The violence of World War-I made Sir Henry Dunant to start Red Cross Society. A society whose beliefs are worldwide peace. In the memory of Sir Henry Dunant, his birth anniversary i.e. every year 8th of May is celebrated as the World Red Cross Day. Henry Dunant was the founder of the Red Cross as well as the founder of International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). He was born in the Geneva, Switzerland in the year 1828 on 8th May. He was the most famous person in the area of peace and became the recipient of 1st Nobel Peace Prize in 1901.
World Red Cross Day
- As per the traditions going on since 8th May 1948, World Red Cross Day is celebrated every year throughout the world. Initially since 1948 to 1983, this day was celebrated as Red Cross Day, however, in the year of 1984, this day was officially named as “World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day”.
- World Red Cross day is Celebrated on the international level to alleviate people’s suffering, enhancing their dignity, protecting their life from emergencies and lots of natural disasters which includes epidemic diseases, floods, earthquakes and other severe disasters.
- The fundamental principles of Red Cross Society are humanity, independence, impartiality, neutrality, universality, voluntary and unity and this day is celebrated by all the sections of Red Cross Organizations to help the people keeping all its fundamental principles in front of them.
- The International committee of Red Cross and National Societies under it organize lots of events in order to encourage and motivate volunteers as well as promote the humanitarian activities.
- It is celebrated by the National Societies affiliated to ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross) in their respective countries to aware people about protection of their life in drastic conditions. These societies promote and motivate people to hugely participate in life-saving activities.
Why World Red Cross Day is celebrated
- World Red Cross Day is important in the history of mankind which is celebrated annually and plays a big role in the life-saving events as well assist the vulnerable social people all around the globe.
- The aim of the celebration of this day is to provide relief to mankind in distress and desolation due to war, food shortage, epidemic diseases or natural calamities.
- The celebration is highlighted by a different theme every year to fulfill the aim of celebration as well as to create awareness about its importance.
- One of the aim to celebrate World Red Cross day is to attract more private as well as government organizations to be the active member and participate at their level to help people suffering from any kind of disaster or calamity.
- On this day, Red Cross honor around 97 million members and volunteers of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. This is the largest network of volunteers enrolled in humanitarian and relief activities worldwide and serving over 170 countries.
- National Societies acts as auxiliaries of the Red Cross in the humanitarian field and assists with the range of services such as natural disaster relief, medical services and other health and social programs.
The main objectives of celebration of this day are
- To provide relief and peace to the injured people and to prevent death rate due to any kind of calamities
- To initiate active efforts all over the world to reduce deaths because of epidemic diseases.
- To improve the life of people living in vulnerable areas.
- To protect and provide nursing care to military men as well as civilians.
- To help people to reinstate their dignity.
- To guide new volunteers by the state branch representatives and branch office bearer for the further activities throughout the year.
- All the new enrolled volunteers work throughout the year for at least 60 hours called volunteer hours on the subjects they had assigned for. They motivate the group of youth people to help people in emergencies such as earthquakes, flood, cyclone, thalassemia and etc.
World Red Cross Society and ICRC
World Red Cross societies and Red Crescent Societies are the largest humanitarian network in the world offering relief to the disaster. This society is the strongest and largest force in the world having unpaid assistants (near about 97 million volunteers) all around the globe to for helping around 233 million people every year. A cross of red color on the white background is the symbol of Red Cross Day which was originated in the year 1864 in the Geneva Convention. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) was founded in the year 1863 in the Geneva, Switzerland as a private institution for managing the people’s disaster sufferings worldwide. It consists of 25 members and Red Cross committee who are empowered for the lifesaving events and protecting victim’s dignity on the national and international level under the human rights law. Red Crescent Societies are affiliated and works in collaboration with the World Red Cross to assist in the activities of the movement. National Red Crescent societies and Red Cross Societies exist on the national level in almost each country worldwide. Recently, around 186 National Societies (use Red Cross as their official symbol) are available which are recognized by the ICRC.
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