7 fundamental

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The 7 FundamentalPrinciples of The Red

Cross and Red Crescent

Movement

A historical perspective


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I) Origins and historical analysisof the 7 Fundamental

Principles

II) Full Text of the 7

Fundamental Principles

Contents for thispresentation

Principles and Values. International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies


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As early as 1875, Gustave Moyniersuggested that the RC should

observe the following 4 Principles:1 Foresight = preparations in advance

2 Solidarity = Mutual ties between NS

3 Centralization = One NS per country

4 Mutuality = assistance given to woundedregardless of nationality.

I. Origins of the7 Fundamental Principles


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In 1921, the revised Statutes of the

ICRC were modified and incorporatedfour Fundamental Principles:

- impartiality, political, religious and

economic independence, theuniversality of the Movement and theequality of its members.

I) Origins of the7 Fundamental Principles


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In 1946, the League's Board ofGovernors confirmed the four 1921principles, supplemented by anotherthirteen principles and six rules ofapplication.

Those Principles are known as the"Oxford Principles"



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In 1955 Jean Pictet defined andanalyzed all the values which guide

the work of the Movement. He listed17 principles in two categories:

a. Fundamental Principles, which express the very

reason for the Movement's existence and inspireand influence all it does;

b. the organic principles, which concern theMovement's structure and how it works.



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The Movement's seven FundamentalPrinciples as they stand today wereunanimously adopted in 1965 by the20th International Conference of theRed Cross, which also decided thatthey should be solemnly read out at

the opening of every InternationalConference.



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In 1986, the 25th InternationalConference of the Red Cross (in

Geneva) reaffirmed the importanceof the Principles by including themin the Preamble to the Movement's

Statutes; their drafting was slightlyamended, and is as follows:



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Fundamental Principles

Humanity

Impartiality

Neutrality

Independence

Voluntary Service Unity

Universality


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End of this presentation.

This presentation can be complementedwith the set of slides entitled Analysis

of the 7 Fundamental Principles


End of Presentation


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Analysis of the

7 Fundamental

Principles


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I) Binding Character of the 7FP

II) Analysis of the 7 FP

Contents for thispresentation


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The Statutes of the Movement

underscore the obligation of all thecomponents of the RC RC Movementto act at all times in compliance with

the Fundamental PrinciplesFurthermore..

I. Binding Character

of the 7FP


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the Statutes of the Movement recallthe role of the ICRC to maintain anddisseminate the FundamentalPrinciples, and the role of theFederation to assist the ICRC in thisrespect.

Furthermore..


of the 7FP


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the Seville agreement recalls thatNational Societies have a key role toplay in upholdingand disseminatingthe Fundamental Principles within theirown country.


of the 7FP


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States are not required to respect the

Fundamental Principles of theMovement, except in the context ofthe International Conference.


of the 7FP


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The International Red Cross Red Crescent Movement, born of a desire to

bring assistancewithout discrimination to the wounded on the battlefield,

endeavours, in its international and national capacity,to prevent and

alleviate human suffering wherever it may be found. Its purpose is to

protect life and health and to ensure respect for the human being. It

promotes mutual understanding, friendship, co-operation and lasting peace

amongst all people

Humanity


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HUMANITY

it recalls the origins of the Movement: "born of adesire to bring assistance without discrimination to

the wounded on the battlefield"it recalls the double dimension of the Movement:the national and the international one

it defines the mission of the Movement: "toprevent and alleviate human suffering wherever itmay be found"

it defines the purposes of the Movement

II) Analysis of theFundamental Principles




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Impartiality

It makesno distinction as to nationality, race, religiousbeliefs, class or political opinions. It endeavours to relieve

the suffering of individuals, beingguided solely by their

needs, and togive priority to the most urgent cases of

distress


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IMPARTIALITY

The Movement makes no discrimination - andthis does not apply only to people it assists or

protects. Non-discrimination is the refusal to applydistinctions of an adverse nature to human beingssimply because they belong to a specific category.

Impartiality means that, for the Movement, the

only priority that can be set in dealing with thosewho require help must be based on need





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Neutrality

In order to enjoy the confidence of all, theMovementmay not take sides in hostilities or

engage at any time in controversies of a political,

racial, religious or ideological nature


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NEUTRALITY

the purpose of complying is to enjoy theconfidence of all. It requires confidence of all in

many contexts, i.e. not only in armed conflictscontexts.

the Principle of Neutrality prohibits a componentof the Movement from taking part in hostilities.

the Principle of Neutrality prohibits the Movementto engage at any time in controversies of apolitical, racial, religious or ideological nature.





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Independence

The Movement is independent. The National Societies, whileauxiliaries in the humanitarian services of their government and

subject to the laws of their respective countries, must always

maintain theirautonomyso that they may be able at all times to

act in accordance with the principles of the Movement


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INDEPENDENCE

resist any interference, whether political,ideological or economic, capable of diverting them

from the course of action laid down by therequirements of humanity, impartiality andneutrality.

balancebetween the NS status of auxiliary to

public authorities in the humanitarian field andtheir submission to national law, on the one hand,and the need to maintain their autonomy, on theother hand.





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Voluntary

Service

It is a voluntary relief movementnot

prompted in any manner by desire for gain


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VOLUNTARY SERVICE

The Movement is a volunteer-basedorganization

Volunteers provide a vital source of motivation,inspiration and initiative. Volunteers help tomaintain the human quality of the RCRC servicesprovided.

Voluntary service, is also a source ofeconomy. Itallows NS to provide services with minimumfinancial resources.





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Unity

There can be onlyone Red Cross or one RedCrescent Society in any one country. It must be

open to all. It must carry on its humanitarian work

throughout its territory


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UNITY

As States have agreed to the FP, they have anobligation to ensure that no other NS can be

created on their territory if they have alreadyrecognized a National Society.

a National Society has to open its membershipwith a broad base in the population as a whole. It

has to recruit its members from all the ethnic,social and other groups in the country.

a National Society has to be active in all parts ofthe country.


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Universality

The International Red Cross and CrescentMovement, in which all Societieshave equal

status and share equal responsibilities and duties

in helping each other, is worldwide


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UNIVERSALITY

The RCRC Movement is worldwide.

All National Societies have equal status in theMovement.

All Societies share equal responsibilities and

duties in helping each other.


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