World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day and its History

Every year, 8 May is observed as World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day. This day acknowledges and appreciates the work done by the Red Cross and Red Crescent societies, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). IFRC has the distinction of being world’s largest humanitarian organisation.

Background to the World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day 

At the 14th International Conference of the Red Cross held in London, England, in 1938, the delegates decided to observe 8 May as the International Red Cross Day. 

 8 May was chosen as it was the day in 1828 when Jean  Henri Dunant was born in Switzerland.

Henri Dunant founded the Red Cross( now known as the International Red Cross) and the World Alliance of Young Men’s Christian Associations.

The first International Red Cross Day was observed on 8 May 1948. In 1984, the name was changed to ‘World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day'.

Theme of the 2024 World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day 

The theme of the World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day is chosen by the International  Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

The theme of the 2024 World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day is Everything we do comes # from the heart.

About Henri Dumont 

Henri Dunant was a Swiss humanitarian who founded the International Committee for the Relief of the Wounded (now the International Committee of the Red Cross) in 1863. 

Disturbed by the casualties and suffering he witnessed at the Battle of Solferino in 1859, he proposed the formation of voluntary relief societies in all countries. The voluntary societies were to work for the prevention and alleviation of suffering in war and peacetime, without distinction of race or creed.

Inspired by the work of Henri Dunant, Red Cross Societies were formed in many countries. In Muslim countries, the Red Cross Society was named Red Crescent. 

In 1901, Henri Dunant shared the first Nobel Prize for Peace with Fredric Passy of France.

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies was founded in 1919 as the League of Red Cross Societies in Geneva, Switzerland.

The League was founded as an association of Red Cross Societies active in various countries. In 1983, this organisation’s name was changed to the League of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in response to the use of the Red Crescent in Muslim countries. 

The name was changed again in 1991 to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). 

At present, IFRC consists of 192 Red Cross and Red Crescent societies around the globe.

The federation's main goal is to facilitate the humanitarian activities of national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies in non-conflict areas.

The IFRC focuses its efforts on providing relief and help to the victims of natural and man-made disasters such as famine or hurricanes.

Thus, at present, there are ICRC, national Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and IFRC, which work together or alone for humanitarian works.

Achievement of the Red Cross and Red Crescent 

• The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) won three Nobel Peace Prizes in 1917, 1944, and 1963. 
• The 1963 Peace Prize was shared by the ICRC with the IFRC 
• It is the only institution that has won three Nobel Peace Prizes in the world.