Russian Red Cross Society: history of creation, goals and functions. Charter of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (Russian, English) of the Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

Russian society The Red Cross is part of the international movement of the same name, known for its humanitarian focus. The protection of human life and health, the alleviation of human suffering, the formation of respect for each individual are the key tasks of the largest humanitarian association on the planet. As of 2018, the movement exists in 190 states, and the number of volunteers taking part in the humanization of the planet is estimated at millions of people.

How did the MOCC come about?

The Russian Red Cross Society appeared somewhat later than the world one, this is often forgotten by historians and lovers of antiquity. The idea of ​​creating an international community appeared in 1859 with the Swiss businessman Henri Dunant, who witnessed the battle of Solferino, in which more than 40,000 people were injured. The medical services did not have time to help the wounded, and the entrepreneur appealed for help to the residents of nearby villages. He used the motto: "All men are brothers" to attract volunteers, regardless of their country and nationality. Many people liked the idea of ​​universal equality.

Dunant later wrote a book about the battle, in which he expressed the idea of ​​​​creating an international organization capable of providing all possible support to the victims of hostilities. As a result, the predecessor of today's Red Cross appeared in 1863 and was then called the International Committee for the Relief of the Wounded. In addition to Dunant, it included four more residents of Geneva: philanthropists and doctors. Under their patronage, in 1864, the famous convention was adopted regulating the fate of the wounded and sick soldiers, and also implying the creation of a committee that would deal with providing assistance to such citizens in each country.

What does the Red Cross organization do?

Today, this humanitarian organization has a large number of powers and functions. In addition to helping the victims of military clashes, volunteers help to restore separated families, protect the civilian population, and also interact with services involved in the search for missing people. The activities of the Russian Red Cross Society correspond to global goals and guidelines; this is a prerequisite for the existence of a division of the organization in our country.

Among other things, the committee provides supplies for residents of combat areas, and also organizes refugee camps, where they get the opportunity to protect themselves and their families from natural disasters, wars and other conflicts. The key difference of this organization lies in the unity of people who differ from each other in their social status, nationality and religion.

How about in Russia?

The year of the creation of the Russian Red Cross Society is considered to be 1854, its founder was from the Romanov family. Then it was about the community, where they trained sisters of mercy, who were supposed to replenish the staff of hospitals in Sevastopol, which was then under siege. During the year, about 200 girls comprehended the basics of medical affairs under the guidance of the famous surgeon N. I. Pirogov.

Some historians, answering the question of when the Russian Red Cross Society was created, recommend counting from 1867. It was then that Emperor Alexander II approved the charter of the organization, which was supposed to take care of the sick and wounded military personnel. In 1879 she received modern name, its honorary members were secular persons close to the court. The Empress personally patronized the society, it was thanks to her that it managed to gain significant weight in the then society.

The organization received its first "baptism of fire" in 1870, the personnel trained by it provided medical assistance on the fields of the Franco-Prussian war. The experience gained made it clear to its leaders that it is important to bring medicines, dressings, the necessary equipment in a timely manner, and medical personnel should be constantly trained, since there are more and more victims as a result of hostilities with each battle.

After analyzing the work of the organization, the government came to an important conclusion in 1882 - the creation of the Russian Red Cross Society had a positive effect on the situation in the country. At the same time, volunteers began to provide assistance to the sick and wounded soldiers in Peaceful time. The soldiers were treated for free, and they were also given the opportunity to learn a craft. Disabled homes, orphanages, orphanages, and a widow's home were opened. Soldiers who were injured were provided with vouchers to various medical institutions in Russia and foreign countries.

During the First and Second World Wars, the efforts of the Red Cross in Russia trained more than a million nurses and combatants who knew how to provide first aid to the wounded. For family reunification in 1945, even the Central Information Bureau had to be connected, which then accepted almost 3 million applications for lost relatives and family members.

How did the echoes of the war affect the ROCK?

