Brief introduction of red cross society

China Red Cross Society is the unified Red Cross organization of China people, a social relief group engaged in humanitarian work and an important member of the international Red Cross Movement. The Red Cross Society of China aims to carry forward the Red Cross spirit of humanity, fraternity and dedication, protect human life and health, and promote the cause of human peace and progress.

The Red Cross Society of China was founded in Shanghai, 1904. Its predecessor was "Shanghai Branch of the World Red Cross". Since its establishment, it has been engaged in activities to rescue wounded soldiers, refugees and victims, and actively participated in humanitarian relief activities. 1906, the Qing government signed and recognized the Geneva convention. 1907, "Shanghai branch of the Universal Red Cross Society" was renamed "Qing Red Cross Society". 19 12, the Red Cross Society of Qing Dynasty was renamed China Red Cross Society. On 19 12 15, the International Committee of the Red Cross informed all countries that it officially recognized the China Red Cross as a member of the International Red Cross Movement. 19 19, after the establishment of the International Association of the Red Cross, the China Red Cross joined the Association on July 8th of that year. 1July, 952, 18 The International Red Cross Congress recognized the China Red Cross as the only legitimate national red cross society in China, and the China Red Cross became the first group in New China to resume its legal seat in international organizations.

Since the reform and opening up, the Red Cross cause in China has entered a period of sustained and rapid development. Red Cross Societies at all levels in China have been rapidly restored and established. At present, China Red Cross Society has 3 1 provincial branches, two special administrative regions branches in Hong Kong and Macau, more than 70,000 grass-roots organizations and nearly 20 million members. Work in the humanitarian field has been going on continuously and has been supported by the government and all sectors of society. Disaster preparedness and relief network has begun to take shape. In the relief work of natural disasters, the China Red Cross Society raised more than 2 billion yuan worth of relief funds and materials, which contributed to the protection of the health and lives of the affected people. Since 1982, China Red Cross Society has assisted the government in advocating and promoting citizens' voluntary blood donation. The Red Cross Society of China has good relations and cooperation with the International Committee of the Red Cross, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the Red Cross Societies in many countries, and actively assists the Red Cross Societies in sister countries. Since 1985, the China Red Cross has been a member of the leading committee of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies for three times and served as the vice-chairman. The Law of the People's Republic of China on the Red Cross Society was passed at the fourth meeting of the Standing Committee of the Eighth NPC in People's Republic of China (PRC), which provided legal protection for the work of the Red Cross Society in China.

In 2004, the China Red Cross held its eighth member congress, which was an important meeting in the development history of China Red Cross. President Hu Jintao was invited to be honorary president of China Red Cross Society, and Peng Peiyun was elected to continue to be president of China Red Cross Society, and the development plan of China Red Cross Society for 2005-2009 was adopted.

In the new century, China Red Cross Society will continue to study, publicize and implement the Red Cross Law of the People's Republic of China, focusing on disaster prevention and relief, health care knowledge training, social services, dissemination of international humanitarian law and basic knowledge of the Red Cross movement, promotion of voluntary blood donation and moral education for young Red Cross people, China hematopoietic stem cell donor database, and AIDS prevention. Strengthen personnel training, publicize to the society and raise funds through multiple channels, cooperate with the construction of socialist spiritual civilization and the establishment of social security system, and strive to build the Red Cross cause with China characteristics.

The China Red Cross Society will follow the seven basic principles of the Red Cross Movement: humanity, justice, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality, and continue to work hard to make greater contributions to the happiness of the people of China and the cause of peace and progress of all mankind.

The International Committee of the Red Cross won the Nobel Peace Prize three times in 19 17, 1944 and 1963 respectively. )

The organization was established in Geneva on February 9, 863. It has been officially recognized by the Geneva Conventions and many international Red Cross conferences. It is an independent organization with its own charter.

Organization profile

The International Committee of the Red Cross is an independent and neutral organization whose mission is to provide humanitarian protection and assistance to victims of war and armed violence.

The permanent duty entrusted by international law to the International Committee of the Red Cross is to take just action for the detainees, the wounded and the civilians affected by the conflict.

Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the International Committee of the Red Cross has offices in about 80 countries with more than 65,438+02,000 employees.

