World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day
- April Dykes
- 5月8日
- 読了時間: 4分
Blood is essential for all life. It helps deliver oxygen and important nutrients to our cells, removes waste from our bodies, helps fight infections, and many more things that would drastically decrease your quality of life. More than bodily functions, it connects families. It saves lives. Today, we celebrate World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day, the birth anniversary of Henry Dunant.
Whether you’ve donated blood, seen their logos, visited their hospitals, or have received help during disasters, we are all familiar with the Red Cross in some capacity. Many people, including me, are only familiar with this organization through its blood drives. However, it is so much more. The Red Cross is a part of a movement called the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. This movement, inspired by Henry Dunant, a Swiss humanitarian and businessman, has 3 components:
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
International Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
Though each component is independent, they all share the same purpose: “to help without discrimination those who suffer and thus contribute to peace in the world” (International Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies). They also uphold the same fundamental principles: Humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) was established in 1863 and laid the framework for the Geneva Convention. The original proposal for creating national relief societies to help military medical services was Dunant’s, which led to the Geneva Convention. That treaty made armies responsible for wounded soldiers, regardless of whether they were comrades or enemies, and it introduced the symbol that we know today, a red cross on a white background. This symbol signifies neutrality and that the person, building, etc, is impartial and not involved in the conflict.
There are 3 symbols associated with the Movement: the Red Cross, the Red Crescent, and the Red Crystal. The Red Cross is the original symbol of the Movement, it is an inversion of the Swiss flag. It shows the connection between Switzerland and the original Geneva Convention. The Red Crescent was created to avoid being associated with any religion. The Red Crystal was later created to “increase protection in situations where the existing emblems may not be respected as neutral” (IFRC). However, the Movement’s logo is the Red Cross and the Red Crescent.
According to their official website, the ICRC is neutral, impartial, and independent. Their stance allows them to help anyone at any time without bias during times of armed conflict. Regardless of the person’s country of origin, religious beliefs, gender, etc., the ICRC provides humanitarian aid. “The ICRC’s primary role was one of coordination, but it gradually became more involved in field operations as the need for a neutral intermediary between belligerents became apparent” (ICRC). Providing food and healthcare, using forensics to search for the missing and identifying the dead, and mediating are just a few of the things this organization does.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC) supports all 191 Red Cross and Red Crescent organizations globally. They are at work before disasters take place by facilitating volunteers, during disasters by supplying aid and ensuring that necessary materials are distributed, and after disasters, ensuring that the needs of the vulnerable are still being met before leaving the area.
The National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies are the part of the Movement that most people are familiar with. They are known as the backbone of the Movement and help with blood donations, healthcare, disaster preparedness, and more.. “National Societies act as auxiliaries to the public authorities of their own countries in the humanitarian field and provide a range of services including disaster relief, health and social programmes” (IFRC). Each national society is comprised of staff and volunteers whose capacity is determined by the nation in which they operate.
When a disaster occurs, the Red Cross is often the first to arrive and begin immediate aid and rescue. National societies are invaluable, as at times, they are the only organization able to operate in some countries due to outside organizations being unable to enter, conflicts, or a government becoming unstable and unable to aid its people.
Japan’s Red Cross Society was founded in Japan in 1877 by Count Tsunetami Sano. It was originally called the Philanthropic Society. Its name changed in 1887 and was officially recognized by the International Committee of the Red Cross on September 2, 1887. Since its creation in 1877, it has provided invaluable domestic and international aid during many disasters.
The Japanese Red Cross Society (JRCS) has 9 activities:
Members and volunteers:
International activities
Domestic disaster response
Blood programme
Medical services
Nursing education
Safety services
Junior Red Cross
Social welfare services
You can support the JRCS by donating, volunteering, and spreading the word. Even the smallest gestures can have a ripple effect, like we saw with Global Pay It Forward Day.
If you’re in the Osaka area and planning to be at the Expo, be sure to check out the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement Pavilion. They will be hosting a World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day celebration with performances by the Waseda Osaka High School Windband.
Every year, World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day has a theme. This year it is ‘Keeping Humanity Alive’. “...a call to celebrate those who give their time, and sometimes their lives, to ease the suffering of others and protect their inherent human dignity. In a time of unprecedented crises and loss, it’s also a poignant reminder of the daily dangers faced by humanitarian workers and our collective obligation to ensure their life-saving work is fully respected and protected” (IFRC).
With a theme like “Keeping Humanity Alive” for 2025, what can you do to keep humanity alive? Will you get involved or support those who are involved? Regardless of what you decide, let’s support humanity and continue to show it.
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Image 2 https://www.redcross.org/about-us/who-we-are/history/global-red-cross-network.html Image 3 https://www.redcross.ie/international-humanitarian-law/emblems-of-the-red-cross-movement/
Image 5 https://www.jrc.or.jp/english/
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