IFRC

INTERNATIONAL
FEDERATION OF RED
CROSS AND RED
CRESCENT SOCIETIES

OUTLINE
HISTORY OF IFRC
Governance
The role of the IFRC
Funding and fi nancial matters
Activities and responsibilities
CONCLUSION
REFERENCES

HISTORY OF IFRC

IFRC is a non-profi t organization aimed at providing

diff erent forms of services to a number of deserving
people.The movement branches out into 3 major
organizational, all united under the same fl ag with
the main aim of providing humanitarian services to
the people.

PLACE AND TIME

Evolution of IFRC :
Established in May 1919, in Paris as the because of
the consequences of world war 1.
It all started of with 5 nations and the number has
grown to 186 over the years, including an operating
centre in all the 186 nations.
The head quarter is in Geneva ,Switzerland

 T he International Federatio n of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

(IFRC) is th e world 's largest h uman itarian organization, providing
assistan ce withou t d iscriminatio n as to nation ality, race, religious beliefs,
class o r po litical opinio ns.
Foun ded in 1919 , th e IFRC comprises 189 member Red Cross and Red
Crescent Nation al Societies, a secretariat in Geneva and more than 60
delegation s strategically located to sup port activ ities around the world.
T here are more societies in fo rmation . The Red Crescent is used in place of
the Red Cross in many Islamic coun tries.
T he IFRC v ision :
To inspire, en courage fa cilitate a nd promote a t a ll times all forms of
humanitarian a ctivities by Natio nal Societies, with a view to preventing and
alleviating hu man su ffering, a nd thereby contributing to the maintenance and
promotio n of human dig nity an d peace in the world.

THE FIVE (5) FOUNDERS OF

THE INTERNATIONAL
COMMITTEE OF RED CROSS

G E N E VA C O N V E N T I O N S 1 9 4 9
T H E G E N E VA C O N V E N T I O N S C O M P R I S E F O U R T R E AT I E S , A N D
T H R E E A D D I T I O N A L P R O T O C O L S , T H AT E S TA B L I S H E S T H E
S TA N DA R D S O F I N T E R N AT I O N A L L AW F O R T H E H U M A N E
T R E AT M E N T O F WA R.
ST 1949
1949
1ST
Geneva
Convention
dealing with
wounded and
sick in armed
forces in the
field.

2ND 1906
Geneva
Convention
dealing with
wounded
sick and
shipwrecked
members of
armed forces
at sea.

RD 1929
3RD
Geneva
Convention
dealing with
treatment of
prisoners of
war.

TH Geneva
4TH
Convention
dealing with
the protection
of civilian
persons in
timeof war.

Additional protocol (l) 1977

protection of victims of
international armed conflict
Additional protocol (ll) 1977
non international armed
conflict
Additional protocol (lll) 2005
adoption of red crystal

HISTORY OF EMBLEMS
The flag of Switzerland, from
which the original Red Cross is said to
have been derived

The Red Cross emblem was

officially approved in Geneva in 1863
The Red Crescent emblem was first
used by ICRC volunteers during the
armed conflict between the Ottoman
Empire and Russia (18771878).
The symbol was officially adopted in
1929

CONT.
The Third Protocol Emblem is the Red
Crystal
was
adopted
by
an
amendment
of
the
Geneva
Conventions known as Protocol III
2005.
The Red Lion and Sun Society of
Iran was established in 1922 and
admitted to the Red Cross and Red
Crescent movement in 1923.
Red Star of David, the national firstaid society of Israel, but it is not
recognized
by
the
Geneva
Conventions as a protected symbol

ORGANIZATIONS UNDER THE

MOVEMENT
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) 1863

International Federation of Red Cross and Red

Crescent Societies (IFRC) - 1919

National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

GOVERNANCE
While the secretariat is responsible for the day-to-day
running of the IFRC, the decisions on its direction and
policy are made by the governing bodies. These bodies
defi ne a framework of purpose, policies, goals and
programmes, and provide a mechanism for
accountability and compliance
The General Assembly is the highest decision-making
body of the IFRC. It meets every two years and
comprises representatives from all member National
Societies. The assembly last came together in Sydney,
2013 as part of the Movement's Statutory Meetings.
The Governing Board acts between general assemblies,
meeting twice a year with the authority to make
certain decisions.

