The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is the world's largest humanitarian network, with a presence and activities in almost every country. The Movement incorporates the Geneva-based International Committee of the Red Cross, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies around the world. With a vibrant and varied history, from its birth in the aftermath of battle in 1859 and the vision of founder Henry Dunant, through two world wars and up to today, the Movement is widely acknowledged as an unstoppable force for help and compassion.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is an impartial, neutral and independent organization whose exclusively humanitarian mission is to protect the lives and dignity of victims of war and internal violence and to provide them with assistance. It directs and coordinates the international relief activities conducted by the Movement in situations of conflict. It also endeavors to prevent suffering by promoting and strengthening humanitarian law and universal humanitarian principles. Established in 1863, the ICRC is at the origin of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (Federation) is the world's largest humanitarian organization, providing assistance without discrimination as to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinions. The Federation's mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity. Founded in 1919, the Federation comprises 181 member Red Cross and Red Crescent societies, a Secretariat in Geneva, and regional delegations strategically located to support activities around the world.
The Federation carries out relief operations to assist victims of disasters, and combines this with development work to strengthen the capacities of its member national societies. The Federation's work focuses on promoting humanitarian values, disaster response, disaster preparedness, and health and community care.
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 programs and assistance to people affected by war. Worldwide there are Red Cross, Red Crescent or the equivalent in nearly every country. Together, the national societies have 97 million volunteers, assisting some 233 million beneficiaries each year. National Society programs and services address both immediate and long-term needs and include emergency shelter, food and medicine; water and sanitation; restoring family contact for disaster victims; disaster preparedness; community-based health and care; first aid training and activities; control and prevention of diseases; HIV/AIDS prevention; blood donor recruitment, collection and supply; and youth and volunteer activities.
The Red Crescent emblem is used in place of the Red Cross in many Islamic countries. Both the Red Cross and the Red Crescent have been established by the Geneva Conventions as the universal symbols identifying the personnel, facilities and resources of the member societies of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
Vulnerable people are at greatest risk from situations that threaten their survival or their capacity to live with an acceptable level of social and economic security and human dignity. Often, these are victims of natural disasters, poverty brought about by socio-economic crises, refugees and victims of health emergencies.
International Humanitarian Law is the body of laws and principles that seeks to save lives and alleviate suffering of combatants and noncombatants during armed conflicts. Its principal legal documents are the Geneva Conventions of 1949, four treaties signed by almost all states (nations) around the world. The Geneva Conventions specifically protect members of the armed forces who are wounded, sick or shipwrecked, prisoners of war, and civilians. (Also sometimes referred to as "the law of armed conflict" or the "law of war.")
The Geneva Conventions of 1949 are comprised of four treaties with numerous articles. Each treaty protects a different group of people at risk during armed conflict and specifies how they must be humanely treated.
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are international organizations made up of private citizens (rather than government entities) who share with a common interest in humanitarian assistance activities (development and relief). NGO is a term normally used by non-U.S. organizations as the equivalent of the term PVO, private voluntary organization. The American Red Cross is by definition an NGO.
International Response Team (IRT) field personnel are deployed to an international disaster situation to immediately determine the needs of those affected by the disaster and rapidly mobilize assistance in the form of relief supplies, cash and technical assistance.
The International Disaster Response Unit alleviates human suffering brought about by natural or man-made international disasters by providing assistance (cash, relief supplies or personnel) to meet essential disaster-caused human needs.
Red Cross Messages are written messages sent between prisoners of war and their relatives through Red Cross channels, usually when no other communication is possible. Red Cross Message service may also be available to civilian victims of war, especially when postal services have completely collapsed.
International Disaster Welfare Inquiries are health and welfare inquiries sent to alleviate distress when normal direct communication between family members is disrupted and attempts to reestablish contact between a person in the United States and a close relative who is a citizen of another country have failed.
Tracing assistance is provided to people in the community who have been separated from their relatives (citizens of other countries) as a result of war, civil disturbances, natural disaster, or changing world conditions over which the individual has no control. Tracing services for victims of war have their foundation in the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols.