The National Society was founded on 18 December 1973. Its constitution is based on the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their additional protocols, to which the Republic of Mauritius is a party. The National Society shall be guided in its work by the principles of international humanitarian law and shall respect the Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (the Movement)   ….. Click here to download

Le fond de cet appel servira de support aux opérations de secours vitales tels que abris temporaires, approvisionnement en eau potable, l’assainissement, soins médicaux et support psychosocial à la population affectée.

Pour permettre, dès maintenant et dans la durée, de venir en aide à population haïtienne, la Société Nationale a ouvert un compte bancaire à la Barclays Bank de Curepipe et lance un appel à dons auprès du grand public.
(Cheques à etre libellés à l’ordre de la Mauritius Red Cross Society – appeal fund).

Notre numéro de compte à la Barclays Bank de Curepipe : 12/1071304

Pour tout complément d’information, veuillez contacter :
Monsieur Gilbert DUVERGÉ      :      7601930
Monsieur Navin MAHADOO       :     7673818
Madame Jacqueline ADOLPHE   :      6763604

Nous comptons sur la solidarité de tous les Mauriciens.

Les objectifs de cet événement étaient :

·        De regrouper un maximum d’ONGs  sur le campus

·        De faire connaitre l’importance de ces ONGs  aux étudiants de l’université et à la jeunesse de Maurice

·        De donner une opportunité à ces ONGs de promouvoir leur travail

·        Les ONGs pourraient recruter des volontaires/membres

·        Les ONGs seraient plus près de la communauté estudiantine et le public

·        N’importe quel Mauricien pourrait offrir ses services à ces ONGs

La Mauritius Red Cross Society avait accepté l’invitation et était présente à l’exhibition.

Pendant ces deux jours, les facilitateurs des différentes ONGs participants à la foire sont intervenus sur des thèmes comme La Pauvreté, La Santé, le bon Traitement des animaux, L’Environnement, Les Handicapés, La Jeunesse et d’autres sujets ayant traits à des activités sociales.

Des présentations sur ‘L’histoire du Mouvement International de la Croix Rouge et du Croissant Rouge’ et ‘La Préparation et Réponse aux désastres’  et ‘La Réduction des risques’ furent faites le 11.02.2009.

Ci-après les extraits d’un quotidien paru le lendemain :

« Promouvoir le volontariat et donner l’envie aux jeunes de faire du social c’est le combat de longue haleine. C’est ce que font comprendre les représentants de plusieurs institutions et autres associations. Toutefois, même cela est un travail difficile. Il s’agit avant tout de croire aux capacités des jeunes et de leur offrir la chance de démontrer leurs talents. 

« C’est ce qui ressort de la foire pour le organisations non gouvernementales qui s’est tenue ces deux derniers jours à l’universite de Maurice. »

Under the supervision of Navin Mahadoo, some 20 volunteers will be on duty on a 24hr basis until 13hrs on Monday 23 February 2009. Many pilgrims have already started their pilgrimage from all over the island, and we expect a very large number as from Friday.

The Maha Shivratree Festival usually attracts some 400,000 to 500,000 persons from all over the island to the Ganga Talao - Grand Bassin. People go there to pray Lord Shiva, and they bring back holy water from the lake to pour it symbolically on the ‘ Shivling’.

Purchase virtual goals
Internet users will be able to help their favourite side win the title of Most Humanitarian Team by purchasing virtual goals on scorefortheredcross.org. The winning team will be announced on 6 July. The Score for the Red Cross campaign, jointly organised by UEFA and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), will benefit land-mine victims in Afghanistan by providing them with artificial limbs, physiotherapy and vocational training.

UEFA has chosen the ICRC as its official humanitarian partner for EURO 2008™, which will be held in Austria and Switzerland.

What does this partnership consist of?

Michel Platini, president of UEFA, and Jakob Kellenberger, president of the ICRC, launched an online fundraising operation entitled Score for the Red Cross to raise money for the victims of anti-personnel mines in Afghanistan. With a single click, a visitor to the website can support the Red Cross and at the same time help their team win the title of Most Humanitarian Team of EURO 2008™.