 The board comprises the IFRC's President and Vice Presidents,

representatives from elected member Societies, the Chair of
the Finance Commission and the Chair of the Youth
Commission.
The IFRC has four constitutional commissions/committees:
Finance Commission, Youth Commission, Compliance &
M ediation Committee and Election Committee.
The Governing Board is responsible for appointing the
secretary general, who is the chief executive offi cer of the
IFRC, directing the secretariat and its deleg ations.
The 21st session of the Governing Board in May 2010
established the advisory bodies according to the terms of
reference ad opted by the 17th session of the General
Assembly, November 2009 in Nairobi.
The Governing Board might in addition set up working groups
according to specifi c needs of the IFRC.

THE ROLE OF THE IFRC

T h e I F RC c a r r i e s o u t re l i e f o p e r a t i o n s t o a s s i s t v i c t i m s o f d i s a s t e r s , a n d c o m b i n e s
t h i s w i t h d e v e l o p m e n t w o r k t o s t re n g t h e n t h e c a p a c i t i e s o f i t s m e m b e r N a t i o n a l
S o c i e t i e s . T h e I F RC ' s w o r k f o c u s e s o n f o u r c o r e a r e a s : p r o m o t i n g h u m a n i t a r i a n
v a l u e s , d i s a s t e r r e s p o n s e , d i s a s t e r p re p a r e d n e s s , a n d h e a l t h a n d c o m m u n i t y c a r e .
The unique network of National So cieties - which cover almost every country in the
w o r l d - i s t h e I F RC ' s p r i n c i p a l s t r e n g t h . C o o p e r a t i o n b e t w e e n N a t i o n a l S o c i e t i e s
g i v e s t h e I F RC g re a t e r p o t e n t i a l t o d e v e l o p c a p a c i t i e s a n d a s s i s t t h o s e m o s t i n n e e d .
A t a l o c a l l e v e l , t h e n e t w o r k e n a b l e s t h e I F RC t o r e a c h i n d i v i d u a l c o m m u n i t i e s .
T h e r o l e o f t h e s e c r e t a r i a t i n G e n e v a i s t o c o o r d i n a t e a n d m o b i l i z e re l i e f a s s i s t a n c e
for i ntern atio nal e mergen ci es, promo te coopera ti on between Nati on al Soci eti es a nd
r e p re s e n t t h e s e N a t i o n a l S o c i e t i e s i n t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l fi e l d .
T h e r o l e o f t h e fi e l d d e l e g a t i o n s i s t o a s s i s t a n d a d v i s e N a t i o n a l S o c i e t i e s w i t h re l i e f
o p e r a t i o n s a n d d e v e l o p m e n t p ro g r a m m e s , a n d e n c o u r a g e re g i o n a l c o o p e r a t i o n .
T h e I F RC , t o g e t h e r w i t h N a t i o n a l S o c i e t i e s a n d t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l C o m m i t t e e o f t h e
Re d C r o s s , m a ke u p t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l Re d C r o s s a n d Re d C re s c e n t M o v e m e n t .

FUNDING AND FINANCIAL MATTERS

T h e I FRC is f und ed b y st a t u t or y c o n t r ibu t io n s fro m N a t io na l

So ci et ies, t he deliver y o f fi el d s ervic es t o p ro gr am m e pa r t n ers , a nd
vo lu n t a r y co n t r ibu t io n s fro m d o n o rs s u ch a s g ov ern m ent s,
co r po ra t io ns an d ind ivid u a ls .
T h e cr it er ia fo r t he s t a t u t o r y co n t r ibu t io n s o f ea ch N a t io n al
So ci et y a re est ab lis hed by t h e Fin a n ce C o m m i ssi on a n d a pp ro ved
by t h e G en era l As sem bl y.
Ad di t io na l fu nd ing , es pecia lly fo r u n fo reseen relief a ss is t an ce
m i ssio n s, is r a is ed b y em ergen c y a pp ea ls. As o f 20 05 , t h e Cha irm an
o f t h e Fi na n ce Co m m is sio n is Mr. C h r yst old C h et t y (S eychel les) a n d
t h e Vice- Cha ir is Ms Ka t h ryn Fo rb es (Un it ed St a t es) .
Pro gr a m m es an d co o rd in at i o n p la n an d b u d get (res t ri ct ed)T h e
prog ra m m es a nd co o rdi n a t io n pla n a n d bu dget ai m s t o su ppo r t
N at i o n a l S o ciet ies in t h eir prog ra m m in g in su ppo r t o f d isa s t era ff ect ed a n d vu ln er a bl e peo ple, as w ell as in di vidu a l
N at i o n a l.S o ciet ies in t h eir o rga n isa t i on a l d ev el op m ent .

