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 Press release - AzRC marks 8 May, World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day (AzRC)

 Press release date: 03.05.2006

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.



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