JEAN HENRI DUNANT -PROMOTER OF RED CROSS

Jean Henri Dunant was born in Geneva on 8 May 1828.

On 24 June 1859, Dunant arrived at Solferino where he witnessed one of the fiercest battles of the nineteeth century. The Battle of Solferino lasted for more than 15 hours and more than 40,000 were wounded. With the help of the villagers at Castiglione, he worked tirelessly, giving comfort and what medical care he could to the injured men.

Back at Geneva, Dunant wrote and published a book entitled "A Memory of Solferino” in 1862, which he put forward his ideas to foster the creation in every country of a society for the relief of the military wounded and capable of helping the army medical services to carry out their tasks.

In his effort to establish the Red Cross, Dunant neglected his business and he was declared bankrupt in 1867.

Deprived of his citizenship, Dunant resigned from the ICRC and left Geneva to live in Paris.

In 1872, Dunant left Paris and went to London to pursue his ideas to convince people of the need for an international treaty for protection of prisoners-of-war.

Dunant left England in 1874 and wandered from place to place for the next twelve years, living in poverty and obscurity.

In 1887, Dunant returned to Heiden where he spent the rest of his days.

In 1895, one young journalist discovered Dunant warded in District Hospital. Dunant became famous again after his story was published.

Dunant was awarded the first Nobel Peace Prize for humanitarian work in December 1901.

Dunant died on 30 October 1910 (82 years old).

RED CROSS MOTTO

Serve one another

RED CROSS PROMISE

We, as members of the Singapore Red Cross Society, promise to serve our country, and to join with others all over the world to help the sick and the suffering

RED CROSS SONG

Come let us pledge again, each heart and hand,To thee the flag we serve, friends in every land.

Come let us give anew, each thought and mind,To be a light to shine, over all mankind.

So may our emblem be proudly unfurled,To link the chain of youth for service thru the world

Oh give us strength to prove, sure and sublime,To make the cause we serve, shine over the hills of time.

THE EMBLEM

The Red Cross emblem (5 red squares on a white background) was adopted in 1863 in honour of Switzerland, obtained by reversing the colours of the Swiss flag.

In 1876, Turkey adopted the emblem of the Red Crescent (a red crescent on a white background) and it was mostly used by Islamic countries.

The two distinctive emblems are equally recognised and protected since the diplomatic Conference of 1929. It is to ensure the protection of the war-wounded and of all the persons caring for them. Any abuse of the emblems endanger the entire system and constitutes a grave breach of international law.

FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLESadopted in 1965

Humanity Impartiality Neutrality Independence Voluntary Service Unity Universality

GENEVA CONVENTIONS

First Geneva Convention was signed in 1864 to save the wounded soldiers on battlefields.

Second Geneva Convention was signed in 1906 to extend the principles of the First Convention to the victims of naval warfare including shipwrecked men.

Third Geneva Convention was signed in 1929 to protect the welfare of prisoners-of-war and it contains elaborate and detailed rules for their treatment.

Fourth Geneva Convention was signed in 1949 contains rules to ensure the safety of civilians to an occupied territory and those who happen to be in the enemy country during the war.

ADDITIONAL PROTOCOLSsigned on 8 June 1977

Protocol I concerns international armed conflicts. It prohibits random attacks against civilians and the things which civilians need to survive such as crops and livestock. It prohibits massive air bombardments. The parties involved in the conflict must provide medical aid and food to civilians, otherwise to permit relief supplies by the ICRC.

Protocol II concerns internal conflict or civil war in which the government of a country finds itself at grips with rebel forces. It covers the protection of rebel forces and the like. It provides a body of rules aimed at safeguarding certain basic values such as respect for the physical and moral integrity of the individual and the decent treatment for persons deprived of their freedom.

INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW

What is International Humanitarian Law (IHL)?

International Humanitarian Law (IHL), or the Law of War, consists of a set of laws which serves to limit human suffering inflicted during situations of international or non-international armed conflict. They include rules pertaining to the protection of cultural property and to the limited use of weapons. If wars cannot be prevented, then human suffering should be minimised. IHL lays out that even war has limits.

The four Geneva Conventions form an important part of the international law. To make this law enforceable, the Convention stipulates that the signatory states shall enact suitable legislation in their respective countries to deal with the grave breaches of the Conventions under their criminal law and suitable penalties should be prescribed for these offences.

INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS AND RED CRESCENT MOVEMENT

International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)

International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)

National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (NS)(presently 176)

These institutions meet once every four years, with representatives of the States party to the Geneva Conventions, at an International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent

INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS (ICRC)

ICRC is an independent humanitarian institution of a private character, neutral as regards to political opinions, ideology and religion. The Assembly is the supreme policy-making body of ICRC.

ROLES Promoter of Geneva Convention Neutral Institution Right of Initiative Guardian of Principles Protect the Wounded, POWs and Internees Feed, Clothe and House Prisoners and Internees

INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE RED CROSS AND RED CRESCENT SOCIETIES (IFRC)

Formerly known as League of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (LRCS) until 1992. LRCS was founded on 5 May 1919 (after World War I) in Paris by Henry Pomeroy Davidson, Chairman of the American Red Cross War Council. The founder members were the NRCS of USA, France, United Kingdom, Italy and Japan.