UEFA will donate to the ICRC all receipts from the sale of “Score for the Red Cross” wristbands.

UEFA will encourage fans to support the campaign on www.euro2008.com.

UEFA will donate 4,000 euro to the ICRC for each goal scored during the tournament.

The ICRC will use 50% of the the funds collected to improve the lives of mine victims in Afghanistan, by providing them with artificial limbs and physiotherapy.In addition, the ICRC will support the reintegration of mine victims into their families and communities, by offering vocational training and the opportunity to start small businesses.

Several Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies are participating in this fundraising operation, and the remaining 50% of the funds collected will be donated to these National Societies to enable them to finance emergency aid, medical or social programmes in their respective countries.

A) Mauritius Red Cross contributes to the improvement of health, prevention of disease and mitigation of suffering by programmes of training and services for the benefit of the community. These are adapted to national and local needs and circumstances in conformity with the objects and purposes of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

(B) Mauritius is not involved in war or conflicts.
We appreciate the substantial subsidies and grants we obtain for our Red Cross activities from the Republic of Mauritius and assistance with the Clinical Attachment Training Scheme of our Aides-Soignants members by the Ministry of Health in recent years.
As we did in 1968 and 1972 the Mauritius Red Cross continues to offer its help to the Ministry of Health of this country in connection with any Nurses strike or go-slow, which would inevitably increase the suffering of innocent hospital and dispensary patients.
We offer our services with no intention of taking sides in any syndical or political action.
We have a reserve team of qualified, non- practicing nurses who are assisted by our first aiders who have passed the initial, intermediate or proficiency exams and by aides- soignants members and by our professional first aid instructors

Social welfare activities:

Les Principes fondamentaux du Mouvement international de la Croix-Rouge et du Croissant-Rouge

Humanité
Né du souci de porter secours sans discrimination aux blessés des champs de bataille, le Mouvement international de la Croix-Rouge et du Croissant-Rouge, sous son aspect international et national, s’efforce de prévenir et d’alléger en toutes circonstances les souffrances des hommes. Il tend à protéger la vie et la santé ainsi qu’à faire respecter la personne humaine. Il favorise la compréhension mutuelle, l’amitié, la coopération et une paix durable entre tous les peuples.

Impartialité
Il ne fait aucune distinction de nationalité, de race, de religion, de condition sociale et d’appartenance politique. Il s’applique seulement à secourir les individus à la mesure de leur souffrance et à subvenir par priorité aux détresses les plus urgentes.

Neutralité
Afin de garder la confiance de tous, le Mouvement s’abstient de prendre part aux hostilités et, en tout temps, aux controverses d’ordre politique, racial, religieux et idéologique.

Indépendance
Le Mouvement est indépendant. Auxiliaires des pouvoirs publics dans leurs activités humanitaires et soumises aux lois qui régissent leurs pays respectifs, les Sociétés nationales doivent pourtant conserver une autonomie qui leur permette d’agir toujours selon les principes du Mouvement.

Volontariat
Il est un mouvement de secours volontaire et désintéressé.

Unité
Il ne peut y avoir qu’une seule Société de la Croix-Rouge ou du Croissant-Rouge dans un même pays. Elle doit être ouverte à tous et étendre son action humanitaire au territoire entier.

Universalité
Le Mouvement international de la Croix-Rouge et du Croissant-Rouge, au sein duquel toutes les Sociétés ont des droits égaux et le devoir de s’entraider, est universel.

Origine des Principes fondamentaux

Dans les premières années d’existence du Mouvement, c’est essentiellement la cohésion de l’entreprise qui détermina l’unité de pensée. Bientôt, toutefois, des valeurs humanitaires spécifiques s’imposèrent comme des éléments constitutifs du Mouvement, sans avoir pour autant été fixées par un quelconque accord écrit.