R E F L E C T I N G T H E G O V E R N I N G B O A R D S P R I O R I T I E S A S S TAT E D AT
I T S N OV E M B E R 2 0 1 2 M E E T I N G , T H E I F RC A I M S T O A C H I E V E T H E
F O L LO W I N G O V E R T H E N E X T T W O Y E A R S W I T H I N
T H E P R O G RA M M E S P L A N A N D B U D G E T:

A. H u m a n i t a r i a n re s p o n s e t o p ro v i d e c o o rd i n a t i o n d u r i n g t h e i m m e d i a t e
re s p o n s e p h a s e o f d i s a s t e r s a n d cr i s e s w h i ch re q u i re i n t e rn a t i o n a l
a s s i s t a n c e , t o e n s u re a d e q u a t e re s o u rc e s a re a v a i l a b l e t o m e e t t h e n e e d s
o f d i s a s t e r a ff e c t e d p e o p l e .
B . Lo n g e r- t e rm d e v e l o p m e n t t o a s s i s t N a t i o n a l S o c i e t i e s i n t h e i r
p ro g r a m m i n g i n a re a s o f r i s k re d u c t i o n a n d re s i l i e n c e , f o o d s e cu r i t y a n d
health including water and sanitation.
C. National Society development to assist National Societies in becoming
s t ro n g e r o rg a n i z a t i o n s d e s i g n i n g c l e a r s t r a t e g i c p l a n s f o r t h e i r p ro g r a m m e
w o r k , a s w e l l a s t o h e l p t h e m m o b i l i s e a n d c o o rd i n a t e d o m e s t i c a n d
i n t e rn a t i o n a l p a r t n e r s . T h i s w o r k w i t h N a t i o n a l S o ci e t i e s i s e n a b l e d b y
ex p l o r i n g t h e f u l l p o t e n t i a l o f t h e a u x i l i a r y ro l e o f N a t i o n a l S o c i e t i e s . T h e
h u m a n i t a r i a n re s p o n s e a n d d e v e l o p m e n t p ro g r a m m e s , a s w e l l a s re l a t e d
c o o rd i n a t i o n l i n ke d t o t h e s t a t e d o b j e c t i v e s , a re f u n d e d f ro m re s t r i c t e d
v o l u n t a r y c o n t r i b u t i o n s w h i ch c o n s t i t u t e t h e I F RC s l a rg e s t i n c o m e s t re a m .
W h i l e m e m b e r N a t i o n a l S o c i e t i e s m a ke u p a c r u c i a l p a r t o f t h e d o n o r g ro u p

ACTIVITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

T h e I F RC c o o rd i n a t e s b e t w e e n N a t i o n a l Re d C ro s s a n d Re d C re s c e n t
S o c i e t i e s t hro u g h o u t t h e w o r l d . T h e I F RC a l o n g w i t h I C RC s u p p o r t s t h e
f o u n d a t i o n o f n e w N a t i o n a l S o c i e t i e s i n c o u n t r i e s w h e re n o o ffi c i a l
s o c i e t y ex i s t s .
A N a t i o n a l S o c i e t y i s a d m i t t e d a s a m e m b e r t o t h e I F RC o n l y a ft e r i t i s
re c o g n i z e d b y t h e I C RC . T h e I F RC c o o p e r a t e s w i t h t h e N a t i o n a l S o c i e t i e s
o f t h e a ff e c t e d c o u n t r i e s - c a l l e d t he H o s t N a t i o n a l S o c i e t y ( H N S ) - a s
w e l l a s t h e N a t i o n a l S o c i e t i e s o f o t h e r c o u n t r i e s w i l l i n g t o o ff e r
a s s i s t a n c e c a l l e d Pa r t n e r N a t i o n a l S o c i e t i e s ( P N S ) .
A m o n g t h e 1 8 7 N a t i o n a l S o c i e t i e s a d m i t t e d t o t h e G e ne r a l A s s e m b l y o f
t h e I F RC a s f u l l m e m b e r s o r o b s e r v e r s , a b o u t 2 5 - 3 0 re g u l a r l y w o r k a s
P N S i n o t h e r c o u nt r i e s .
T h e m o s t a c t i v e a re t h e A m e r i c a n Re d C ro s s , t h e B r i t i s h Re d C ro s s , t h e
G e rm a n Re d C ro s s , a n d t h e Re d C ro s s S o c i e t i e s o f S w e d e n a n d N o r w a y.
A no t h e r m a j o r m i s s i o n o f t h e I F RC w h i c h h a s g a i n e d a t t e n t i o n i n re ce n t
y e a r s i s i t s c o m m i t m e n t t o w o r k t o w a rd s a c o d i fi e d , w o r l d w i d e b a n o n
t h e u s e o f l a n d m i n e s a n d t o b r i n g m e d i c a l , p s y c h o l o g i c a l , a nd s o c i a l
s u p p o r t f o r p e o p l e i n j u re d b y l a n d m i n e s

