History of Red Cross - Research Paper Example

? History of Red Cross History of Red Cross Jean Henry “Vision behind Red Cross” Jean Henry Dunant, born on 8 May 1828, in Geneva, was obliged by his sympathetic character to help the worried and the needy. In 1853, he was selected an accountant to a firm, in Algeria. It was on 24 June 1859 that Dunant witnessed the deadliest battle of the nineteenth century, in Solferino. In the battle of Solferino almost 400,000 people were wounded. This battle lasted for fifteen hours. Dunant was filled will pity and horror as he experienced this fierce battle and the human suffering. He took the help of the villagers at Castiglione to comfort and give medical care to the injured. He worked for the injured for three days without sleep. When he returned to Geneva he was troubled by atrocious visions of the war, he experienced in Solferino. He worked really hard to make sure that the terrible suffering he has gone through must not take place again. It was in 1862 that Dunant published a book by the name of “A Memory of Solferino”. His book fostered the idea that in every country there must be an institute that must work for providing relief to the people wounded in war. This society must also help the army to carry out their task of helping the wounded militants. The Formation of Red Cross Gustave Moynier who was an advocate in Geneva showed immediate interest to the idea fostered by Dunant in his book. Moynier within no time formed an International Committee of Relief for the ones injured in war, which was later named as “International Committee of Red Cross”. Delegates from sixteen states around the world, met at Geneva for the approval of the Geneva committee on 26 to 29 October. The delegates decided that every state will form within their country a private institute whose task will be to provide relief (medical services) to the military and the ones wounded in war. The medical equipment of the relief worker will be labeled with a unique emblem, a red cross with white background. Swiss government in 1864 organized a diplomatic conference at Geneva which brought together representatives from twelve different states. It was on 22 August 1864, that the first Geneva Convention was signed, whereas the others followed soon after this event took place. At that time battles or wars were considered to be irreconcilable. The First Geneva Conference stressed upon the enforcement of certain humanitarian rules during the war as well(About the International Committee of the Red Cross, 2013). Development of Red Cross The founders of Red Cross assigned to themselves the task to foster the creation national societies within different states. By 1874 there were about twenty-two national societies in different states of Europe. However Red Cross was gradually spreading to other continents as well. During the Turkish-Russian war in 1876, the Red Cross informed the government of Switzerland that they would be taking up the “red crescent” emblem to be placed on their ambulances instead of the “red cross” From 1864 to 1914 war and disturbance broke out in many parts of the world, at that time “Red Crescent” and “Red Cross” were busy giving their services to the men suffering. Above all, it was during the First World War when Red Cross Societies from all the countries were asked to give their services. At that time, all the Red Cross societies working in different countries organized hospital and ambulances for the wounded (History of Organization, 1963). The activities of the Red Cross expanded rapidly, following the foundation of the Central Trading Agency at Geneva. The task of this agency was to collect statistics about the wounded men and the prisoners under their service and provide the information to the government. Later the prisoners were give right to interact with their families and the exchange of mails between the prisoners and their relatives took place under the surveillance of Central Trading Agency. The delegated of belonging to the international committee visited the prisoners of war and collected information which may be useful to improve the conditions of the captives. It was suggested by the secretary of the war committee of the Red Cross (America) that the Red Cross societies operating in Japan, United States, Great Britain and Italy must give their resources for helping the injured and for the relief of public health to the organization in case of any natural disaster or war. The league of “Red Cross” as well as “Red Crescent” started in 1919, with its headquarters residing in Geneva. These were national societies working at international level. The new orientation of Red Cross towards the work for humanity did not affect the ongoing work of the International Committee of Red Cross, but it indicated that after the First World War there is a great need of protecting the rights and lives of many parties such as the civilians. In the Second World War International Red Cross Committee struggled to improve the treatment of the victims of war. It established camps in some safe and healthy areas. Four conventions and additional protocols After the war the International Red Cross committee resumed their work and prepared their task of the convention in Geneva, which was about the protection of the rights of the civilians during the war. In the August of 1949, a diplomat based conference was organized in Geneva. The conference adopted the four Geneva conferences which were based on the protection of the human rights. Post war events occurred rapidly. The first conflict which took place post 1945 and the development of the mass nuclear weapon led the IRC to make new suggestions regarding the protection of lives and rights of the civilians. It was since 1945, that the Red Cross initiated and reflected more discussion within it regarding its objectives that included the protection