Dès 1875, Gustave Moynier, à l’époque président du CICR, estimait que la Croix-Rouge devrait appliquer quatre principes de base:
• prévoyance, ce qui signifiait que l’on devait se préparer à l’avance, en temps de paix, pour être en mesure de fournir l’assistance appropriée en cas de conflit;
• solidarité, ce qui signifiait que les Sociétés de la Croix-Rouge devaient s’employer à nouer des liens entre elles et s’aider les unes les autres;
• centralisation, ce qui signifiait qu’il ne devait y avoir qu’une Société dans chaque pays, dont les activités couvriraient la totalité du territoire national;
• mutualité, ce qui signifiait que l’assistance devait être assurée à tous les blessés et malades, quelle que soit leur nationalité.
En 1921, les Statuts du CICR furent modifiés pour intégrer quatre Principes fondamentaux: impartialité politique, religieuse et économique, indépendance, universalité du Mouvement et égalité entre tous ses membres.

En 1946, le Conseil des gouverneurs de la Ligue (l’actuelle Fédération internationale) adopta une déclaration confirmant les quatre principes de 1921, auxquels venaient s’ajouter treize autres principes assortis de six règles d’application. Ces principes sont connus sous le nom de «Principes d’Oxford», car c’est dans cette ville du Royaume-Uni qu’eut lieu la session du Conseil. En 1952, la 18e Conférence internationale de la Croix-Rouge réaffirma les principes d’Oxford.

Ces principes ne furent toutefois analysés de façon méthodique qu’en 1955 par Jean Pictet. Dans un ouvrage consacré à l’ensemble des valeurs qui régissent l’action du Mouvement, il établit une liste de dix-sept principes répartis dans deux catégories: d’une part, les Principes fondamentaux, qui constituent la raison d’être du Mouvement et inspirent l’ensemble de ses activités; d’autre part, les principes organiques, qui touchent à la structure et au mode de fonctionnement du Mouvement.

Sur la base de cette étude approfondie, les sept Principes fondamentaux du Mouvement tels que nous les connaissons aujourd’hui furent adoptés à l’unanimité en 1965 par la 20e Conférence internationale de la Croix-Rouge, dont les participants décidèrent en outre qu’ils feraient désormais l’objet d’une lecture solennelle à l’ouverture de chaque Conférence internationale.

En 1986, la 25e Conférence internationale de la Croix-Rouge réaffirma l’importance des Principes en les incluant dans le Préambule des Statuts du Mouvement; leur libellé fut légèrement amendé. Ci-dessous, le texte des Principes sous sa forme actuelle.

Le caractère contraignant des Principes fondamentaux
Les Statuts du Mouvement soulignent l’obligation faite à toutes ses composantes d’agir en tout temps conformément aux Principes fondamentaux. Ils rappellent en outre le rôle du CICR de «maintenir et diffuser les Principes fondamentaux» et celui de la Fédération d’aider le CICR dans ces efforts. Ces tâches sont également mentionnées dans les Statuts du CICR, dans les Statuts de la Fédération et dans l’Accord de Séville, ce dernier soulignant par ailleurs que les Sociétés nationales ont elles aussi un rôle clé à jouer dans le maintien et la diffusion des Principes fondamentaux dans leurs pays respectifs.

Bien que les Etats ne soient pas tenus d’appliquer les Principes fondamentaux du Mouvement en dehors du cadre de la Conférence internationale, les Statuts du Mouvement leur imposent néanmoins de «respecter en tout temps l’adhésion de toutes les composantes du Mouvement aux Principes fondamentaux».

Toute violation des Principes fondamentaux par une composante du Mouvement peut amener la Conférence internationale de la Croix-Rouge et du Croissant-Rouge à se prononcer sur la question. Si une telle violation est commise par une Société nationale, cela peut aboutir à la mise en cause de son intégrité.

Liens entre les Principes fondamentaux et les politiques
Les Principes fondamentaux sont le pivot de toute la pensée et de toutes les politiques de la Croix-Rouge et du Croissant-Rouge. Nombre de politiques de la Fédération et du Mouvement dérivent des Principes fondamentaux ou les complètent. Par exemple, le Code de conduite pour le Mouvement international de la Croix-Rouge et du Croissant-Rouge et pour les organisations non gouvernementales lors des opérations de secours en cas de catastrophe constitue essentiellement une extension concrète des Principes fondamentaux au domaine de l’assistance, de même que, dans un autre domaine, la Politique du Mouvement relative aux activités de plaidoyer.

