Azeri version
World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day
Since 1953, 8 May has been universally marked as the World Red Cross and the
Red Crescent Day. This date was established on behalf of Henry Dunant, the Swiss
humanist, public figure and recipient of the first Nobel Peace Prize, who was
born on 8 May 1828. In 1859 he became an accidental witness of the battle between
Austrian and French armies near Solferino, located in the north of Italy, and
being horrified by the bitter war, he mobilized local population for rendering
assistance to the wounded. By the initiative of Henry Dunant, the "International
Standing Commission for Aid to Wounded Soldiers", which subsequently became
the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), was established in 1863.
Thus, the International Red Cross Movement came into being.
On 22 August 1864 during a Diplomatic Conference, held in Switzerland, the
Convention "For the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded and Sick
in Armed Forces in the Field" was signed. Along with that, at the Conference
the emblem - a red cross on a white ground - was adopted. This kind of distinctive
emblem is a tribute to Switzerland, on which flag a white cross on a red ground
is reflected. In 1876 the Ottoman Empire suggested to use a Red Crescent to
protect medical staff during the Russian-Turkish War.
Since then, this emblem was recognized as equal as a Red Cross emblem on a white
ground and accepted by a number of countries.
The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement consists of 183 National
Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the International Committee of the Red
Cross (ICRC) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent
Societies (Federation). Together, all the components of the International Red
Cross and Red Crescent Movement are guided by the seven Fundamental Principles:
humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and
universality.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is an impartial, neutral
and independent organization whose exclusively humanitarian mission is to protect
the lives and dignity of victims of war and internal violence and to provide
them with assistance. It directs and coordinates the international relief activities
conducted by the Movement in situations of conflict. It also endeavours to prevent
suffering by promoting and strengthening humanitarian law and universal humanitarian
principles.
Established in 1863, the ICRC is at the origin of the International Red Cross
and Red Crescent Movement.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (Federation)
is the world's largest humanitarian organization, providing assistance without
discrimination as to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political
opinions. The International Federation's mission is to improve the lives of
vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity. Founded in 1919, the
International Federation comprises 183 member Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies,
a Secretariat in Geneva and more than 60 delegations strategically located to
support activities around the world. Federation acts as the official representative
of its member societies in the international field. It promotes cooperation
between National Societies and works to strengthen their capacity to carry out
effective disaster preparedness, health and social programs.
The Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society (AzRC), founded on 10 March in 1920 during
Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, had a great role in solving social problems
of our country, developing charitable initiatives, traditions of our people.
In all periods of its activity the Society won respect and love of people by
assisting the victims of wars and natural disasters and supporting most vulnerable
groups of population. The sanitary teams of the Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society
played an important role in fighting against malaria, cholera, tuberculoses,
diphtheria and other diseases raged in our country at that time. People still
remember all-round assistance rendered by the visiting nurses during the Great
Patriotic War in 1941 - 1945. It should be mentioned that among those, who were
awarded with "Florence Nightingale" medal - the highest reward of
the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, were the nurses of the
Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society: in May 2005, being concurred with the date
of celebration of World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day, Red Crescent nurses
- Durra Mammadova-Kosmodemyanskaya and Gizbas Asadova - veterans of the Second
World War, who devoted more than 50 years of their lives to providing self-sacrificing
service to the nation, as well as Firuza Aliyeva, who has been working for more
than 40 years in Agdam local committee of the Azerbaijan Red Crescent, received
"Florence Nightingale" medal. For exceptional courage displayed during
the Great Patriotic War, the other two nurses of Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society,
namely Sariyya Talishkhanova and Rashida Gasimzadeh were awarded with "Florence
Nightingale" medal in 1979 and 1983 correspondingly.
From 1992 to present day, the Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society conducts its activity
directed to solve the problems of more than 1 million refugees and internally
displaced people, who were forced to leave their homes as a result of aggression
of Armenia against Azerbaijan, as well as other vulnerable people. Red Crescent
Society implements following projects and programmes: Dissemination of Humanitarian
Values, Movement's Fundamental Principles and basics of the International Humanitarian
Law, Disaster Preparedness and Response, First Aid, Tracing Service, Health
and Care, Volunteer Non-remunerated Blood Donor Recruitment, HIV/AIDS, Population
Movement, Youth and Volunteers, Safe Play Area, Organizational Development,
Branch Development and Humanitarian Relief. The Azerbaijan Red Crescent carries
out its activities through 7 Regional Centers, 85 local branches as well as
Red Crescent Committees created in "AzerPost" public enterprise, Azerbaijan
National Academy of Science, Azerbaijan State Academy of Sports, Azerbaijan
Medical University, Azerbaijan State Economical University, Azerbaijan State
Pedagogical University and medical school ¹ 2 in Baku city. National Society
enlisted 214,248 members and 16,224 volunteers.
The Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society, being a part of the International Red
Cross and Red Crescent Movement, marks World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day
every year. As many other National Societies, the AzRC uses an opportunity to
promote itself and appeal to people for strengthening humanitarian activity
in favour of the most vulnerable categories of the population and victims of
different accidents, diseases and disasters.
Usually 8 May is marked under the certain theme. This year, the international
theme for World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day is "Universal assistance
through Volunteering".
The Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society is planning to organize various events,
devoted to this date. On 5 May with the assistance of Red Crescent volunteers
it is planned to carry out an image survey about the Red Cross and Red Crescent
Movement and activities of the AzRC as one of the Movement's components. During
the survey, which will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 01:00 p.m. in the park named
after N.Narimanov of Baku city, information materials issued by the AzRC will
be distributed among the population.
On 9 May, at 12:00 Noon event will be held among 250 children with mental retardation
in the orphanage house ¹ 11, situated in Sabunchu district. A festive lunch
will be served as well as concert with participation of Azerbaijan pop singers
and National Society's volunteers will be organized for the children.
On 11 May, at 01:00 p.m. a charity lunch will be given to 200 lone elderly
people, residents of Sabunchi, Binagadi and Surakhani districts in "Khalal"
restaurant of Surakhani district.
Other event, devoted to this date, is final competition on revealing knowledge
about the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and rendering first aid. The event
will be organized on 12 May at 12:00 Noon in Baku Business Centre among 30 pupils,
who will win preliminary competitions, held among 375 schoolchildren from 15
district schools in 5 regions of the country.
On 15 May, at 11:00 a.m. blood donation campaign is planned to be held in the
International University among students of Azerbaijan State Economical University,
Aviation Academy and Azerbaijan University.
|