The
American Red Cross helps vulnerable people around the world to prevent, prepare
for, and respond to disasters, complex humanitarian emergencies, and
life-threatening health conditions.
International
Services initiatives focus on primary health care, emergency response and
preparedness, restoring family links, and the dissemination of international
humanitarian law.For each of these
priority areas, we promote cost-effective, community-based programs, whish
target large numbers of people with humanitarian aid that is rapid, effective,
and large-scale.
This
umbrella term refers to all the national and international organizations
allowed to use the Red Cross or Red Crescent emblem and all the activities they
undertake to relieve human suffering throughout the world.The International Red Cross and the Red
Crescent Movement is one of the largest humanitarian networks in the world with
a presence and activities in almost every country.It is unified and guided by seven Fundamental
Principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary
service, unity and universality.All Red
Cross and Red Crescent activities have one central purpose: to help those who
suffer, without discrimination whether it be during conflict, in response to
natural or man-made disasters, or to alleviate the suffering brought by
conditions of chronic poverty.
The
International Committee of Red Cross, the International Federation of Red Cross
and Red Crescent Societies and the national societies are independent
organizations.Each has its own
individual status and exercises no authority over the others.
Established
in 1863, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is at the origin
of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.The ICRC is an impartial, neutral and
independent organization whose exclusive humanitarian mission is to protect the
lives and dignity of victims of war and internal violence and to provide them
with assistance.It directs and
coordinates the international relief activities conducted by the Movement in
situations of conflict.Among its many
activities, the ICRC searches for missing persons, exchanges messages to and
from members of separated families, helps establish hospital and security zones
in embattled areas, visits prisoners of war and civilian detainees, spreads
knowledge and monitors compliance of humanitarian law, organizes international
aid programs and provides medical assistance for refugees, displaced people,
and other civilian victims of armed conflicts.It also endeavors to prevent suffering by promoting and strengthening
humanitarian law and universal humanitarian principles.
The International Federation of Red
Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Founded in
1919, the International Federation is a coalition of individual Red Cross and
Red Crescent national societies that coordinate relief efforts throughout the
world occurring outside the theater of war and other forms of armed conflict.Currently, the Federation comprises 181
member Red Cross and Red Crescent societies, a Secretariat in Geneva, Switzerland
and regional delegations strategically located to support activities around the
world.The Federation’s activities
include organizing and coordinating international disaster relief actions,
providing assistance to refugees outside areas of conflict, promoting national
disaster preparedness programs and strengthening the capacities of its member
national societies.
These are
the individual societies of nearly every independent country in the world.Chartered, as they must be, by their
respective governments, they provide a range of services including disaster
relief, health and social programs, and assistance to people affected by war
within their own borders and cooperate with other national societies
bilaterally, regionally, and through the Federation and the ICRC on relief and
development projects.They also assist
their own governments in carrying out each nation’s humanitarian treaty
obligations.Each country is allowed to
charter only one Red Cross or Red Crescent society within its territory.Together, the National Societies have 97
million members and volunteers and assist some 233 million beneficiaries each
year.The promotion of humanitarian
values is an intrinsic part of all Red Cross and Red Crescent activities.They also promote awareness of international
humanitarian law and advocate internationally through the Federation and with
the International Committee of the Red Cross.
The American
Red Cross is one of the 181 national societies throughout the world and shares
most characteristics with other national societies.It is dedicated to the Fundamental Principles
of the Movement, participates in all activities of the Movement, supports the
rose of the ICRC in conflict zones, and worlds alongside other national
societies in the Federation and in bilateral arrangements on a wide variety of
relief and development activities.
The Magen
David Adom (Red Star of David) is the equivalent of a national Red Cross or Red
Crescent society in Israel.The MDA is considered a part of the Movement
although the society doesn’t have full recognition by the Movement or voting
membership within the Federation.The
conflict revolves around the society’s use of a six-pointed Star of David as an
emblem rather than a red cross or red crescent – both protective symbols
recognized under the 1949 Geneva Conventions.
MDA has
sought recognition of the Red Star of David by the Movement since 1940.The American Red Cross remains committed to a
close working relationship with MDA and steadfast in its support of MDA’s quest
for equal status in the Movement.In
2000, the Board of Governors of the American Red Cross adopted a policy of
withholding dues to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent
Societies (Federation) until such time as the International Committee of the
Red Cross (ICRC) recognizes and the Federation admits MDA as a full voting
member.