In conflict situations, the International Committee of the Red Cross coordinates the relevant actions of national Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and their international federations.

The International Committee of the Red Cross is the initiator of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and international humanitarian law, especially the Geneva Conventions.

The Red Cross has become one of the three major international organizations, with a longer history than the United Nations, the International Olympic Committee and other international organizations.

Duties and missions of the International Committee of the Red Cross

The International Committee of the Red Cross bears the legal responsibility entrusted by the international community. This responsibility comes from two sources:

The Geneva Conventions stipulate that the International Committee of the Red Cross should undertake the following tasks: visiting detainees; Organize rescue operations; Help separated families reunite and carry out similar humanitarian activities during armed conflicts.

The Statute of the International Committee of the Red Cross encourages the organization to carry out similar work in cases of domestic violence to which the Geneva Conventions do not apply.

The Geneva Convention is a binding treaty of international law, which is applicable to the whole world. The statute of the International Committee of the Red Cross was adopted at the International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent. The Conference is held every four years, with the participation of all States parties to the Geneva Conventions. Therefore, it gives the Statute of the International Committee of the Red Cross a quasi-legal or "soft law" status.

History of the International Committee of the Red Cross

The history of the International Committee of the Red Cross from 1863 to modern times can be divided into four parts: the early days of the Red Cross, during World War I, 19 18 to 1939, during World War II.

Since a person spontaneously helped injured soldiers, the International Committee of the Red Cross has developed into an organization to help millions of war victims around the world. In the past 140 years, the International Committee of the Red Cross has participated in most major crises in human history.

While carrying out its activities, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has been committed to formulating laws to regulate armed conflicts in order to better protect those who have not participated in or no longer participated in the fighting; The International Committee of the Red Cross is closely related to the Geneva Conventions.

The establishment and initial stage of the International Committee of the Red Cross (1863- 19 14)

During the period from 1863 to 19 14, through the increasingly effective actions of the Committee and the establishment of national Red Cross Societies (Red Crescent Societies, representing Turkey), Henry? Du Nan's dream has come true.

With the development of the Red Cross, modern humanitarian law came into being: the rules agreed by all countries and applicable to all conflicts guaranteed assistance to the wounded and sick, and later it also applied to detainees and civilians.

From the beginning, the International Committee of the Red Cross has played a central role in it, and its work in developing humanitarian law is inseparable from its front-line work for victims.

International Committee of the Red Cross and the First World War

During the First World War, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Red Cross Society as a whole were fully developed. The National Red Cross provides volunteers and more support to the emergency rescue teams in the rear on an unimaginable scale. At the same time, the International Committee of the Red Cross has expanded its scope of work to protect prisoners of war.

It established the International Bureau of Prisoners of War, which is a central clearing house for the list of detainees and the supply of relief supplies. When many civilians are isolated behind enemy lines, it also includes the message to civilians in its work scope.

In order to adapt humanitarian law to the new reality, the International Committee of the Red Cross issued an appeal in February 19 18, calling on all warring parties to stop using toxic gases.

History of the International Committee of the Red Cross: 19 18 1939.

1914-1918 conflict is described as a war to "end all wars"; The Red Cross focused its work on maintaining peace and began to organize and work in this direction.

However, the development of things is another matter. The unhealed wounds of the First World War, economic disasters and the rise of nationalism led to some conflicts, and the International Committee of the Red Cross found itself working in Europe as well as in distant places-Asia, Africa and Latin America.

First of all, it has to face more and more internal conflicts, and civilian casualties are increasing. The legal basis it needs is scarce. Although it tries to make the government pass new laws to protect civilians, the lack of laws after 1939 has caused disastrous consequences.

International Committee of the Red Cross and the Second World War

During the Second World War, only Latin America and several neutral countries in Europe survived the war. For the first time in history, military aircraft made it possible to shell enemy areas of hundreds of square kilometers; For the first time, the number of victims among civilians exceeded that among soldiers. Hitler's regime launched a race war from the beginning, aiming at conquering Slavs and destroying all Jews and Gypsies.

At that time, international humanitarian law contained rules on the treatment of prisoners of war (Geneva Convention, July 27, 1929), but did not include rules on the treatment of civilians. Therefore, the International Committee of the Red Cross can carry out activities to protect and assist prisoners of war, but its work for certain categories of civilians, especially those detained in concentration camps, is very limited or even non-existent.