THE STATED TASKS OF THE IFRC

CAN BE SUMMARIZED AS FOLLOWS:
t o p ro m o t e h u m a n i t a r i a n p r i n c i p l e s a n d v a l u e s .
to support National Societies.
t o s u p p o r t p ro j e c t s w h e re f u n d s a re a v a i l a b l e .
T h e Re d C ro s s Re d C re s c e n t i s t h e w o r l d s l a r g e s t h u m a n i t a r i a n n e t w o r k w i t h :
Nearly 15.5 million volunteers
M o re t h a n 4 1 5 , 0 0 0 p a i d s t a ff
M o re t h a n 1 6 0 , 0 0 0 l o c a l Re d C ro s s a n d Re d C re s c e n t u n i t s / b r a n c h e s
33.9 million people having donated blood to National Society blood services
worldwide
M o re t h a n 1 1 5 . 4 m i l l i o n p e o p l e re a c h e d b y Re d C ro s s Re d C re s c e n t d i s a s t e r
p re p a re d n e s s p r o g r a m m i n g
M o re t h a n 7 7 m i l l i o n re a c h e d i n 2 0 1 2 b y d i s a s t e r re s p o n s e a n d e a r l y re c o v e r i n g
p ro g r a m m i n g
M o re t h a n 7 7 . 2 m i l l i o n p e o p l e re a c h e d i n 2 0 1 2 b y l o n g - t e r m d e v e l o p m e n t
p ro g r a m m i n g
T h a t i s m o re t h a n 1 5 4 . 2 m i l l i o n p e o p l e re a c h e d i n 2 0 1 2 a l o n e , w i t h m o re t h a n
h a l f b e i n g s u p p o r t e d b y Re d C ro s s Re d C re s c e n t d e v e l o p m e n t w o r k .
A t o t a l i n c o m e o f m o re t h a n 3 1 . 4 b i l l i o n S w i s s f r a n c s i n 2 0 1 2 , w i t h t o t a l
e x p e n d i t u re s b e i n g j u s t o v e r 3 1 . 1 b i l l i o n S w i s s f r a n c s .

The Movement Today

There are 186 member Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
Network of approximately 97 million members and volunteers worldwide.
Paid to Volunteer Staff Ratio of 1:20
Provides assistance to some 233 million beneficiaries each year.
Red Cross Employment
ICRC
Skills always in demand: hospital administration, water & sanitation engineers, nurses,
mechanics, interpreters/translators.
Recruitment of delegates is temporarily restricted to Arabic, Russian, and Spanish speakers.
Federation
Food security, shelter, and logistics specialists in demand.
Specialists in one of the 4 key areas: promotion of fundamental principles and humanitarian
values, disaster response, disaster preparedness, health and care in the community.
Multilingual preferred (IFRC official languages are Arabic, English, French, and Spanish

CONCLUSION
IFRC as the promoter and guardian of
international humanitarian laws must encourage
the respect of laws
It does so by spreading the knowledge of
humanitarian rules
Reminding parties in the conflicts of their
obligations
And ensure that humanitarian rules are
respected.

THANK YOU
!

REFERENCES

" The International Re d Cros s Re d Cre sc ent Move me nt on th e

Interne t". Who we are . Inte rnational Fe de ration of Re d Cross and
Red Cres ce nt Societie s. Re trie ve d 1 8N ove mbe r 2 01 3.
" Strate gy 2 02 0" . Who w e are . Inte rnation al Fe de r ation of Re d
Cross and Re d Cre sce nt Socie ties . Retrie ve d 1 8 Nove mbe r 20 13 .
IFRC: Who We Are : Histor y.
" Nobe l Laure ate s Facts - Organizations ". Nobe l Foun dation .
Retrie ved 2 009 -10 -1
IFRC: Who We Are : The Se cre tary Ge ne ral.
IFRC: [1 ].
Andre Durand, History of the In te rnational Committe e of th e Re d
Cross : From Saraje vo to H iroshima, (Ge ne va:I CRC, 198 4), 1 47.
David P. For sythe : The Human itarians : The Inte rnational
Committe e of the Re d Cross . Cambridge U nive rsity Pre ss :
Cambridge , 2 00 5. p3 7. ISBN 0-52 1-61 28 1-0