries, which puts us in second place in the world after the UN in terms of the number of participating countries.

The components of the Movement are:

International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which, for the most part, provides assistance to people affected by wars and armed conflicts. Their emblem is a red cross on a white background.

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC and RC), which helps mainly those affected by natural disasters - earthquakes, floods and so on. We draw your attention to the fact that they have a different emblem - there is a red cross on a white background and a red crescent to the right of it. This is because the International Federation brings together the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies of 190 countries.

The third component of the Movement is the national Red Cross or Red Crescent Societies, which exist in almost all countries of the world. Depending on the country, the emblem of the Society may be different. The emblem of society in each country is initially established by the state, depending on the social foundations and norms of the country. It is worth noting that the emblem has nothing to do with religion. The exception is the Red Shield of David Society, which operates in Israel.

You can read about the first case of adopting the emblem of the Red Crescent instead of the Red Cross at the link: http://redcrescent.kz/missions/

In Kazakhstan, the Red Crescent Society is represented throughout the country. The Red Crescent has branches in 17 major cities, which makes it possible to provide assistance throughout the country. The society unites about 50,000 members, 1800 volunteers and 185 employees.

To learn more about our history and principles, please follow this link:

The red cross is the emblem of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (ICRC). The ICRC is an international humanitarian organization operating today around the world. It provides humanitarian assistance to people affected by conflict and armed violence, and spreads knowledge about the laws that protect victims of war. The Red Cross Movement considers its main goal "To help all those who suffer without any adverse distinction, thereby contributing to the establishment of peace on Earth" and unites more than 100 million volunteers (volunteers) around the world.

The International Red Cross Society was founded by the Swiss businessman and public figure Henri Dunant in 1863 in Switzerland. After the battle of Solferino on June 24, 1859, when more than 40,000 soldiers died in the battle, Henry Dunant was shocked by the almost complete lack of medical care on the battlefield. He decided to devote himself to the care of wounded soldiers.

In 1884, the first international conference of the International Committee of the Red Cross took place. At this conference, the emblem of the society was adopted - a red cross on a white background. The color scheme of the organization's logo is the reverse color of the national flag of Switzerland, out of respect for the homeland of the Movement.

Officially, the name "International Red Cross" was approved in 1928 at the 13th international conference in The Hague. At the same time, the charter of the organization was adopted.

During the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878, the Ottoman Empire refused to use this emblem. The Red Cross evoked negative associations with the Crusaders among the Turks. The Ottoman Empire announced its intention to use the red crescent as a defensive emblem instead of the red cross, while saying that it would respect the red cross used by the enemy. The Ottoman Empire was followed by other countries where the majority of the population is Muslim.

The 1929 Geneva Convention recognized the red crescent as a second protective emblem.

At the 25th International Conference of the Red Cross, held in October 1986, a new name for the organization was approved - the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (ICRC).

By the way...

The Red Cross is a worldwide movement. Its main task is to provide assistance and protection to the victims of wars, conflicts and disasters across national and ideological boundaries. The organization originates from the experiences of the Swiss Henri Dunant in northern Italy in 1859. He organized voluntary assistance to the victims of the Battle of Solferino. In 1863, a committee was set up in Geneva, which later became known as the "International Committee of the Red Cross". After that, National Red Cross Societies quickly began to emerge in Europe.

The parties of the Red Cross movement are:

National Red Cross or Red Crescent Societies active in over 170 countries. In total, they unite 128 million members.

The International Committee of the Red Cross, which provides assistance and protection to the victims of wars and conflicts and monitors the implementation of the Geneva Conventions.

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, which provides disaster relief in times of peace and leads cooperation with developing countries. It is also the central body of National Societies. The Committee and the Federation have observer status in the UN.

The emblems of the organization are a red cross, and in Islamic countries - a red crescent on a white background. They also serve as international security marks. Objects designated by them cannot be attacked.

Interstate Geneva Conventions (1949) were concluded at the initiative of the Red Cross. Their task is to protect the victims of wars: wounded soldiers, prisoners of war, civilians. The Organization promotes these conventions, monitors their implementation and seeks to further improve them.

The main goal of the Red Cross is lasting peace. "Peace is not only the absence of war, but cooperation between states and peoples based on respect for freedom, independence, equality and human rights and a fair distribution of resources." (Definition of peace formulated by the Red Cross).

FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES

International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement

Humanity

The Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, born of the desire to care for all the wounded on the battlefield without exception or preference, strives under all circumstances, both internationally and nationally, to prevent or alleviate human suffering. The movement is called upon to protect the life and health of people and ensure respect for the human person. It contributes to the achievement of mutual understanding, friendship, cooperation and lasting peace among peoples.

