MOVEMENT COMPONENTS

Union League of Red Cross and Red Crescent

At the end of the first world war most of the regions in Europe is very chaotic, ruined economy, the population is reduced drastically due to the epidemic. A large number of refugees who are poor and those who do not have to meet the continent’s nationality. War is very clearly shown the need for strong cooperation between Red Cross association for his activities in wartime can attract thousands of volunteers. Henry P. Davison, President of the American Red Cross War Committee, proposed an international conference on medical (April 1919, Cannes, France) for “to the federation of red cross society from various countries into an organization equivalent to the league of nations, in terms of world war improve health, prevent disease and relieve suffering. “

Union League of Red Cross and Red Crescent then formally established with its headquarters in Paris by the French Red Cross Society, the UK, Italy, Japan, the United States on May 5, 1919 with the main objective to improve health in countries that have suffered greatly after the war.

National Societies On a National And International Stage

Despite formal independence regarding its organizational structure and work, each national society is still bound by the laws of its home country. In many countries, national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies enjoy exceptional privileges due to agreements with their governments or specific “Red Cross Laws” granting full independence as required by the International Movement. The duties and responsibilities of a national society as defined by International Humanitarian Law and the statutes of the Movement include humanitarian aid in armed conflicts and emergency crises such as natural disasters.

The Mission Of The Federation And its Responsibilities Within The Movement

The Federation coordinates cooperation between national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies throughout the world and supports the foundation of new national societies in countries where no official society exists. On the international stage, the Federation organizes and leads relief assistance missions after emergencies like natural disasters, manmade disasters, epidemics, mass refugee flights, and other emergencies. According to the 1997 Seville Agreement, the Federation is the Lead Agency of the Movement in any emergency situation which does not take place as part of an armed conflict. The Federation cooperates with the national societies of those countries affected – each called the Operating National Society (ONS) – as well as the national societies of other countries willing to offer assistance – called Participating National Societies (PNS).

Organization of the Movement

Altogether, there are about 97 million people worldwide who serve with the ICRC, the International Federation, and the National Societies. And there are about 12,000 total full time staff members.

The 1965 International Conference in Vienna adopted seven basic principles which should be shared by all parts of the Movement, and they were added to the official statutes of the Movement in 1986.

* Humanity
* Impartiality
* Neutrality
* Independence
* Voluntary Service
* Unity
* Universality

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

In 1919, representatives from the national Red Cross societies of Britain, France, Italy, Japan, and the US came together in Paris to found the “League of Red Cross Societies“. The original idea was Henry Davison’s, then president of the American Red Cross. This move, led by the American Red Cross, expanded the international activities of the Red Cross movement beyond the strict mission of the ICRC to include relief assistance in response to emergency situations which were not caused by war (such as man-made or natural disasters). The ARC already had great disaster relief mission experience extending back to its foundation.

The formation of the League, as an additional international Red Cross organization alongside the ICRC, was not without controversy for a number of reasons. The ICRC had, to some extent, valid concerns about a possible rivalry between both organizations. The foundation of the League was seen as an attempt to undermine the leadership position of the ICRC within the movement and to gradually transfer most of its tasks and competencies to a multilateral institution. In addition to that, all founding members of the League were national societies from countries of the Entente or from associated partners of the Entente.