Dans bien des cas, les Principes fondamentaux peuvent - et devraient - servir de cadre de référence pour déterminer l’action à entreprendre par une composante ou une autre du Mouvement, à quelque niveau que ce soit. C’est la vocation même des principes: guider l’action lorsque aucune politique ou décision ne s’applique.

Humanity
The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, born of a desire to bring assistance without discrimination to the wounded on the battlefield, endeavours, in its international and national capacity, to prevent and alleviate human suffering wherever it may be found. Its purpose is to protect life and health and to ensure respect for the human being. It promotes mutual understanding, friendship, cooperation and lasting peace amongst all peoples. Read more about the principle of Humanity.

Impartiality
It makes no discrimination as to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinions. It endeavours to relieve the suffering of individuals, being guided solely by their needs, and to give priority to the most urgent cases of distress. Read more about the principle of Impartiality.

Neutrality
In order to continue to enjoy the confidence of all, the Movement may not take sides in hostilities or engage at any time in controversies of a political, racial, religious or ideological nature. Read more about the principle of Neutrality.
Independence
The Movement is independent. The National Societies, while auxiliaries in the humanitarian services of their governments and subject to the laws of their respective countries, must always maintain their autonomy so that they may be able at all times to act in accordance with the principles of the Movement. Read more about the principle of Independence.
Voluntary service
It is a voluntary relief movement not prompted in any manner by desire for gain. Read more about the principle of Voluntary service.
Unity
There can be only one Red Cross or one Red Crescent Society in any one country. It must be open to all. It must carry on its humanitarian work throughout its territory. Read more about the principle of Unity.
Universality
The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, in which all Societies have equal status and share equal responsibilities and duties in helping each other, is worldwide. Read more about the principle of Universality.

Humanity
The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, born of a desire to bring assistance without discrimination to the wounded on the battlefield, endeavours, in its international and national capacity, to prevent and alleviate human suffering wherever it may be found. Its purpose is to protect life and health and to ensure respect for the human being. It promotes mutual understanding, friendship, cooperation and lasting peace amongst all peoples.

Analysis of the Fundamental Principle of Humanity
The text under the Fundamental Principle of Humanity includes the following elements:
• it recalls the origins of the Movement: “born of a desire to bring assistance without discrimination to the wounded on the battlefield”;
• it recalls the double dimension of the Movement: the national and the international one;
• it defines the mission of the Movement: “to prevent and alleviate human suffering wherever it may be found”;
• it defines the purposes of the Movement:
• to protect life and health;
• to ensure respect for the human being;
• To promote mutual understanding, friendship, cooperation and lasting peace amongst all peoples.

Consequences of the Fundamental principle of Humanity
The consequences of the principle of Humanity are not so much boundaries and guidelines for the action, as the other Fundamental Principles are: the principle of Humanity is rather a constant reminder of what the objectives of the Movement are. The principle of Humanity expresses what the Movement places beyond anything else: the need to act in order to prevent and alleviate human suffering.

Impartiality
It makes no discrimination as to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinions. It endeavours to relieve the suffering of individuals, being guided solely by their needs, and to give priority to the most urgent cases of distress.

Analysis of the Fundamental Principle of Impartiality
The text under the Fundamental Principle of Impartiality includes the following elements:
• the Movement makes no discrimination - and this does not apply only to people it assists or protects. Non-discrimination is the refusal to apply distinctions of an adverse nature to human beings simply because they belong to a specific category. This does not exclude differences in the treatment given to people placed in different situations on the basis of, for example, sex or age. Five criteria which could lead to discrimination are mentioned: nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinions. However, other factors which may lead to discrimination are not mentioned. Depending on circumstances, a different treatment based on sex may be discrimination or not.
• all those in need shall be helped, yet to treat everyone in the same way without taking into account how much they are suffering, or how urgent their needs are, would not be equitable. Impartiality means that, for the Movement, the only priority that can be set in dealing with those who require help must be based on need, and the order in which available aid is shared out must correspond to the urgency of the distress it is intended to relieve.

