Transcript Document 7220470

JEAN HENRI DUNANT PROMOTER OF RED CROSS
Jean Henri Dunant was born in Geneva on 8 May 1828.
On 24 June 1859, Dunant arrived at Solferino where he
witnessed one of the fiercest battles of the nineteeth
century. The Battle of Solferino lasted for more than 15
hours and more than 40,000 were wounded. With the help of
the villagers at Castiglione, he worked tirelessly, giving
comfort and what medical care he could to the injured men.
Back at Geneva, Dunant wrote and published a book entitled
"A Memory of Solferino” in 1862, which he put forward his
ideas to foster the creation in every country of a society for
the relief of the military wounded and capable of helping the
army medical services to carry out their tasks.
In his effort to establish the Red Cross, Dunant neglected his
business and he was declared bankrupt in 1867.
Deprived of his citizenship, Dunant resigned from the ICRC and
left Geneva to live in Paris.
In 1872, Dunant left Paris and went to London to pursue his
ideas to convince people of the need for an international treaty
for protection of prisoners-of-war.
Dunant left England in 1874 and wandered from place to place
for the next twelve years, living in poverty and obscurity.
In 1887, Dunant returned to Heiden where he spent the rest of
his days.
In 1895, one young journalist discovered Dunant warded in
District Hospital. Dunant became famous again after his story
was published.
Dunant was awarded the first Nobel Peace Prize for
humanitarian work in December 1901.
Dunant died on 30 October 1910 (82 years old).
RED CROSS MOTTO
Serve one another
RED CROSS PROMISE
We, as members of the Singapore Red Cross Society, promise to serve
our country, and to join with others all over the world to help the sick
and the suffering
RED CROSS SONG
Come let us pledge again, each heart and hand,
To thee the flag we serve, friends in every land.
Come let us give anew, each thought and mind,
To be a light to shine, over all mankind.
So may our emblem be proudly unfurled,
To link the chain of youth for service thru the world
Oh give us strength to prove, sure and sublime,
To make the cause we serve, shine over the hills of time.
THE EMBLEM
The Red Cross emblem (5 red squares on a white background)
was adopted in 1863 in honour of Switzerland, obtained by
reversing the colours of the Swiss flag.
In 1876, Turkey adopted the emblem of the Red Crescent (a red
crescent on a white background) and it was mostly used by
Islamic countries.
The two distinctive emblems are equally recognised and
protected since the diplomatic Conference of 1929. It is to
ensure the protection of the war-wounded and of all the
persons caring for them. Any abuse of the emblems endanger
the entire system and constitutes a grave breach of
international law.
FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES
adopted in 1965
Humanity
Impartiality
Neutrality
Independence
Voluntary Service
Unity
Universality
GENEVA CONVENTIONS
 First Geneva Convention was signed in 1864 to save the
wounded soldiers on battlefields.
 Second Geneva Convention was signed in 1906 to
extend the principles of the First Convention to the
victims of naval warfare including shipwrecked men.
 Third Geneva Convention was signed in 1929 to protect
the welfare of prisoners-of-war and it contains elaborate
and detailed rules for their treatment.
 Fourth Geneva Convention was signed in 1949 contains
rules to ensure the safety of civilians to an occupied
territory and those who happen to be in the enemy
country during the war.
ADDITIONAL PROTOCOLS
signed on 8 June 1977
Protocol I concerns international armed conflicts. It
prohibits random attacks against civilians and the
things which civilians need to survive such as crops
and livestock. It prohibits massive air bombardments.
The parties involved in the conflict must provide
medical aid and food to civilians, otherwise to permit
relief supplies by the ICRC.
Protocol II concerns internal conflict or civil war in
which the government of a country finds itself at grips
with rebel forces. It covers the protection of rebel
forces and the like. It provides a body of rules aimed
at safeguarding certain basic values such as respect
for the physical and moral integrity of the individual
and the decent treatment for persons deprived of their
freedom.
INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW
What is International Humanitarian Law (IHL)?
International Humanitarian Law (IHL), or the Law of War,
consists of a set of laws which serves to limit human
suffering inflicted during situations of international or
non-international armed conflict. They include rules
pertaining to the protection of cultural property and to
the limited use of weapons. If wars cannot be prevented,
then human suffering should be minimised. IHL lays out
that even war has limits.
The four Geneva Conventions form an important part of
the international law. To make this law enforceable, the
Convention stipulates that the signatory states shall
enact suitable legislation in their respective countries to
deal with the grave breaches of the Conventions under
their criminal law and suitable penalties should be
prescribed for these offences.
INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS AND
RED CRESCENT MOVEMENT
 International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
 International Federation of the Red Cross and Red
Crescent Societies (IFRC)
 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (NS)
(presently 176)
These institutions meet once every four years, with
representatives of the States party to the Geneva
Conventions, at an International Conference of the Red
Cross and Red Crescent
INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE
RED CROSS (ICRC)
ICRC is an independent humanitarian institution of a
private character, neutral as regards to political opinions,
ideology and religion. The Assembly is the supreme
policy-making body of ICRC.
ROLES
 Promoter of Geneva Convention
 Neutral Institution
 Right of Initiative
 Guardian of Principles
 Protect the Wounded, POWs and Internees
 Feed, Clothe and House Prisoners and Internees
INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE RED CROSS
AND RED CRESCENT SOCIETIES (IFRC)
Formerly known as League of Red Cross and Red Crescent
Societies (LRCS) until 1992. LRCS was founded on 5 May
1919 (after World War I) in Paris by Henry Pomeroy Davidson,
Chairman of the American Red Cross War Council. The founder
members were the NRCS of USA, France, United Kingdom,
Italy and Japan.
