The Red Cross Movement - Essay Example

International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement My Name Course Instructor Institution City/State Date : Introduction The world has been experiencing humanitarian crises that prompted some groups to form social movements to address such issues (Veuthey 2005, p.31). The new trend is towards globalisation where every right of an individual counts and they live with peaceful co-existence. Moreover, the wars in most parts of the world, especially in Africa and Middle has forced the humanitarian movements to call for changes on the strategies that multi-nationals use to address such issues. These movements emerged with the aim of achieving specific goals that goes beyond the nation or state. Besides, they have been concerned with current global issues like global environment, global peace and respect for the universal rights of mankind (Torres 2010, p.223). Initially, it was the duty of national governments to ensure that humanitarian issues took centre stage in their governance but they have not been incorporating them in national strategies prompting social movements to take responsibility. This paper takes the example of Red Cross as a social movement that is the world’s largest human rights network (Torres 2010, p.225). The paper seeks to find out how it addresses current global issues like human health, human dignity in conflicts as well as other emergency cases. Origin and background of international Red Cross Movement The movement finds its basis from the Un Souvenir de Soferino publication in the year 1862 carter for the wounded and suffering (ICRC 2012, p.1). The Swiss, Dunant encouraged the formation of this voluntary aid as social movement or societies that would help war victims. This idea would later receive the support of a Swiss agency. In honour of Dunant, the movement adopted the red and wide cross flag, that shows it originated from Switzerland. Red Cross has been strong is responding and addressing to issues of humanity that has seen win Nobel Peace Prize in the year 1917, 1944 as well as the League of Red Cross Societies in the year 1963 (ICRC 2012, p.1). Recently, the movement has been able respond to humanitarian crises in Africa, Middle East as well as Asian continent that has been experiencing natural disasters Since 1863, Red Cross has been ensuring protection of victims from armed conflicts as well as strife (ICRC 2012, p.1). It has been working all around the world to realise its sole objective of humanitarian protection. Currently, the world is facing an increase in disasters and wars and Red Cross has always been the first to respond on rescue missions. In doing so, Red Cross also keeps other bodies concerned with human rights like the Commission on Human Rights to change their strategies of responding to human crises (Torres 2010, p.224). For instance, it has encouraged other humanitarian bodies to develop International Humanitarian Law (IHL) (Veuthey 2005, p.38). On the other hand the body has also been encouraging national governments to show respect for such social movements. Red Cross has also noted with a lot of concern that war is the main source of human suffering because it is the origin of all calamities like famine. Red Cross therefore calls all weapon bearers to identify and value human rights. Red Cross is an integrated organisation comprising of International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), international Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies as well as 188 National Societies (ICRC 2012, p.1). Each of these bodies has its own identity but there are seven Fundamental Principles unite them. The principles include impartiality, neutrality, voluntary service, universality, unity and humanity (ICRC 2012, p.1). ICRC aims at protecting dignity and lives of the armed conflicts victims as well as other violence situations. The body coordinates international relief services during conflicts. ICRC is the main origin of this social movement. On the other hand, the Federation strives to inspire, promote and facilitate humanitarian activities that National Societies carry out (ICRC 2012, p.1). The body also directs as well as coordinates actions for assisting disaster victims and health emergency victims. Nonetheless, the National Societies helps national authorities in the humanitarian discipline. These bodies provide services like disaster relief, social, and health programmes. Furthermore, the National Societies assists civilians and gives support to the medical services that works with the armed forces (ICRC 2012, p.1). Goals and values of international Red Cross Movement Red Cross goals originate from the various Geneva conventions (Torres 2010, p.227). Firstly, the movement aims at monitoring how warring parties adhere to Geneva Conventions (ICRC 2012, p.1). The second goal of the movement is to organize health care services like nursing to the war victims. In addition, the movement aims at supervising treatment and care of war prisoners. Most importantly, Red Cross has been in the forefront in providing tracing services as it helps in searching for lost or missing persons (ICRC 2012, p.1). Nonetheless, the body has been up front in protecting and caring for the normal population. Finally, it aims at building peace between parties that are war. Values of Red Cross The Red Cross movement compels its staff to have certain values that will help it achieve its goals (Torres 2010, p.227). Firstly, the movement requires its staff to be individuals of integrity. The staff or the volunteers must behave in honest manner and adhere to policies and ethically sound practices. In addition, the movement advocates for effectiveness that enables it to achieve its goals by optimising the available resources. Furthermore, efficiency and respect takes centre stage at the Red Cross movement. This means that the staff will deliver services in timely manner as well as show respect for the victims. Encouraging respect as a value is important when responding to humanitarian crises due to the diversity in cultures (Geale 2012, p. 446). Finally, Red Cross advocates for volunteerism as an integral value for the movement (Kapucu 2007, p.553). It encourages staff to be warm-hearted and give their support free of charge and willingly to the victims of either war or strife. Strategies of Red Cross This social movement uses the integrative approach since it deals with both the community and the governments (ICRC 2012, p.1). Firstly, it