Consequences of the Fundamental principle of Impartiality
The consequences of the principle of Impartiality are as follows:
• it establishes one of its key values: non-discrimination, which is one of the most important elements of all aspects of the protection of the human being: human rights law, humanitarian law, refugee law.
• although the need to “enjoy the confidence of all” is mentioned about the principle of Neutrality, this also applies to the principle of Impartiality. Only an impartial action can give the image of an organization that can be trusted by people to be assisted or protected. Therefore, systems have to be put in place to ensure that the people benefitting from the action of the Red Cross and Red Crescent are those whose vulnerability is the highest.
• impartiality in its true sense requires that subjective distinctions be set aside. To illustrate the difference between the two notions: a National Society that refuses to provide its services to a specific group of people, because of their ethnic origin, fails to observe the rule of non-discrimination; whereas a National Society staff member who, in the exercise of his functions, favours a friend by giving him better treatment than that given to others, contravenes the principle of impartiality. Therefore, staff and volunteers should be trained to ensure that correct behaviour becomes almost a reflex.

Neutrality
In order to continue to enjoy the confidence of all, the Movement may not take sides in hostilities or engage at any time in controversies of a political, racial, religious or ideological nature.

Analysis of the Fundamental Principle of Neutrality
The text under the Fundamental principle of Neutrality includes three elements:
• the purpose of complying with the principle of Neutrality is to enjoy the confidence of all. Implicitly, this compliance with the principle of Neutrality is also a condition for operational efficiency, which requires confidence of all in many contexts, i.e. not only in armed conflicts contexts;
• the principle of Neutrality prohibits a component of the Movement from taking part in hostilities;
• the principle of Neutrality prohibits the Movement from engaging at any time in controversies of a political, racial, religious or ideological nature.

Consequences of the Fundamental principle of Neutrality
The consequences of the principle of Neutrality are the following:
• neutrality implies not acting in a way that could facilitate the conduct of hostilities by any of the parties involved. The role of National Societies as auxiliaries to public authorities in the humanitarian field when they assist medical services of armed forces - i.e. when they fulfill the initial function of National Societies - should not be seen as taking part in hostilities;
• the neutrality includes many dimensions. Only the day-to-day acts and words of a National Society can constitute an evidence of its respect of the principle of Neutrality. For instance, if a National Society branch expresses sympathy for a movement, a cause or a political figure, for example by permitting the latter to take advantage of Red Cross or Red Crescent membership for electoral purposes, many volunteers may cancel their membership. If a dispensary run by a National Society also displays a religious affiliation in a country in which there is tension between the members of different faiths, many patients will no longer wish or dare to come for treatment. In other words, neutrality is a state of mind, an attitude which must guide every step taken by the Movement’s components;
• due to the character of communication today, the violation of the principle of Neutrality by a component of the Movement can easily affect the image of other components and, thus, their ability to work in a given context. Therefore, the principle of Neutrality is to be seen in a global perspective.

Independence
The Movement is independent. The National Societies, while auxiliaries in the humanitarian services of their governments and subject to the laws of their respective countries, must always maintain their autonomy so that they may be able at all times to act in accordance with the principles of the Movement.

Analysis of the Fundamental principle of Independence
The text under the Fundamental principle of Independence includes the following elements:
• a strong general statement that, as a matter of principle, the Movement is independent;
• more detailed explanations on the specific case of National Societies regarding independence: this puts the focus on the balance between, on the one hand, their status as auxiliary to public authorities in the humanitarian field and their submission to national law, and on the other hand, the need to maintain their autonomy.