The main objectives of IFRC are to inspire, encourage, facilitate and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities carried out by the National Societies with a view to the prevention and alleviation of human suffering and thereby contribute to the maintenance and the promotion of peace in the world.

IFRC maintains close relation with the ICRC in order to co-ordinate and harmonise their respective activities laid down by the Statues of their respective institutions.

ROLES OF IFRC

Encourages the creation and development of NS

Advises and assists NS in development of their services

Organises and coordinates international relief for victims of natural disasters and refugees

Promotes the adoption of national disaster prepardness

As a permanent liaison body of NS, to act as their spokesman and representative internationally

Assists the ICRC in the promotion and development of IHL and Red Cross fundamental principles

Carries out the mandates entrusted to it by the ICRC

NATIONAL RED CROSS ANDRED CRESCENT SOCIETIES (NS)

Activities are varied as the countries they serve. They include emergency relief, health services and social assistance to individuals and communities, first aid courses for the public, training of nursing personnel, blood services, youth programmes, etc.

In wartime, Societies serve as auxiliaries to the army medical services, care for military wounded and sick, and aid prisoners, refugees and civilian internees.

Societies must fulfill stringent conditions to achieve international recognition by the ICRC and obtain Federation membership. Among them, respect of Red Cross Principles and recognised by their government as voluntary aid societies, auxiliaries to public authorities in humanitarian matters.

INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS WORKS

ICRC and Political Prisoners Improving the Plight of Political Detainees Red Cross and Peace Red Cross and Youth Red Cross and War Red Cross and Natural Disasters Red Cross and Health Red Cross and First Aid Red Cross and Nursing Red Cross and Communication Red Cross and Blood Donation Central Tracing Agency International Tracing Service

THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OFHUMAN RIGHTSAdopted and proclaimed by General Assembly resolution 217A (iii) of 10 December 1948

The General Assembly proclaims this Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction.

The Declaration constitutes a total of 30 Articles.

SINGAPORE RED CROSS SOCIETY (SRCS)

Red Cross work in Singapore began in 1949 as part of the British Red Cross Society and SRCS was incorporated by an Act of Parliament on 6 April 1973.

SRCS is part of a world-wide, non-political, non-religious movement which based its work on the fundamental principles. An independent humanitarian organisation, it raises its own funds in serving humanity and furthering the work of the Red Cross locally and internationally.

The Council is headed by a Chairman which is appointed by the President of the Republic of Singapore, the Patron of the SRCS. Implementation of the policies and directives laid down by the Council is done by the Secretariat headed by the Secretary General.

The general management is overseen by the Executive Committee.

ORGANISATION CHART OF THE SINGAPORE RED CROSS SOCIETY

COUNCIL

FINANCE COMMISSION

LEGAL COMMISSION

MEDICAL COMMISSION

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

SECRETARIAT

Services- Red Cross Home for the Disabled- Red Cross Hostel for the Physically Handicapped Workers- Red Cross Blood Donor Recruitment Programme- Red Cross Ambulance Service- First Aid Public Duty- Information & ReferralVolunteer DevelopmentRed Cross Training CentreInternational Services- International Development and Assistance- Regional and International Bilateral / Multilateral Development and

Relief Projects- International Attachment and Exchange- International Humanitarian Law (IHL) DisseminationFund Raising & Public RelationsFinance and Administration

STANDING COMMITTEES AND TASK FORCES

Red Cross Home for the Disabled Advisory CommitteeRed Cross Home the Disabled Cyclical Maintenance andRepair Work Advisory CommitteeRed Cross Ambulance Service Advisory CommitteeInternational Services CommitteeFund Raising Planning CommitteeSteering Committee of Blood Donor Recruitment ProgrammeTraining and Development CommitteeRed Cross Training CentreExamination Board of the Red Cross Training CentreRed Cross House Renovation Advisory CommitteeTask Force for the Review of the Constitution of the SRCS

Active Divisions

* Red Cross Youth * Voluntary Aid Detachments * Welfare

ACTIVITIES

SERVICES Red Cross Home for the Disabled Red Cross Hostel for Physically Handicapped Workers Red Cross Blood Collection Programme Red Cross Ambulance Service Red Cross Training Centre First Aid Public Duty Information & Referral

Volunteer Development

International Services

Fund Raising & Public Relations

Finance & Administration

RED CROSS YOUTH DIVISIONas from 1 January 2001

O R G AN I SATI O N CH AR T

CO M M U N I TY SER VI CE CO M M I TTEEHU M AN R ESO U R CE CO M M I TTEE

I N TER N ATI O N AL AFFAI R S CO M M I TTEE

HO N O N AR Y TR EASU R ERHO N O N AR Y SECR ETAR Y

VO LU N TEER I N STR U CTO R S DEPAR TM EN TS

Cadet Aff airs Train ing

First Aid Duty W elfare

I nform ation

D I STR I CTS

N orthEast

SouthW est

U N I T SU PER VI SO R Y PAN EL

DEPU TY D I R ECTO R

DI R ECTO R