In 1945, a large number of people lost sight of each other, broken families for many years trying to find their loved ones. Many of them used the services of the Information Tracing Center of the Russian Red Cross Society, which was opened specifically to help the population find missing people. The regulations for the work of the institution were approved in 1949 in Geneva, it was planned that it would only search for those who went missing during the Second World War.

Today, the Russian Red Cross Society is one of the first places where, along with the police, residents of our country turn when their close people and relatives go missing. The social search is carried out in joint cooperation with a large number of similar institutions in different countries peace. Often, lost people are found after inquiries sent to the international tracing service, located in the German city of Bad Arolsen.

Each request is considered individually with the help of volunteers, and in approximately 80% of cases the searches end successfully. The center is located in Moscow at st. Kuznetsky most, d. 18/7, if you do not have the opportunity to come there in person, you can send your request in writing using the index - 107031. Also, all your questions about the search for missing people can be asked by phone, which are available on the official website Society.

What is the functionality of the Russian branch?

After the collapse Soviet Union the organization continued to exist, in 1992 it was decided to liquidate the Soviet branch and form the Russian Red Cross Society on its basis. A year later, the leaders of the organization began to carry out active program activities: new shelters were opened, the population was massively trained to provide first aid, and support was provided to the vulnerable sections of the country's population.

In the late 1990s, the efforts of the local branch of the institution in Russia began an active fight against AIDS and tuberculosis. In parallel, various support was provided to migrants forced to leave their homes due to military conflicts. Floods and hurricanes in the south of Russia in the early 2000s did not go unnoticed by Red Cross volunteers, the victims received qualified assistance in the shortest possible time.

2012 was a real test for Russian volunteers a real test - floods in Derbent and Krymsk claimed a large number human lives, about 10 thousand people sought medical help. Since then, training events for doctors of various specializations have been constantly held in the North Caucasus.

What are the goals and objectives of the Red Cross?

Every day, the functionality of this organization is expanding and requires the involvement of an increasing number of volunteers. The tasks of the Russian Red Cross Society have always been of a humanitarian nature, its volunteers must protect human dignity and the lives of those people who unwittingly became victims of armed clashes and other conflicts. The main purpose of the organization is to prevent the possible suffering of all mankind.

The Russian branch of the world humanitarian organization is obliged to carry out activities on the territory of our country aimed at protecting health and helping victims of conflicts. It should actively contact the medical services and the Ministry of Emergency Situations in each region, since the latter most often take part in the evacuation and involuntary resettlement of citizens for one reason or another.

The activities of humanitarian organizations are usually studied in detail in sociology courses. Students who come across the question “Name the tasks of the Russian Red Cross Society” in the exam, in addition to all of the above, note the creation of a service that searches for missing people. Also here they include the organization of voluntary blood donation from citizens, residents of the state, the reception and distribution humanitarian aid from other countries and companies. The institution also publishes an annual report detailing income and expenses, which can be viewed by anyone.

What divisions exist within society?

A key component of a humanitarian organization is a number of local and regional branches, created back in the 20th century and today functioning according to a single existing charter. Also, the structure of the Russian Red Cross Society includes charitable foundation, created in 2003 to attract resources that can solve a number of problems in the social sphere. Today, the team of this fund, in addition to its main activity, is actively working to improve the psychological and moral state of Russians, conducts educational activities, and also helps those Russians who cannot defend their interests to undergo social rehabilitation.

Among other things, the domestic division includes a resource center that deals not only with education, but also with the prevention of socially significant diseases: tuberculosis, HIV, etc. When creating the Russian Red Cross Society, a large number of social services were formed, the first of them began its work under the tsarist railway and exists to this day. In 1947, a hospital was opened in Addis Ababa by the forces of the Soviet division of the world humanitarian organization, which, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, is also under the jurisdiction of Russian specialists.

Who helps ROCK?

Despite the fact that Russia has been at peace for a long time, there is enough work for the staff of the humanitarian organization. Our volunteers help residents various countries where the fighting is taking place. At the same time, partners of the organization - private and state structures of various directions and spheres - provide great support here. In some cases, direct financing is provided by the Government of the Russian Federation, allocating the necessary amount from the budget.