Consequences of the Fundamental Principle of Independence
The consequences of the principle of Independence are:
• independence is one of the key elements that the Movement wants to maintain, despite the fact that no concrete consequences are explicitly defined by the principle itself. In its broadest sense, the principle of independence is understood as meaning that the Red Cross and Red Crescent must resist any interference, whether political, ideological or economic, capable of diverting it from the course of action laid down by the requirements of humanity, impartiality and neutrality;
• the need for National Societies to enjoy a status allowing them to act at all times in accordance with the principles of the Movement. This has consequences on the legal status of National Societies in their country, their relations to public authorities, etc. The degree of autonomy necessary to a National Society cannot be defined uniformly and absolutely, since it depends partly on the political, economic and social conditions in the country. It must be free to relinquish certain tasks or to change its priorities in accordance with the material and human resources at its disposal. Its role as auxiliary to the public authorities does not in the least prevent a National Society from freely choosing the activities it carries out completely independently of the State.
• The violation of the Fundamental Principle of Independence is often perceived as a serious threat to the integrity of a National Society. However, the debate on the independence of the Movement is broader than the question of the relationship between public authorities and a National Society, although that last aspect is a very important one.

Voluntary service
It is a voluntary relief movement not prompted in any manner by desire for gain.

Analysis of the Fundamental principle of Voluntary service
The text under the Fundamental principle of Voluntary service includes the following elements:
• the Movement is a voluntary relief movement;
• the Movement is not prompted in any manner by desire for gain.

Consequences of the Fundamental principle of Voluntary service
The consequences of the principle of Voluntary service are as follows:
• the Movement is a volunteer-based organisation;
• if the Movement fails to recognize the value of voluntary it is in danger of becoming bureaucratic, losing touch with a vital source of motivation, inspiration and initiative, and of cutting off the roots which maintain its contact with human needs and enable it to meet them;
• Voluntary service, a source of economy. Imagine how much suffering would have to be neglected, for lack of means, if all the work done by volunteers had to be paid for. It is sometimes sufficient to have a relatively small but motivated support staff, with the necessary minimum of financial resources, to enable volunteers to render community services whose cost could never be borne either by the National Society or by the State.

Unity
There can be only one Red Cross or one Red Crescent Society in any one country. It must be open to all. It must carry on its humanitarian work throughout its territory.

Analysis of the Fundamental principle of Unity
The text under the Fundamental principle of Unity are threefold - each aspect directly matches each sentence of that principle’s text; these aspects are also included in the conditions for recognition of National Societies by the ICRC:
• there can be only one Red Cross or one Red Crescent Society in any one country;
• a National Society must be open to all;
• a National Society must carry on its humanitarian work throughout its territory.

Consequences of the Fundamental principle of Unity
The consequences of the principle of Unity are quite easy to analyse from the text:
• a National Society could oppose to the creation of another Red Cross of Red Crescent Society in its country. As States have agreed to Fundamental Principles, they have an obligation to ensure that no other Society can be created on their territory if they have already recognised a National Society;
• a National Society has to open its membership to a broad base in the population. It has to recruit its members from all the ethnic, social and other groups in the country to ensure better efficiency of its action. In any case, any discrimination in the recruitment of members would be a violation of the principle of Unity;
• a National Society has to be active in all parts of the country. This does not necessarily mean that the level of activities has to be the same country-wide: the principle of Impartiality may well justify that more activities are undertaken in the parts of a country where the needs are the largest. But what it prohibits is that a region is excluded from the activities of a National Society in a discriminatory manner (e.g. for reasons related with religion, ethnicity, etc.).

Universality
The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, in which all Societies have equal status and share equal responsibilities and duties in helping each other, is worldwide.

Analysis of the Fundamental principle of Universality
The text under the Fundamental principle of Universality includes the following elements:
• the Movement is worldwide;
• all Societies have equal status in the Movement;
• all Societies share equal responsibilities and duties in helping each other.

Consequences of the Fundamental principle of Universality
The consequences of the principle of Universality are threefold:
• one of the objectives of the Movement is to become universal, since it is one of the Movement’s strengths that it has a National Society in almost every country of the world. There are a number of States which so far do not have a recognised National Society. However, this is to be seen as a temporary situation: once obstacles preventing Societies of those States to be recognised are lifted, the Movement will become truly global;
• solidarity between National Societies, which is the basis for cooperation between Societies;
• with regard to decision-making, all Societies carry one vote at the Federation’s General Assembly, the Council of Delegates and the International Conference, irrelevant of their size or wealth.

Henry Dunant (1828-1910) : The man whose vision led to the creation of the worldwide Red Cross and Red Crescent movement; he went from riches to rags but became joint recipient of the first Nobel peace prize.

