The Red-Cross Movement - Pirac

Who are we?

The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is a global humanitarian network of some 80 million members and volunteers who work to help people facing disaster, armed conflict and health and social difficulties. The Movement comprises the International Committee of the Red Cross, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the 191 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

Proclaimed by the 20th International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, the seven revised Fundamental Principles are contained in the Statutes of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, adopted by the 25th International Conference of the Red Cross in Geneva in 1986.

1 mission

Humanity

The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement was born out of a concern to bring help without discrimination to the wounded on the battlefields. The Movement, in its international aspect, strives to prevent and alleviate human suffering in all circumstances. It seeks to protect life and health and to ensure respect for the human person. It promotes mutual understanding, friendship, cooperation and lasting peace among all peoples

3 principles of behaviour

Impartiality

It makes no distinction of nationality, race, religion, social condition or political affiliation. It is only concerned with helping individuals in accordance with their suffering and giving priority to the most urgent needs.

Neutrality

In order to maintain the confidence of all, the movement refrains from taking part in hostilities and, at all times, in controversies of a political, racial, religious or ideological nature.

Independence

The Movement is independent. Although National Societies are auxiliaries to the public authorities in their humanitarian activities and are subject to the laws of their respective countries, they must retain an autonomy that enables them to act consistently with the principles of the Movement.

In order to implement this strategy, the French Red Cross is working to strengthen internal synergies, but also to consolidate and develop partnerships.

CONTEXT AND INTERNATIONAL STRATEGY OF THE FRENCH RED CROSS

In order to better assist vulnerable populations on an international scale, the French Red Cross has set up a strategy defining the priorities and the main lines of the association’s international action until the end of 2020.

One of the strengths of the French Red Cross lies in its ability to act at various stages: emergency, recovery and development. Health, as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO)[1], is defined as a priority area of intervention.

Emergency

The French Red Cross intervenes in three types of emergency humanitarian situations:

Natural and man-made disasters
Epidemics
Humanitarian crises linked to the increase in forced displacement.

Resilience

The French Red Cross works to strengthen the resilience of vulnerable populations by ensuring:

  • Access to services
  • The effective integration of people
  • Social cohesion and prevention of tensions between groups

Movement

The French Red Cross is strengthening its commitment and its desire to be recognized as a National Society firmly integrated within the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement.