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The Fundamental Principles of the Red Cross and Red Crescent: Their origin and development

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 January 2010

Jean-Luc Blondel
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Extract

From the very first, the founding members of what was to become the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement realized that it was necessary to comply with a number of essential principles. The work of the Red Cross and Red Crescent is based on the fundamental idea of impartial assistance to anyone who is suffering, whether friend or foe.

Type
The Fundamental Principles of the Red Cross and Red Crescent
Information
International Review of the Red Cross (1961 - 1997) , Volume 31 , Issue 283 , August 1991 , pp. 349 - 357
Copyright
Copyright © International Committee of the Red Cross 1991

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References

1 Excerpt from Gustave Moynier's speech, approved by the Conference. Records of the proceedings of the International Conference held in Berlin from 22 to 27 April 1869, p. 264: “We believe that the raison d'être of the International Committee is also to act as a moral and historical link between all central committees, to be a guardian, as it were, of the 1863 resolutions which constitute the committees' common charter and embody the great principles of universal charity and judicious foresight that are the very essence and the beauty of our work”.

2 Moynier, G., “Ce que c'est que la Croix-Rouge”, Bulletin international, No. 21, 01 1875, pp. 1–8.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

3 “Essential conditions to be met by all Red Cross Societies (in accordance with decisions adopted by the International Committee):

1. Belong to a country where the Geneva Convention is in force.

2. Belong to a country where no other such society has been recognized by the International Committee.

3. Be recognized by the government of its country as auxiliary to the army medical services.

4. Bear the name “Red Cross Society”.

5. Adopt the symbol of a red cross on a white ground.

6. Be headed by a central commitee, which alone represents it in dealings with other Societies.

7. Extend its activities to the entire territory of the country and its dependencies.

8. Be open to all citizens, without distinction based on sex, religion or political opinion.

9. If possible extend its programme to all branches of army medical services.

10. Undertake to prepare itself in peacetime to be able to provide aid in wartime.

11. Adhere to the principle of moral solidarity which binds all National Societies.

12. Undertake to maintain close relations with other National Societies and with the International Committee.”

Published in Organisation générate et programme de la Croix-Rouge, d'après les décisions prises dans les Conférences Internationales, ICRC, 2nd edition, Geneva, 1898, pp. 25–26.Google Scholar

4 10th International Conference of the Red Cross, Geneva 1921, Resolution XVI (“International Organization of the Red Cross”), para. 3. Records, p. 221.Google Scholar

5 International Red Cross Handbook, Twelfth edition, 1983, pp. 549–551.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

6 Boissier, Edmond, “L'avenir de la Croix-Rouge”, Revue Internationale de la Croix-Rouge, No. 20, 15 08 1920, pp. 881–888; quotation p. 883.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

7 “The Red Cross realises that it is man's conscience, his inmost sense of responsibility, which dictates his every action in favour of his fellow creatures. In order not to offend these sacred sentiments the Red Cross must adopt an attitude of neutrality to religious and philosophical conceptions. Such neutrality is an attitude not of indifference, but of respect”. Excerpt from Max Huber's address to the 15th International Conference of the Red Cross, Tokyo, 20 October 1934. Pictet, Jean, Red Cross Principles (Preface by Max Huber), ICRC, Geneva, 1956.Google Scholar

9 First meeting: 4 November 1958; second meeting: 14 April 1959.