Henry Dunant, who was born in Geneva on 8 May 1828, came from a devout and charitable Calvinist family. After incomplete secondary schooling, he was apprenticed to a Geneva bank. In 1853, he travelled to Algeria to take charge of the Swiss colony of Sétif. He started construction of a wheat mill, but could not obtain the land concession that was essential for its operation. After travelling to Tunisia he returned to Geneva, where he decided to approach Napoleon III to obtain the business document he needed.

At the time, the Emperor was commanding the Franco-Sardinian troops fighting the Austrians in northern Italy, and it was there that Henry Dunant decided to seek him out. This was how he came to be present at the end of the battle of Solferino, in Lombardy.

Returning to Geneva, he wrote A Memory of Solferino, which eventually led to the creation of the International Committee for Relief to the Wounded, the future International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Dunant was a member and acted as secretary. He was now famous and was received by heads of State, kings and princes of the European courts. But his financial affairs were floundering and he was declared bankrupt in 1867. Completely ruined, he was in debt for almost a million Swiss francs (1860s value).

Dunant resigns from the Committee As a result of the scandal which this bankruptcy caused in Geneva, he resigned from his post as secretary of the International Committee. On 8 September 1867 the Committee decided to accept his resignation not only as secretary but also as a member. Dunant left for Paris, where he was reduced to sleeping on public benches. At the same time, however, the Empress Eugénie summoned him to the Tuileries Palace in order to consult him on extending the Geneva Convention to naval warfare. Dunant was made an honorary member of the national Red Cross societies of Austria, Holland, Sweden, Prussia and Spain.

During the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, he visited and comforted the wounded brought to Paris and introduced the wearing of a badge so that the dead could be identified.

When peace returned, Dunant travelled to London, where he endeavoured to organize a diplomatic conference on the problem of prisoners of war; the Tsar encouraged him but England was hostile to the plan.

Years of poverty

An international congress for the “complete and final abolition of the traffic in Negroes and the slave trade” opened in London on 1 February 1875, on Dunant’s initiative. There followed years of wandering and utter poverty for Dunant: he travelled on foot in Alsace, Germany and Italy, living on charity and the hospitality of a few friends.

Finally, in 1887, he ended up in the Swiss village of Heiden, overlooking Lake Constance, where he fell ill. He found refuge in the local hospice, and it was there that he was discovered in 1895 by a journalist, Georg Baumberger, who wrote an article about him which, within a few days, was reprinted in the press throughout Europe. Messages of sympathy reached Dunant from all over the world; overnight he was once more famous and honoured. In 1901, he received the Nobel Peace Prize.

Henry Dunant died on 30 October 1910. The date of his birth, 8 May, is celebrated as World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day.

The Red Cross emblem was officially approved in Geneva in 1863, the same year as the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) was founded. The emblem, endorsed by the 16 signatories of the Geneva Conventions on international humanitarian law, is based on the Swiss flag with colors reversed.

The Red Crescent emblem was first used by ICRC volunteers during the armed conflict between Russia and Turkey (1877–1878). The symbol was officially adopted in 1929, and so far 25 Islamic states have recognized it

On December 8, 2005, partly in response to growing pressure to accommodate Magen David Adom as a full member of the Red Cross & Red Crescent movement, a new emblem - officially the Third Protocol Emblem, but more commonly known as the Red Crystal was adopted by an amendment of the Geneva Conventions known as Protocol III.

The new emblem was designed to be easily recognizable and, to make it more universally acceptable throughout different cultures, devoid of religious connotation. No country or national society is obliged to change their emblems, and none are obliged to use the new one; but all are required to respect it in the same manner as the other emblems.

In June 2006 the 29th International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent amended the Movement’s statutes to incorporate the new emblem and formally adopted the name Red Crystal.

The Red Cross and Red Crescent emblems are universally recognized symbols of assistance for the victims of armed conflicts and natural disasters. In use since the nineteenth century, these emblems unfortunately do not always enjoy the respect to which they are entitled as visible signs of the strict neutrality of humanitarian work.