Red Cross Notes

Beginning of the Red Cross

^^Jean Henri Dunant^^

- Swiss Businessman

- Founder/ Father of the Red Cross Movement

TWO IDEAS OF THE MEMORY OF SOLFERINO

• $To create an organization of trained volunteers ready to assist the wounded in the war$

  - led to the ^^creation of the Movement^^

• $To promote an international agreement protecting the wounded soldiers on the battlefield and those who care for them$

  - led to the ^^development of modern International Humanitarian Law^^

Red Cross

- also referred to as “Red Crescent” ( to those who are uncomfortable because of their religion)

- In 192 countries

- considered to be the Guardians of the International Humanitarian Law

- Is not under the government

$MAIN PURPOSE: To Alleviate Human Suffering$

-- 3 COMPONENTS OF THE RED CROSS MOVEMENT --

• ^^International Committee of the Red Cross Movement (ICRC)^^

  - 1863

  - responsible for helping victims of war and conflict

  - promotes international humanitarian law

• ^^International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)^^

  - extends help to victims of natural disasters

  -contributes to capacity building of National Societies

• ^^National Societies (NS)^^

  - helps both ( victims of calamity and natural disasters)

  - renders health/ services/ social activities

International Humanitarian Law

• Protects those not or no longer participating in hostilities
• Restricts the use of weapons and methods of warfare
• Aims to protect human dignity, reduce suffering

When does IHL apply?

IHL applies to all parties to a conflict regardless of who started it and regardless of formal declarations on the existence of an armed conflict

7 Fundamental Principles of Red Cross

^^HINIVUU^^ → Acronym

$HUMANITY$ - ***“***We serve people but not systems”

→ protect life; being humane

→ promote mutual understanding, friendship

$IMPARTIALITY$ - “We care for victims w/o discrimination”

→ makes no distinctions

→ gives priority to the most urgent cases of distress

$NEUTRALITY$ - “We take initiatives but never sides”

→ do not take sides

$INDEPENDENCE$ - “We bow to need but not to any person”

→ Red Cross is independent and not controlled by the gov ; is auxiliary

$VOLUNTARY SERVICE$ - “We work around the clock but never for personal gain”

→ being passionate to serve and help others in need

$UNITY$ - “We have many talents but a single idea”

→ open to all; treat each other as family

$UNIVERSALITY$ - “We respect nations but our work knows no bounds”

→ has the same goal

EMBLEMS OF HUMANITY

• the Red Cross, Red Crescent, and Red Crystal. All the Emblems enjoy the same legal status and may be used as protective devices
• All should be on a white background (protocol)

Red Cross (1864)

Based on the flag of Switzerland

Red Crescent (1929)

based on the flag of Turkey

Red Crystal (2005)

USES OF EMBLEMS

• $Indicative uses$

  - mainly in ^^peace time^^

  - small and must bear additional information

• $Protective uses$

  - in ^^armed conflict^^

  - should be large as possible with no other information

The Red Cross and Other Emblems Act of 2013

R.A. 10530

- Act of $defining the use and protection$ of the Red Cross, Red Crescent and Red Crystal Emblems, providing protection

- state that the $misuse of the emblems shall not go unpunished$

R.A.10072

- The PRC shall be recognized as the $voluntary independent and autonomous non-governmental$ society

Emblems are protected by the R.A. 10072, R.A. 10530, and the GENEVA CONVENTIONS

EXCLUSIVE USE :

• AFP MEDICAL SERVICES
• PHILIPPINE RED CROSS
• ICRC
• IFRC

MISUSE OF EMBLEM

• ^^IMITATION^^
• ^^IMPROPER USE^^
• ^^PERFIDIOUS USE^^

The Red Cross Movement in a nutshell

• The ^^Largest Humanitarian Network Worldwide^^
• Guided by the Fundamental Principles
• ^^Prevents^^ ^^and^^ ^^alleviates^^ ^^human suffering^^ and does its best to ensure respect for human dignity, particularly in times of armed conflict and other emergencies
• Encourages ^^voluntary services^^ ^^and^^ ^^constant readiness^^ of the members of the movement to help
• INDEPENDENT

PHILIPPINE RED CROSS

→ Existing as a ^^National Society^^ since 1947

→ The PRC has evolved into one of the ^^most admired National Societies in the world^^ through becoming the $premier humanitarian organization$ in the country

→ committed to ^^providing quality life-saving services^^ that protect the life and dignity, especially of indigent Filipinos in vulnerable situations

BACKGROUND OF PRC

1892 → established as Philippine Women’s Red Cross

1947 → The Philippine National Red Cross was officially founded (original charter); R.A 95

2010 → Philippine Red Cross (new charter); R.A. 10072

VISION

→ To be the foremost humanitarian organization ready to meet challenges and capable of rapid delivery of humanitarian services in order to prevent and alleviate human suffering and uplift the dignity of the most vulnerable

OUR ORGANIZATION

• Member of an International Movement
• Governed by 30 board governments ( Board of Governors)
• Headed by a Secretary General
• 80% of manpower are Volunteers
• More than 1,000 staff nationwide
• Funded through Public Donations

143 - 44 members ( 1- adviser; 43 members)

Volunteers

- the backbone of the organization

- Red Cross began because of the act of volunteering

OUR SERVICES

NSHDMWR → acronym

• **$<em>NATIONAL BLOOD SERVICES</em>$ **

  → Mission: To save lives by providing safe blood and blood products in a cost-effective manner as a fulfillment social responsibility of the PRC, a humanitarian and Voluntary Service Organization

• **$<em>SAFETY SERVICES</em>$ **
• **$<em>HEALTH SERVICES</em>$ **
• **$<em>DISASTER MANAGEMENT SERVICES</em>$ **

  Disaster Risk Reduction and Management → Disaster Preparedness → Disaster Response → Disaster Recovery

Successful and Effective Disaster Response

           **Volunteers + Logistics + Information Technology =** ***RED CROSS (*** *Always First, Always Ready,                                                                                                                                        Always There)* 

• **$<em>WELFARE SERVICES</em>$ **
• **$<em>RED CROSS YOUTH</em>$ **

PRC IN A NUTSHELL

• ^^Largest humanitarian network^^ in the country
• Funded by voluntary contributions and public donations
• ^^Auxiliary to the government in the humanitarian field^^
• Member of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
• Currently with ^^104 chapters^^ strategically positioned all over the country

Other

^^Volunteerism^^ - is one who serves his own free will $without asking for compensation$ and is bound by the rules and regulations of the Organization

^^Service^^ - is $giving help$ $to someone else$ $in need$ and the things that you do or the skill that you use in an organization

^^Organization^^ - $people working together for a$ $common purpose$ and according to some recognized plan of work

RCY CATEGORIES

Junior Red Cross ( Elementary Students)

Senior Red Cross Youth ( Junior High School)

Senior Plus Red Cross Youth ( Senior High School)

College Red Cross (College Students)

Community Red Cross Youth ( Young Professionals & Out of School Youth)