IMPARTIALITY

The movement does not hold any distinction based on race, religion, class, or political opinion. It only seeks to alleviate the suffering of people, and especially those who need it most.

INDEPENDENCE

Moving independently National Societies, while assisting their governments in their humanitarian work and subject to the laws of their country, must nevertheless always retain their autonomy in order to be able to act in accordance with the principles of the Red Cross.

VOLUNTARY

In its voluntary activity to indicate assistance, the Movement is in no way guided by the desire for profit.

UNITY

There can only be one National Red Cross or Red Crescent Society in a country. It should be open to everyone and carry out its humanitarian activities throughout the country.

VERSATILITY

The movement is worldwide. All National Societies enjoy equal rights and obligations to assist each other.

CODE OF CONDUCT FOR THE INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS AND RED CRESSION MOVEMENT AND NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS (NGOs) IN DISASTER AND DISASTER RELIEF OPERATIONS

Prepared jointly by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross

Goals

The purpose of this Code is to preserve our code of conduct. It does not contain operational instructions, for example, on how to calculate the food ration or set up a refugee camp. The purpose of the Code is to maintain the high level of independence, efficiency and effectiveness sought by disaster relief NGOs and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. This is a voluntary Code, the observance of which is ensured by the desire of the organization that joined it to maintain the norms set forth in it.

In the event of armed conflict, this Code of Conduct will be interpreted and applied in accordance with the provisions of international humanitarian law.

The text of the Code of Conduct itself is presented first. It has three appendices describing conditions of operation that facilitate the effective delivery of humanitarian assistance, and which we would like to expect from host States, donor States and intergovernmental organizations.

NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations) - in this document refers to national and international organizations established separately from the government of the country in which they are established.

NGGOs (Non-Governmental Humanitarian Organizations) is a term created specifically for this document and covers the constituent parts of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement - the International Committee of the Red Cross, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and its member National Societies - as well as NGOs , as defined above. In this Code, we are talking about those BPGOs that are engaged in the provision of assistance in the event of natural disasters and catastrophes.

IGOs (intergovernmental organizations) - the term refers to organizations established by two or more governments. Thus, all UN organizations and regional organizations are included.

A natural disaster or catastrophe is an event of a catastrophic nature. resulting in loss of life and significant suffering, as well as serious material damage.

CODE OF CONDUCT

PRINCIPLES OF ACTIVITIES OF THE INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS AND RED CRESS MOVEMENT AND NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS (NGOs) IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRAMS TO RELIEVATE THE CONSEQUENCES OF CATASTROPHES AND NATURAL DISASTERS.

1. Priority given to pressing humanitarian needs

The right to receive and provide humanitarian assistance is a fundamental humanitarian principle, and citizens of all countries should be able to enjoy this right. As members of the international community, we recognize our obligation to provide humanitarian assistance wherever it is needed. This necessitates unimpeded access to the affected population, which is essential in fulfilling this responsibility. The main purpose of our disaster relief work is to alleviate the suffering of people who are least able to withstand the stress of natural disasters and catastrophes. Our provision of humanitarian assistance is not an expression of partisanship or a political act and should not be considered as such.

2. Assistance is provided regardless of the race, creed or nationality of the recipient and without any adverse distinction. The priority of assistance is determined only by needs.

Whenever possible, our assistance will be based on a thorough assessment of the needs of the population affected by a natural disaster or catastrophe and an assessment of the local capacity to meet those needs. All our programs will reflect considerations of proportionality. Wherever people suffer, we must alleviate those suffering; life has the same value in one part of the country as in another. Thus, the help we provide will reflect the degree of suffering it is designed to alleviate. In implementing this approach, we recognize the critical role that women play in areas where natural disasters and catastrophes are most likely to occur. Our assistance programs will support this role, not diminish it. The pursuit of such a universal, impartial and independent policy can only be effective if we and our partners have access to the necessary resources to provide such impartial assistance and access to all victims of the disaster without any distinction.

3. The aid will not be used to support any political or religious position.

Humanitarian assistance will be provided according to the needs of individuals, families or communities. Despite the right of Non-Governmental Humanitarian Organizations (NGGOs) to hold certain political or religious points of view, we firmly state that assistance will not depend on the adherence of the recipients to one or another point of view. We will not condition the promise, delivery, and distribution of aid on adherence to, or acceptance of, a particular political point of view or creed.