The history of the creation of the Russian Red Cross Society and its further functioning includes a large number of cases when various humanitarian events were carried out with the money of patrons. Initially, financing was carried out only by state bodies, but today anyone can provide all possible support and transfer any amount to the organization's accounts. At the same time, it is not at all necessary to help with money, you can donate clothes, warm clothes, toys to the branch of a humanitarian institution, perhaps with their help someone will get hope for better life and again believe in human kindness.

Who can benefit from cooperation with the RRCS?

The Russian Red Cross Society aims to train as many people as possible in first aid. Anyone can enroll in these courses just because in every family there are elderly people who may need it at any time. In addition, we never know where and when we will have to face an emergency. In training centers, you can learn how to save the life of someone in trouble before the arrival of doctors, learn all about the simplest first aid methods and how you can help others and yourself.

At the end of the 19th century, when the organization was just being created, it was planned that it would work for free and not require any financial investment from all those who applied there for help. The creation of the Russian Red Cross Society was carried out according to a similar principle, which is why all the courses and trainings that are held under its patronage were initially free. Unfortunately, now the situation has changed, but all proceeds go to good causes.

Over the past few years, cases of fraud have become more frequent, when some organizations provide paid first aid training under the guise of a world-famous humanitarian organization. In order not to get into trouble, it is best to contact its volunteers and representatives directly.

How can youth help?

The contribution of the younger generation has always been highly valued by volunteers and trustees. In the 1920s, there were so many volunteers that a health service for the pioneers of the Russian Red Cross Society had to be opened. Each pioneer detachment had its own first-aid kit, children's sanatoriums were opened, and active educational work was carried out aimed at improving the quality of life for children. In 1925, not far from Gurzuf, a children's health camp "Artek" appeared, created with the help of the ROCK.

Today, the activity of the Russian Red Cross Society is literally based on initiative youth. The organization is ready to accept people from 14 to 30 years old who are ready to actively work as a member of its local branch. Its leadership sets itself a large number of goals: attracting young people to voluntary work, integrating the younger generation in society, forming and spreading in society the idea of ​​equality and tolerance towards people who find themselves in a difficult situation.

A healthy lifestyle, gratuitous donation, humanism and mercy - all this is actively promoted by the participants of the humanitarian organization. In parallel, they carry out the prevention of social diseases and negative phenomena among the population, as well as attract citizens of their city to participate in various social programs. In emergencies, it is volunteers who are most often the first on the scene and try to help the victims.

, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies [d], American Red Cross, French Red Cross[d] and Polish Red Cross

Headquarters of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Geneva

international movement Red Cross and Red Crescent(also known as International Red Cross or International Red Crescent) is an international humanitarian movement founded in 1863 and uniting more than 17 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:

• International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
• International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies(IFRC & KP) International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)).
• National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

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.
• The standing committee is authorized body International Conference 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 help all the wounded on the battlefield, without exception or preference, strives under all 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 are obliged 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.

The 1929 Geneva Convention recognized the red crescent as a second protective emblem. This emblem is used by national organizations in many Muslim countries ah, but not everywhere where the majority of the population is Muslim. So, in Indonesia, the national society uses the emblem of the red cross, not the red crescent: according to the head of the society, this is due, in particular, to the fact that the organization, the emblem of the cross, and the country are religiously neutral.

Also, the status of the official symbol of the movement received the sign of the red lion and the sun, national symbol Iran. 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 international society respectively . 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.

In December 2005, after a rejected proposal to use the red Star of David as one of the symbols, as a result of the efforts of Israeli diplomats and representatives of the American Red Cross, a draft of a third, religiously neutral emblem, the red crystal, appeared.

The red cross has also been a registered trademark of Johnson & Johnson since 1906, and the emblem itself has been used by the company since 1887. In 1905, the US Congress banned the use of the red cross symbol by any organization other than the Red Cross. Since J&J had registered its logo earlier, an exception was made for it.

