The World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day is annually observed across the globe on 8th May to celebrate the principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
The day 8th May marks the birth anniversary of Jean Henry Dunant, (born on 8th May 1828), the founder of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the first Nobel Peace Prize laureate (1901).
Note: The first Nobel Peace Prize was jointly received by Jean Henry Dunant and Frédéric Passy.
The theme of 2022 World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day is “Be Human Kind”.
Background:
i.The Board of Governors of the League of the Red Cross Societies (LORCS) proposed the celebration of World Red Cross Day in 1946 and it was later adopted in 1948.
ii.The first International Red Cross Day was celebrated on 8th May 1948.
iii.The celebration was renamed as World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day in 1984.
History of IFRC:
i.The IFRC is the world’s largest humanitarian network, comprising 192 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies working to save lives, build community resilience, strengthen localization and promote dignity around the world.
ii.IFRC was founded as the League of the Red Cross Societies (LORCS) on 5th May 1919. The league changed its name to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in 1991.
iii.The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is made up of three independent parts: The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC); The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC); and National Societies.
About International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC):
President– Francesco Rocca
Members– 192 member National Societies
Headquarters– Geneva, Switzerland