International Committee of the Red Cross, since 1945

With the devastating display of a weapon with almost unimaginable power, the bloodshed of the Second World War ended. The nuclear age has begun, followed by a dangerous period of international tension.

Europe, the breeding ground of most violence in the twentieth century, is trying to build a fortress of peace, while other parts of the world continue to be affected by conflicts; Some conflicts have taken new forms, with freedom fighters, guerrilla movements and dictatorship occupying the center stage.

In order to meet the challenges brought by the ever-changing war, and considering the development in 1930s and 1940s, we need new legal rules. First, 1949 amended and supplemented the Geneva Conventions; 1977, two additional protocols make it more perfect. The International Committee of the Red Cross assisted in drafting all these laws.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) participated in the conflict after 1945 to a greater or lesser extent, and has a unique view on the resulting humanitarian problems. The last part of the history of the International Committee of the Red Cross is being gradually updated to introduce the overall situation of its work.

The decision-making body of the International Committee of the Red Cross

The International Committee of the Red Cross is jointly managed by the General Assembly (the highest management body), the Council of the General Assembly (the subsidiary body of the General Assembly, which has the function of representing the General Assembly in some aspects) and the Steering Committee (the executive body). The chairman of the General Assembly and the Council of the General Assembly is Jacob, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross? Dr. kellenberger served as.

In 2002, the General Assembly decided to adjust the structure of the Steering Committee so that the senior leadership can better meet the challenges that the International Committee of the Red Cross will face in the future.

Finance and budget

Jacob, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross? Kellenberger and Pierre, Director of the Operations Department of the International Committee of the Red Cross? Krahenbuhl announced the urgent fund demand for 2005.

The sources of funding for the International Committee of the Red Cross include the governments of the States parties to the Geneva Conventions; National Red Cross and Red Crescent Society; Supranational organizations (such as the European Commission); As well as public and private donations. All donations are voluntary.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) will begin to respond to the urgent needs on the ground before obtaining funds, and rely on the goodwill of donors to obtain funds as soon as possible.

At the end of each year, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) submits two budget appeals, requesting the headquarters and the field to continue their activities in the following year. The annual report provides an overview of activity information as well as statistical data and financial tables (based on the initial budget appeal).

The sources of funding for the International Committee of the Red Cross include the governments of the States parties to the Geneva Conventions; National Red Cross and Red Crescent Society; Supranational organizations (such as the European Commission); As well as public and private donations. All donations are voluntary.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) will begin to respond to the urgent needs on the ground before obtaining funds, and rely on the goodwill of donors to obtain funds as soon as possible.

At the end of each year, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) submits two budget appeals, requesting the headquarters and the field to continue their activities in the following year. The annual report provides an overview of activity information as well as statistical data and financial tables (based on the initial budget appeal).

International Committee of the Red Cross and its Human Resources Department

At present, more than 65,438+0,400 people, including professionals and representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross, have participated in the field work of this institution all over the world. Their work is supported by about 1 1000 local employees and supported and coordinated by about 800 Geneva headquarters employees.

As the priorities of events are changing rapidly, all the staff of the International Committee of the Red Cross should be flexible and ready to work in an unfamiliar environment in a country where a war has occurred or just ended.

The staff of the International Committee of the Red Cross must be prepared to accept unaccompanied tasks in the first 24 months of employment.

The International Committee of the Red Cross seeks mature, self-motivated and team-oriented people who should be able to interact with people from different backgrounds and cultures and resist pressure and difficulties.

At present, 17 1 National Red Cross Societies have participated in this campaign aimed at promoting humanitarianism, maintaining world peace and development and progress.

Funds and incentives

The International Committee of the Red Cross manages many funds. Like Paul? The Reuters Fund is awarded every two years to encourage the publication of works related to international humanitarian law. France Morris? De Ma 'ayr Fund provides assistance to staff members of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement or their families who are in trouble due to accidents, diseases or deaths. Empress Zhao Xian's fund is to promote "rescue work in peacetime", while Florence? The Nightingale Medal is awarded to those who "made outstanding contributions in peacetime or wartime".