May 8 - World Red Cross Day: Know About The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement

This date also marks the birth anniversary of Jean-Henry Dunant.

May 8 each year is observed as World Red Cross Day to celebrate the uniqueness and unity of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. This date marks the birth anniversary of Henry Dunant, the founder of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

The occasion's main objective is to spread kindness across the world. It aims to make the public understand the principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and make humanitarian work a priority for all.

This year, the theme for World Red Cross Day is “To highlight the universal, human, and diverse aspects of the Red Cross Movement”.

International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement

The mission of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is to protect human life and health, to ensure respect for all human beings, and to prevent as well as alleviate human suffering. These are addressed without considering any discriminations such as race, class, religion, nationality, or political ideology.

Internationally, the movement has about 97 million volunteers, members, and staff. It consists of three distinct organizations that are legally independent of each other but are united through some basic principles, objectives, symbols, statutes, and governing organs.

The movement has several parts:

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) coordinates between the 185 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies within the Movement.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) protects the life and dignity of all the victims of international and internal armed conflicts.

National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies take on additional humanitarian tasks.

The movement's fundamental principles are as follows:

Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Voluntary Service, Unity, and Universality.