World Red Cross and Red Crescent day

Context:

• World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day is an annual celebration of the principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
• World Red Cross Red Crescent Day is celebrated on 8 May each year.
•  This date is the anniversary of the birth of Henry Dunant, who was born on 8 May 1828.
•  He was the founder of International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the recipient of the first Nobel Peace Prize.

About the day:

• The idea for an “annual action that could take hold in the whole world that would be a major contribution to peace” was introduced just after World War I.
• This initiative, known as the “Red Cross Truce”, was studied by an International Commission established at the 14th International Conference of the Red Cross. Its report, presented to the 15th International Conference of the Red Cross in Tokyo in 1934, was approved.
•  It was only after World War II, in 1946, that the Tokyo proposal was studied by the League of Red Cross Societies (LRCS), renamed the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in 1991.
•  Two years later, having considered the principles of the truce and its applicability across different regions of the world, the proposal of an annual International Red Cross Day was adopted and the first Red Cross Day was celebrated on 8 May 1948.
•  The official title of the day changed over time, and became “World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day” in 1984.
• The original motto of the International Committee of the Red Cross was Inter Arma Caritas “In War, Charity”. 
• This Christian-spirited slogan was amended in 1961 with the neutral motto Per Humanitatem ad Pacem or “With humanity, towards peace. 240 Lakhs people are profited by the help of the Workers of the Red Cross activities.

Significance of the Red Cross Day

• The main focus of the Red Cross Society is to collect blood. Red Cross Organisation also helps to provide first aid, emergency response, health, and social care, refugee services, and help people in finding missing families.
• World Red Cross promotes self-awareness and empowers youth to learn about the techniques and methods that are essential for the survival of our generation.
• The Red Cross emblem continues to be an internationally recognized symbol of protection and neutrality.
•  It is used to identify military medical services as well as the people, programs, and objects connected with the humanitarian activities of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
• The Red Cross – five, red, equal-sized squares forming across is one of the most recognized emblems in the world.
•  The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement were born on a battlefield in 1859, in Solferino, Italy.
• Henry Dunant, a Swiss businessman, witnessed the aftermath of a grim battle that left 40,000 dead and wounded with few military or local medical services to help them.