The Red Cross is a protective emblem and a registered mark of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, therefore the use of this symbol by other organizations is prohibited by international law. The 1949 Geneva Convention established the legal status of the ICRC, so the sign of the Red Cross (and Red Crescent) is protected throughout the world.

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. Help for medical services European countries Red Cross workers came from all over the world, including the US and Japan. 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 legal basis 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 were imprinted everyday life prisoners, receiving letters from home, etc. The International Committee thus tried to instill hope in the hearts of the families of prisoners of war, 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, at the initiative of the Japanese Red Cross Society, an international conference was held in Japan, which was attended by more than 250 representatives of the Red Cross societies from 57 countries. At this conference, a document was adopted allowing members of foreign Red Crosses to help foreign civilians in areas of military operations, but the Japanese Red Cross blocked attempts to extend this assistance to citizens of warring states, and in general, foreign delegates spoke of this conference as “about some kind of pretense." Because most governments had little interest in implementing this convention, it did not come into effect 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 of prisoners of war, reporting on 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. Since other prisoners often signed the receipt of the parcels, the International Committee was able to identify some 105,000 prisoners and deliver about 1.1 million parcels, mainly to Dachau, Buchenwald, Ravensbrück and Sachsenhausen.

Swiss officer Maurice Rossel, a delegate from the International Red Cross in Berlin, is known to have visited Auschwitz in 1943 and Theresienstadt in 1944. His memoirs were recorded by Claude Lanzmann in 1979 in documentary"Visitor from the living".

Marcel Junot, delegate of the International Committee of the Red Cross in a POW camp in Germany. (© Benoit Junod, Switzerland)

On March 12, 1945, the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Karl Jakob Burckhardt, received a message from SS General Ernst Kaltenbrunner with a positive response to the Red Cross' request to visit the concentration camps. Germany made it a condition that the delegates must remain in the camps until the end of the war. The International Committee sent 10 delegates. One of them, Louis Gefliger, managed to prevent the destruction of Mauthausen-Gusenby informing the American troops about the plans of the Germans, which saved about 60 thousand prisoners. An international committee condemned his actions as they were a private initiative that threatened the neutrality of the Red Cross in the war. Gefliger's reputation was rehabilitated only in 1990.

Another outstanding example of humanity was provided by Friedrich Born, the delegate of the International Committee in Budapest. He saved the lives of 11 to 15 thousand Jews. The Genevan physician Marcel Junod was one of the first Europeans to visit Hiroshima after the nuclear bombing.

In 1944, the International Committee of the Red Cross received the second Nobel Peace Prize. As during the First World War, this award was the only one during the war period from 1939 to 1945. After the war, the International Committee worked with the National Societies in an attempt to help the countries hardest hit by the war. In 1948, the Committee published a report describing its activities during the war. In 1996, the archives of the International Committee for this period were opened to academic and public research.

In the post-war period

On August 12, 1949, new amendments to the two previous Geneva Conventions were approved. The Annex for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded, Sick and Shipwrecked Members of the Armed Forces at Sea, now referred to as the Second Geneva Convention, was incorporated into the body of the Geneva Convention as a legacy of the 1907 Hague Convention. The Geneva Convention "for the Treatment of Prisoners of War" of 1929 was the second from a historical point of view, but after 1949 it began to be called the third, since it appeared later than the Hague. Taking into account the experience of the Second World War, the Fourth Geneva Convention "for the protection of civilians in time of war" was approved. Additional protocols of June 8, 1977 declared that the conventions were also valid in internal conflicts, such as civil wars. Today, the four conventions and their additional protocols contain more than 600 articles compared to the 10 articles of the original 1864 Geneva Convention.

Before the centenary, in 1963, the International Committee of the Red Cross, together with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, received the third Nobel Peace Prize. Since 1993, non-Swiss citizens have been eligible to be delegates to the International Committee. Since then, the number of such employees of the International Committee has reached 35%.