of the rights of the civilians. The 20th international conference adopted the seven fundamental principles of Red Cross. After consulting with the United Nations, it was in 1968 that Red Cross organized the meeting of the legal advisors of government. The purpose of this meeting was to prepare a way for the diplomatic conference. On June 1977, the two additional protocols to the Geneva Conference were adopted. Period after the world war to the present day The period after the world war to the present day has marked tremendous increased in the relief activities of Red Cross for the victims of natural disasters. For the victims of the natural disaster Red Cross consider it their obligation at the international level. In the countries that had been subjected to disaster, societies are seeking to be developed there with the permission of the government of that country. These societies which are being establish at the national level within these countries, their task is to intervene itself in relief operations and to indulge itself in the activities of collecting relief from abroad and distributing it within the country once an international appeal is launched. The International Red Cross Committee which has been engaged in a number of relief activities now coordinates relief action between the donor and the victim, like the National Societies or the United Nations and the Red Cross. The activities of the National societies have changed post war to reflect the purpose or requirement. They were trying to move from curative medicine to penetrative medicine and concentrated on broader problem related to the public’s health. Blood transfusion programs were being fostered by the Red Cross Committee which encourages the people to donate their blood to save the life of the wounded. After war, Red Cross Committee was working in almost every part of the world, while playing their role as a nursing and as social institute for the people. The entry of new people was being encouraged in the society through recruitment (Ways to Volunteer, 2013). Many programs were being encouraged at school level which included teaching the children to give first aid, evaluation, firefighting, nursing the wounded, welfare services and many more. The Emblem of Red Cross Red Cross adopted a distinctive emblem for the people and the places which will acquire special care under this Committee because of the part of an international agreement. The emblem was designed in the honor of Switzerland, while the color of the Red Cross with white background was reverse as that of the flag of Switzerland. This emblem of 5 blocks and white background was adopted by the Red Cross committee in 1863 (The history of the emblems, 2010). This emblem of Red Cross raised several religious problems in many countries. Although Red Cross, was not meant to be used as a religious symbol. The symbol of the Red Cross was not acceptable to Turkey, which was the first Muslim country to establish the society. It was in 1876, that Turkey dissolved its “Aid society to the wounded” which it formed eight years ago and reestablished the society with the emblem and name of the “Red Crescent”. A Red Crescent with white background is being used by the Islamic countries, which have Red Cross societies functioning in them. Both of these emblems are protected and equally recognized after the diplomatic conference which took place in 1929. The purposes of all the societies under Red Cross were to protect the injured and take care of them and for all the people who care for them. The emblems may differ but the goals of all the societies were mutual. Any abuse regarding these emblems will hurt all the societies working under the Red Cross and will cause a breach of the international law. Persia (Iran) in 1922 used the emblem of a lion and a sun for the Red Cross society working in Iran. This emblem was later revoked and the “Red Crescent” was used in place of this. The Geneva Conventions The four conventions which took place in Geneva had more than 400 articles that govern several rules regarding the conduct of the nations which are involved in the armed conflicts. These conventions were been adopted by more than 186 nations and 100 countries signed the protocols. There is no international treaty present which was so widely accepted as this. Nations and countries that ratify the conventions pledged that they would abide by them. Each country who adopted the conference was responsible for violation which was committed by its military officers and other important individuals. The one who violate the conference and the protocols would be subjected to punishment by international law and in extreme cases the country must be withdrawn from the trade. First Geneva Conference The first Geneva conference was signed to help and protect the rights of the people wounded in war. It was decided to provide medical services, care and protection to the soldiers wounded in war. It was also decided that the wounded person must be conveyed the news from his family and after he has recovered from his injuries he will be handed over to medical or religious personnel. Parties of conflict were abided by law to search for the dead ones and report their information to the Red Cross. The convention also fostered to forbid attack on the soldiers who are already wounded. The injured and the sick must be kept in hospital zone, which is safe from all the attacks taking place. The convention also discouraged attacks on medical personnel, nurses and all the individuals giving their helping hand to provide medical care to the injured. Second Geneva Conference The second Geneva conference was signed in the year 1906. The main purpose of this conference was to extend the principles presented in the first conference to the victims of the naval warfare also including the shipwrecked men. The conference demanded that