International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (lFRC/RC) was founded in 1919. Its Headquarters is in Geneva, Switzerland. The general objective of the Federation is to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities of the National Societies with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering and thereby contributing to safeguarding peace in the world.
The functions of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies are the following:
- to encourage and promote in every country the establishment and development of National Society;
- to advise and assist the National Societies in the development of their activities;
- to organize and co-ordinate the international relief actions for disaster victims and refugees outside the zone of conflict, often appealing to the international community for assistance;
- to assist the adoption of national disaster preparedness plans.
The Federation is the permanent liaison body between the National Societies, and acts as its representative and speaker in the international field. In that sense since September 1994 the Federation has the status of permanent observer at the UN General Assembly.
The moral code of the Movement and its ethics have found expression in its seven Fundamental Principles. They represent the essence and the basis of the Movement, inspiring its activities, and uniting the National Societies.
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