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IF RCC and RC)- provides all kinds of support to the national societies that are its members, and contributes to the implementation of all types of their activities aimed at improving the situation of the most socially vulnerable groups of the population. Founded in 1919, the Federation coordinates the work of the International Relief Movement for Refugees and Victims of Natural and Man-made Disasters, and also manages the activities of the Movement in emergency situations caused by the aggravation of the sanitary and epidemiological situation. The International Federation is the official representative of National Societies at the international level. It promotes cooperation among National Societies and enhances their capacity to run effective disaster preparedness, health and social assistance programs.

From the charter International Federation Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

The Federation remembers that the mottos "Inter arma caritas" ("Charity on the battlefield") and "Per humanitatem ad pacem" ("Through humanism to peace") express the ideals of the Movement.

Article 2 General purpose

1. The general purpose of the Federation is to always stimulate, support and facilitate all forms of humanitarian activity of the National Societies and contribute to them in every way, in order to prevent and alleviate the suffering of people, thus contributing to the maintenance and strengthening of world peace.

Article 3 Functions

1. In order to achieve a common Federation, the following functions shall be carried out, inter alia:

a) act as a permanent liaison, coordination and training body for the National Societies and provide the assistance they request;

b) contribute to the creation and development in each country of an independent and duly recognized National Society;

c) with all available means, render assistance to all victims of natural disasters and catastrophes;

d) helps National Societies to prepare for possible disasters, assists in the organization of their relief activities and in the conduct of the relief operations themselves;

e) organizes and coordinates international relief operations in accordance with the Principles and Rules for Conducting Relief Operations by the Red Cross and Red Crescent in the Event of Natural Disasters and Catastrophes, adopted by the international conference, and directs them;

f) encourage and coordinate the participation of National Societies in activities aimed at protecting the health of the population and improving social security, in cooperation with the relevant national authorities;

g) encourages and coordinates the exchange of opinions between National Societies on the education of children and youth in the spirit of humanism and the development of friendly relations between the youth of all countries;

h) assists the National Societies in recruiting new members and instilling in them the principles and ideals of the Movement;

i) provides assistance to victims of armed conflicts in accordance with agreements concluded with the International Committee of the Red Cross (hereinafter referred to as "ICRC");

j) assist the ICRC in its work to strengthen and develop international humanitarian law and cooperate with it in disseminating knowledge of this law, and Fundamental Principles among the National Societies;

2. In each country, the Federation shall act through or by agreement with the National Society and in accordance with the laws of that country.

Section III. Members of the Federation

Members of the Federation are National Societies admitted to it in accordance with Article 6. They are the basic organizational units of the Movement and constitute it. vitality, carrying out their humanitarian activities in accordance with their Statutes and national legislation, as well as with the Charter of the Movement and Fundamental Principles.

Article 31 Cooperation with the International Committee of the Red Cross

1. The Federation maintains regular and frequent contact with the ICRC at all appropriate levels with a view to coordinating their activities for the benefit of those in need of their protection and assistance.

2. The Federation shall conclude with the ICRC any agreements necessary for the coherence of the activities carried out by the two organizations.

Article 32 Cooperation with other international organizations

1. If the Federation considers it appropriate, it cooperates within the framework of these Statutes with international governmental and non-governmental organizations. Any agreement concluded with such organizations must be ratified by the Assembly.

(International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, IFRC) — international organization(Non-Governmental Association), a permanent representative body of National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies along with the International Committee of the Red Cross and the National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies of the Red Cross and Red Crescent.

The mission of the movement is to prevent or alleviate human suffering everywhere and at all times, to ensure respect for human dignity (in particular during armed conflict and other emergencies), to work for disease prevention, health and welfare, to encourage the involvement of volunteers, to promote constant readiness to the provision of assistance and, ultimately, the development of solidarity everywhere with all those who need help and protection of the movement.

