Globally May 8th is celebrated as the World Red Cross Day and Red Crescent Day every year this day is to celebrate and acknowledge the volunteers who help the people in need and to commemorate the birth anniversary of Henry Dunant the founder of International Committee of the Red Cross(ICRC) born on 8 May 1828. The first Red Cross Day was adopted on May 8, 1948.
History:
i.Henry Dunant founded the Red Cross and the International Committee of the Red Cross(ICRC) in 1863. The Swiss humanitarian received the first Nobel Peace Prize in 1901.
ii.The Red Cross was introduced by the International Commission after World War 1 to contribute to peace at the 14th International Conference. In the 15th International Conference held in Tokyo, the principles of the Red Cross Truce were presented and approved.
iii.The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) General Assembly put forth the proposal for annual celebration of World Red Cross Day to the League of the Red Cross Societies and the proposal was adopted from May 8, 1984, and officially named as World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day.
Key Points:
i.The main objective of the Red Cross Day is to collect blood and to educate and encourage the people to support the Red Cross and blood donation.
ii.The Red Cross provides first aid, emergency response, health and social care, refugee services and public service to find missing families and protect people from armed conflicts.
iii.They educate the youths on essential techniques and methods for survival.
All over the world this Day is celebrated by organising various events and programs by the International Committee of the Red Cross to promote humanitarian activities.
iv.They help the people affected by floods, earthquakes like natural calamities and provide emergency services.
v.The Red Cross Society was founded in 1920, celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. The Red Cross Society is based on 7 principles namely, humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary, unity and universality.
About ICRC:
President– Peter Maurer
Vice President– Gilles Carbonnier
Founder– Henry Dunant
Headquarters– Geneva, Switzerland
Created in– 1863