The main objectives of IFRC are to inspire, encourage,
facilitate and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian
activities carried out by the National Societies with a view to
the prevention and alleviation of human suffering and thereby
contribute to the maintenance and the promotion of peace in
the world.
IFRC maintains close relation with the ICRC in order to coordinate and harmonise their respective activities laid down
by the Statues of their respective institutions.
ROLES OF IFRC
 Encourages the creation and development of NS
 Advises and assists NS in development of their services
 Organises and coordinates international relief for victims
of natural disasters and refugees
 Promotes the adoption of national disaster prepardness
 As a permanent liaison body of NS, to act as their
spokesman and representative internationally
 Assists the ICRC in the promotion and development of
IHL and Red Cross fundamental principles
 Carries out the mandates entrusted to it by the ICRC
NATIONAL RED CROSS AND
RED CRESCENT SOCIETIES (NS)
Activities are varied as the countries they serve. They
include emergency relief, health services and social
assistance to individuals and communities, first aid courses
for the public, training of nursing personnel, blood services,
youth programmes, etc.
In wartime, Societies serve as auxiliaries to the army
medical services, care for military wounded and sick, and
aid prisoners, refugees and civilian internees.
Societies must fulfill stringent conditions to achieve
international recognition by the ICRC and obtain Federation
membership. Among them, respect of Red Cross Principles
and recognised by their government as voluntary aid
societies, auxiliaries to public authorities in humanitarian
matters.
INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS WORKS
 ICRC and Political Prisoners
 Improving the Plight of Political Detainees
 Red Cross and Peace
 Red Cross and Youth
 Red Cross and War
 Red Cross and Natural Disasters
 Red Cross and Health
 Red Cross and First Aid
 Red Cross and Nursing
 Red Cross and Communication
 Red Cross and Blood Donation
 Central Tracing Agency
 International Tracing Service
THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF
HUMAN RIGHTS
Adopted and proclaimed by General Assembly resolution 217A (iii) of 10
December 1948
The General Assembly proclaims this Universal Declaration of
Human Rights as a common standard of achievement for all
peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and
every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in
mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote
respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive
measures, national and international, to secure their universal
and effective recognition and observance, both among the
peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples
of territories under their jurisdiction.
The Declaration constitutes a total of 30 Articles.
SINGAPORE RED CROSS
SOCIETY (SRCS)
Red Cross work in Singapore began in 1949 as part of the British Red
Cross Society and SRCS was incorporated by an Act of Parliament on 6
April 1973.
SRCS is part of a world-wide, non-political, non-religious movement
which based its work on the fundamental principles. An independent
humanitarian organisation, it raises its own funds in serving humanity
and furthering the work of the Red Cross locally and internationally.
The Council is headed by a Chairman which is appointed by the
President of the Republic of Singapore, the Patron of the SRCS.
Implementation of the policies and directives laid down by the Council is
done by the Secretariat headed by the Secretary General.
The general management is overseen by the Executive Committee.
ORGANISATION CHART OF THE SINGAPORE RED CROSS SOCIETY
COUNCIL
FINANCE COMMISSION
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
LEGAL COMMISSION
MEDICAL COMMISSION
SECRETARIAT
STANDING COMMITTEES AND TASK FORCES
Services
- Red Cross Home for the Disabled
- Red Cross Hostel for the Physically Handicapped Workers
- Red Cross Blood Donor Recruitment Programme
- Red Cross Ambulance Service
- First Aid Public Duty
- Information & Referral
Volunteer Development
Red Cross Training Centre
International Services
- International Development and Assistance
- Regional and International Bilateral / Multilateral Development and
Relief Projects
- International Attachment and Exchange
- International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Dissemination
Fund Raising & Public Relations
Finance and Administration
Red Cross Home for the Disabled Advisory Committee
Red Cross Home the Disabled Cyclical Maintenance and
Repair Work Advisory Committee
Red Cross Ambulance Service Advisory Committee
International Services Committee
Fund Raising Planning Committee
Steering Committee of Blood Donor Recruitment Programme
Training and Development Committee
Red Cross Training Centre
Examination Board of the Red Cross Training Centre
Red Cross House Renovation Advisory Committee
Task Force for the Review of the Constitution of the SRCS
Active Divisions
* Red Cross Youth * Voluntary Aid Detachments * Welfare
ACTIVITIES
SERVICES
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Red Cross Home for the Disabled
Red Cross Hostel for Physically Handicapped Workers
Red Cross Blood Collection Programme
Red Cross Ambulance Service
Red Cross Training Centre
First Aid Public Duty
Information & Referral
Volunteer Development
International Services
Fund Raising & Public Relations
Finance & Administration
RED CROSS YOUTH DIVISION
as from 1 January 2001
ORGANISATION CHART
DIRECTOR
DEPUTY DIRECTOR
COMMUNITY SERVICE COMMITTEE
HUMAN RESOURCE COMMITTEE
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
HONONARY TREASURER
HONONARY SECRETARY
UNIT SUPERVISORY PANEL
VOLUNTEER INSTRUCTORS
DEPARTMENTS
Cadet Affairs
First Aid Duty
Information
DISTRICTS
Training
Welfare
North
East
South
West