In carrying out its mission, the movement is guided by fundamental principles - humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntariness, unity and universality.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) was founded in 1919 in Paris after the end of the First World War. The initiator of its creation was the president of the American Military Committee of the Red Cross, Henry Davison.

Initially, at an international medical conference in Paris, the League of Red Cross Societies was formed, which in 1983 was renamed the League of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and since 1991 became known as the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC and RC).

Initially, the goal of the IFRC and the KP was to improve the health of people in countries that had suffered greatly during the First World War.

Later, its tasks also became the unification existing societies Red Cross and promoting the creation of new societies. Initially, the federation brought together five member societies of the Red Cross - Great Britain, France, Italy, Japan and the USA. Currently, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies includes 189 national societies.

The Secretary General of the IFRC and the KP is Elhaj As Si, the President is Tadateru Konoe.

The Russian Red Cross Society (ROKK) was formed on May 15, 1867 and recognized by the International Committee of the Red Cross on October 5, 1921. Since May 1923 - the Red Cross Society of the RSFSR as part of the Union of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (SOCC and KP). In 1934, the ROCK as part of the SOCC and the CP was admitted to International League Societies of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (now the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent). Since 2002, the society has been called the All-Russian social organization"Russian Red Cross".

Introduction

International Red Cross, international public organization. Unites the League of Red Cross Societies (LOCC), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and national societies. LOCK was established in 1919; it includes the national societies of the Red Cross, Red Crescent, Red Lion and Sun. The ICRC was founded in 1863; elected from among Swiss citizens; as a neutral intermediary provides humanitarian assistance during armed conflicts ( Nobel Prize world, 1917, 1944, 1963). Location - Geneva.

Inspired by the impulse of a single man who did not remain indifferent to the plight of wounded soldiers, for the past 140 years the ICRC has helped millions of people affected by armed conflict around the world.

Along with its humanitarian programmes, the ICRC promotes the development of the law of armed conflict to ensure effective protection for those who do not or have ceased to take part in hostilities. The activities of the ICRC are based on the provisions of the Geneva Conventions.

The purpose of this work is to consider the history of the formation and activities of the International Red Cross.

