Italian Red Cross

Description

A 150-year history

The Association of the Italian Red Cross, a voluntary organization, has as its purpose health and social assistance both in time of peace and in time of conflict. Association of high importance, it is placed under the high patronage of the President of the Republic. The CRI is part of the International Red Cross Movement. In its actions at the international level it coordinates with the International Committee of the Red Cross, in countries in conflict, and with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent for other interventions.

The International Red Cross Movement is an organization institutionalized in 1928 by the XIII International Conference in The Hague and coordinates numerous members: the International Committee of the Red Cross, the International Federation of National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the National Societies.

The International Committee of the Red Cross is based in Geneva, is a neutral and independent organization that provides humanitarian aid and protection to the victims of wars and armed violence; In armed conflicts, the ICRC is responsible for the international relief activities of the entire Movement.

The International Federation of National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is based in Geneva. Its specific activity is to act as a permanent coordinating body between the National Societies and bring to them assistance, relief to disaster victims, organizing and coordinating the relief action at the international level of the National Societies; it is also committed to fostering the creation and development of new National Societies and to collaborating with the ICRC in the dissemination of International Humanitarian Law. The Federation is joined by 190 National Societies.

The National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies originally created to rescue wounded or sick soldiers alongside the health services of the Armed Forces, the National Societies now carry out numerous activities both in peacetime and in time of war as auxiliaries of the public authorities. According to the principle of Universality, all National Societies have equal rights and a duty to help each other. The relationship between sister national companies is equal and a priority, so any operation in a foreign country must necessarily have the agreement of the local red cross or red crescent.

The Seven Fundamental
Principles Guarantee and Guide of Actions are the seven Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross Movement, which constitute its spirit and ethics: Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Volunteering, Unity and Universality. Adopted at the 20th International Conference of the Red Cross, held in Vienna in October 1965, the Fundamental Principles are guarantors of the action of the Movement, but also of the CRI and of each of its individual volunteers.