INTERNATIONAL
RED CROSS AND RED CRESCENT MOVEMENT
 History
of Movement Establishement
On 24 June 1859 in Solferino, northern Italy, French
and Italian armies were fighting the Austrian forces
in a bloody battle. On the same day, a young Swiss
man, Henry Dunant, came upon the scene on his way
to visit French Emperor, Napoleon III. Thousands
of soldiers were wounded, and no sufficient military
medical aids were available to treat 40.000 victims
of war. Touched by the suffering of the wounded,
Henry Dunant organized local people to treat the
wounded soldiers.
Upon his arrival in Switzerland, Henry Dunant written
down his thoughts and experience in a book with a
title "Memoir of Solferino" that shocked the whole
Europe. In his book, Henry Dunant proposed two ideas:
- First, the formation of an international humanitarian
organization that can be prepared its establishment
in times of peace in order to help the wounded
in battlefield,
- Secondly, the making of an international agreement
in order to protect the wounded and volunteers
and related organizations in providing assistance
in times of war.
In 1863, four Geneva men joined Henry Dunant to
develop the first ideas. They altogether formed
an "International Committee to help wounded soldiers",
that is now called "International Committee of
the Red Cross" (ICRC).
In its development, in order to carry out humanitarian
work in every country, a volunteer organization
is established with a mission to help army's medical
team in times of war. The organization is now called
the National Societies of the Red Cross or Red
Crescent.
Based on his second idea, in 1864 with the initiatives
of Switzerland Federal Government, an international
conference attended by delegates from several countries
agreed to make "convention for the amelioration
of the condition of the wounded in armies in the
field ". This convention was later improved and
extended to become Geneva Convention I, II, III
and IV in 1949, or widely known as the Red Cross
Convention. The convention is one of the International
Humanitarian Law (Hukum Perikemanusiaan Internasional
- HPI) components, i.e. an international regulation
to organize protection and assistance for victims
of war.
Components of the Movement
The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
(or known as the "Movement") consist of three
components:
- International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
/ ICRC)
- National Societies of the Red Cross and Red Crescent
Societies
- International Federation of the Red Cross and
Red Crescent Societies/Federation
In pursuing its mission, the components of the
Movement refer to the seven Fundamental Principles:
Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence,
Voluntary Service, Unity and Universality. The
role, mandate and responsibility of the ICRC, Federation
and National Societies and mechanism of organization
are based on the Movement Statues.
INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE
OF THE RED CROSS (ICRC)
- International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
was established in 1863, and has headquarters
in Switzerland. ICRC is an independent humanitarian
organization and neutral mediator. ICRC holds
to its initiatives or Geneva conventions 1949
assumes responsibility to give protection and
assistance to victims of international armed
conflicts and domestic unrest. In addition to
providing help and protection to victims of war,
ICRC also has the mission to ensure the respect
of the International Humanitarian Law.
- The International Federation of the Red Cross
and Red Crescent Societies is established in
almost every country, comprising 176 National
Federations. The activities of the National Federations
are diverse, including emergency disaster relief,
healthcare service, social donation, first aid
training and blood transfusion. The requirements
of establishment of the national societies are:
- " To be recognized by government which
has been a member of Geneva Convention
" To implement the fundamental principles of the
Movement The establishment of the International
Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC)
was pioneered by Henry Davidson of the United States.
- Federation was legalized in the International
Health Convention in 1919 with the mission to
coordinate humanitarian help, especially health
care and social assistance for the victims of
World War I. The Federation is based in Switzerland
and holds the responsibility to coordinate members
of the National Societies in humanitarian donation
program in times of peace and facilitate the
development of national red cross.
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