History of the International Red Cross

RED CROSS, an international organization with branches in many countries, whose main goal is to prevent and alleviate human suffering. The impetus for the creation of such an organization was the impression of the young Swiss A. Dunant, who was among the neutral eyewitnesses of the battle of Solferino in Italy on June 24, 1859. By the end of the day, approx. 40,000 dead and wounded. Terrified by the suffering of people to whom no one paid attention, Dunant organized a relief group, consisting of volunteers. They bought everything they needed, placed the wounded and looked after them. Three years later, Dunant published a small pamphlet describing the aftermath of the battle, where he outlined ways to help people in a similar situation. He proposed the creation of volunteer detachments in each country to assist the victims of war and peacetime disasters. Dunant believed that the service to help the sick and wounded should be neutral, and suggested taking the first steps towards its creation in peacetime. As a result, in 1864 (from August 8 to 22) a conference was held in Geneva with the participation of official representatives of 16 European countries, where the Geneva Convention of 1864 on improving the condition of the sick and wounded fighting armies on the battlefield was adopted. This convention, signed by delegations from 12 countries, provided for the neutrality of the personnel of the medical services of the armed forces and civilians helping them, humane treatment of the wounded, and also approved the international emblem of medical personnel. In honor of Dunant's homeland - Switzerland - a red cross on a white field was chosen as a symbol (the Swiss flag, where the red and white colors were reversed). The original Geneva Convention has been revised and amended several times. Victims of military operations at sea (1907) and prisoners of war (1929) were taken under the protection of the Red Cross. The Geneva Convention on Assistance to Prisoners of War gave the Red Cross the right to supervise the conditions of their detention. Later, in 1949, it was extended to the civilian population during the war. International Committee of the Red Cross. A group of prominent Swiss citizens who participated in the convening of the Geneva Conference later formed the International Committee of the Red Cross. Its function is to officially recognize new national organizations, working on the development of international humanitarian agreements (especially the Geneva Conventions) and monitoring their implementation; during wars and internal conflicts, the International Committee of the Red Cross acts as a neutral intermediary in order to provide assistance and protection to the victims of hostilities, monitors the conditions of detention of prisoners of war and makes recommendations for improving these conditions. The International Committee, headquartered in Geneva, is elected from among Swiss citizens. The International Conference of the Red Cross was first held in Paris in 1867. The conference meets every four years and is the highest deliberative body of the Red Cross. Representatives of national organizations, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the League of Red Cross Societies and delegations of countries that have signed the Geneva Conventions take part in its work. National Red Cross Societies. By 1900 Red Cross societies were organized in almost 30 countries. Extensive programs of activity in military conditions were developed. At the same time, the Red Cross also has new, peaceful tasks aimed at overcoming the consequences of natural disasters and developing healthcare. To date, these tasks are being addressed through a wide network of programs for health protection, humanitarian assistance and security, as well as general and special educational programs. National Societies are independent voluntary organizations, although they receive their powers from their governments. These societies receive international recognition under the following conditions: the governments of their countries must strictly comply with the decisions of the Geneva Conventions; the activities of National Societies must be approved by their legitimate governments, and the societies themselves must abide by the charter and be guided by the fundamental principles of the International Red Cross. The League of Red Cross Societies is an association of national organizations created in 1919. The original goal of the League was to develop a program of mutual assistance and development designed for peacetime. Today, the main tasks of the League (which has a permanent secretariat in Geneva) include helping the newly formed Red Cross Societies, uniting the activities of its various groups, expanding the scope and resources of national organizations and coordinating their efforts in the event of international natural disasters. The League of Red Cross Societies includes 106 national organizations with a total membership of over 188 million. The League is supported by voluntary donations from its members.

Fundamental principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement

HUMANITY

The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, born of the desire to help all the wounded on the battlefield, without exception or preference, strives under all 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.

VOLUNTARY

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.

The fundamental principles were proclaimed at the 20th International Conference of the Red Cross in Vienna in 1965. This revised text is part of the Statutes of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement adopted at the XXV International Conference of the Red Cross held in Geneva in 1986.

Emblems of the Red Cross

The four parts of the Geneva Red Cross symbolized the four virtues: moderation, prudence, justice and courage. The sign was created by reversing the colors of the national flag of Switzerland at the suggestion of General Dufour, since the Swiss citizens Henri Dunant and Gustave Moynier were the initiators of the 1862 conference, after which it was formed International Committee red cross. The image of the emblem was approved by the conference participants due to its simplicity and ease of recognition. Later in 1876, Turkey announced that it would use the image of a red crescent as an emblem.

The emblem of the Red Cross is the key to the implementation of all humanitarian activities - the emblem is designed to protect both the victims and the people who came to their aid. In countries with a predominantly Muslim population, traditionally, a red crescent is used instead of the red cross emblem, thus, the RED CROSS AND RED CRESCENT EMBLEM DO NOT HAVE ANY RELIGIOUS OR POLITICAL MEANING, ARE NOT SYMBOLS OF MEDICINE AND ARE EQUAL IN USE.

international red cross humanitarian

The role of the International Red Cross in shaping the humanitarian norms of international conflicts

The ICRC is an organization that in its activities is strictly guided by a written law, and this law is called the Geneva Conventions, with all their articles and paragraphs of articles. This predilection for the letter of the law lends precision and discipline to the work of the ICRC, but some others humanitarian organizations(for example, "Doctors Without Borders") criticize the International Red Cross for excessive caution, the neutrality of the lawyer. Perhaps this is also due to the fact that officially its representatives distance themselves from other non-governmental organizations working in the same field, and from the UN. For example, during the war in Bosnia, they tried in every way to delimit their activities from the actions of UN agencies, refusing, for example, to accompany columns of UN peacekeepers, as this could compromise their neutrality.