protection should be extended from hospital and ambulances to lifeboats and hospital ship with medical staff present on it. Under this convention it was decided that the medical aircraft and the hospital ship which are being used for the rescue of the injured must be given the same security as the hospital and medical care unit. Similar privileges of protection were also provided to the transports used by the staff of Red Cross during war. Third Geneva Conference This conference was signed in 1929 and its main purpose was to save the rights and provide protection to the prisoners of war. The conference also elaborated certain rules that must be kept in mind during the treatment of the prisoners of war. Under this convention it was decided that it is obligatory for the detaining power to provide food, clothing, shelter and protection to the prisoner of war. The prisoner also had the right of exchange of messages with their family under the supervision of the Red Cross member, in private. Fourth Geneva Conference It was signed in 1949, to protect the rights of the civilians. It contained rules that ensure the safety of the civilians during war. It was decided that there would be safety zone for the sick, the injured, the old, expectant mother and children. Special care should be given to the orphans who have been separated from their parents. The occupying power is responsible of providing food, shelter and protection to them. Looting and other acts of violence were strictly prohibited during the war. Clara Barton and Red Cross Clara Barton was born in Oxford, Massachusetts to a farm family. From childhood she had pain for wounded and distress people. She often took care of her injured pets and her brother whenever he fell ill. She was taught at home by her brother and sister. She was child with the curiosity of learning. At teenage she became a teacher at a private school. After that she worked as a clerk in a patent office, in USA. During the civil war she decided to help the soldiers and the injured ones and therefore she had herself registered for the war. She asked people to donate money for the victims of war. She herself also made bandages out of sheets and towel, which she then used in the dressing of the injured. She was given permission by the government to go and work on the battle field and to take care of the soldiers there. She was often called the “Angel of Battle” by the soldiers. She cooked for the soldiers took care of them and nursed their wounds and injuries(The Clara Barton Story, 2009). In 1902 Clara Barton joined International Red Cross working in USA, after realizing the great work they were doing for humanity. She gave speeches and provoked people to help the ones in need. After eight year of struggled she formed Red Cross in America and started working as its President. Even after so many years she is still a famous name for the Red Cross Committee (Stevens, 2006). Florence nightingale was an English nurse (1820-1910). She was famous because her contribution in the field of nursing during the Crimean War. She took care of the wounded soldiers during the war. The soldiers called her “the lady with the lamp”, as she walked at night with the lamp to attend those who needed her help. She also laid the foundation of professional nursing in 1860, by establishing her school of nursing at the Saint Thomas hospital in London. It was the first secular nursing school of the world. This nursing school is now the part of king’s College London. The annual international nursing is celebrated in her honor, on her birthday. Clara Burton (1821-1912) is remember for the organizing the Red Cross society. Her aim was to serve the injured and wounded in war. She was also famous for delivering lecture in several universities on the importance of nursing to cure humanity. She emphasized on the aspect that war is disaster who’s after effects remain for decades on the soul of humans. Her role in Red Cross contributed towards changing the advent of war. Clara was also famous for the leadership skills she possessed within her. She never took salary for the work she did for Red Cross. There were times when she used the funds from her own pocket to pay the expenses incurred. After she resigned from Red Cross she still continued her work by giving lecture in school and universities. She wrote a book named “The Story of my Childhood”. Both these women worked for humanity. They had soft corner for the people suffering. They devoted their lives for serving the ones who are going through physical pain. They were the lanterns of hope in the time of war. They redefined the definition of nursing by extending the discipline in the professional field. The redefined the term nursing. They illustrated that the aspect of nursing is beyond professionalism. It is not just a professional but a discipline which connects the soul of human with humanity. Their contributions are still remembered and are discussed in the curriculum of nursing. References About the International Committee of the Red Cross. (2013, April 4). Retrieved April 11, 2013, from ICRC Who We Are: http://www.icrc.org/eng/who-we-are/index.jsp History of Organization. (1963). Retrieved April 11, 2013, from Noble Price. org: http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1963/red-cross-history.html Stevens, P. (2006). Garden of Paradise. Retrieved April 11, 2013, from CLARA BARTON: http://gardenofpraise.com/ibdbarto.htm The Clara Barton Story. (2009). Retrieved April 11, 2013, from Have Fun with History: http://havefunwithhistory.com/movies/claraBarton.html The history of the emblems. (2010, March 5). Retrieved April 11, 2013, from ICRC Resource Centre: http://www.icrc.org/eng/resources/documents/misc/emblem-history.htm Ways to Volunteer. (2013). Retrieved Apri 11, 2013, from American Red Cross: http://www.redcross.org/support/volunteer Read More