works in collaboration with Emergency services. For instance, in Australia, the body has been able to strengthen preparedness of the national emergency sector. On the other hand, the integrated strategy has enabled the nation to improve its response as well as recovery systems. Moreover, ICRC movement has been developing international programmes as a strategy to increase international aids as well as development of such communities. For instance, this paper seeks to find out how Red Cross as a social movement addresses issues of human suffering brought about by natural disasters and wars. In the event of disasters, there is always the migration crisis (Shaluf 2007, p.689). This has prompted Red Cross to adapt the Migration support as a strategy to help bring sanity in such situations. The social movement has been laudable for controlling and supporting migration crises in Syria, Central Africa and other parts of the world that has been strike by disasters like Tsunami (Perry 2007, p.415). In addition, the body uses social inclusion as a strategy to overcome the bridges that always exist within the communities because they help in the event of natural calamities or war crises (ICRC 2012, p.1).  How Red Cross responds to human dignity and health issues This movement commits itself in protecting human dignity and health (Torres 2010, p.235). In addition, the body recognises the basic rights of individuals are interlinked. For instance, ICRC helps the communities and governments to understand that proper housing as well is imperative in ensuring good health. A population that has a clean bill of health is also capable of improving its education and the result is acquiring decent jobs. This means that a good social movement on human rights must push for activism that strives to achieve social justice (Veuthey 2005, p.43). Relevant authorities must adequately protect the rights of the victims and address the tradeoffs that exist within human rights (Geale 2012, p.449). Governments have the duty to adhere to some of the seven basic principles like government accountability, community participation and non-discrimination. On the other hand, the Red Cross movement encourages the need for universal values. This implies that the movement recommends for universal values that unites communities facing human rights issues. Encouraging cultural tolerance makes it possible for people to address humanitarian issues together under one movement like International Red Cross and Crescent Movement (Geale 2012, p.451). On the other hand, Red Cross strives to bring other social movements together so as to address issues facing human kind. Respect for human dignity also strives to include all economic aspects that will result in social wellbeing of the population Access to health care ICRC has a Health Unit that assists victims through health access improvement (ICRC 2010, p.1). The main objective of this unit is to reduce mortality, suffering, morbidity and disabilities that originate from inadequate health care. Conflicts also results in the damage of infrastructures, disrupts supply lines thus affecting the refugees seeking for help (Geale 2012, p.453). Red Cross ensures back up plans through constant provision of the staff and healthcare services to the victims. This social movement improves health status of the community by providing medicines and equipments as well as training additional healthcare workers. On the other hand, the movement reconstructs medical facilities and the administrative support. In case of inadequate health service provision situations, ICRC helps in the continued supply of basic healthcare services like First Aid and emergency transport as well as emergency health services (ICRC 2010, p.1). The basics in this context are outpatient treatment, child-mother care, and vaccination campaigns. In providing health support, the movement aims at managing surgical, obstetric and surgical medical emergencies. Nonetheless, the war wounds may need amputation or lead to disabilities thus the body deals with them using proper physical rehabilitation initiatives or programmes (Torres 2010, p.233). The staffs also visit inmates to assess their health. Weapons and human health Health also influences human dignity since all the international treaties that limits weapons use basically concerns the human health (ICRC 2010, p.1). Before the intervention of most social movements, the health professionals were slow to recognize health effects of these weapons and that the concern had reached global level. Apart from treating casualties, ICRC recommends that health professionals must apply preventive medicine strategy through gathering and availing data for awareness creation (Kapucu 2008, p.528). It is also important to communicate the data in compelling approach (Veil & Husted 2012, p.133). This will contribute in influencing national policies as well as international laws thus reducing human damage in the future. Conclusion In a nutshell, the Red Cross movement has been able to change how nations respond to the humanitarian issues like respect for human dignity and health. The success of this movement is evident in handling crisis in regions like war torn horn of Africa, Central Africa and in Middle East. The movement has branches all over the world and has been also able to address humanitarian crisis facing indigenous communities. For instance, the Australian branch addresses the welfare of Torres and Aboriginals island people. References Geale, S. K 2012, ‘The ethics of disaster management’, Disaster Prevention and Management, vol. 2, no. 4, pp445- 462. ICRC, October 2010, HEALTH, viewed 28 October 2013 ICRC, 24th February 2012, THE MOVEMENT, viewed 28 October 2013 Kapucu, N 2007, ‘Non-profit response to catastrophic disasters’, Disaster Prevention and Management, vol. 16, no. 4, pp551-561. Kapucu, N 2008, ‘Culture of preparedness: household disaster preparedness’, Disaster Prevention and Management, vol. 17, no. 4, pp526-535. Perry, M 2007, ‘Natural disaster management planning: A study of logistics managers responding to the tsunami’, International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, vol. 37, no. 5, pp409-433. Shaluf, I 2007, ‘An overview on disasters’, Disaster Prevention and Management, vol. 16, no. 5, pp687-703. Torres, A. M 2010, ‘International Committee of the Red Cross: emblems of humanity’, Marketing Intelligence & Planning, vo. 28, no. 2, pp223-236. Veil, S. R. & Husted, R. A 2012, ‘Best practices as an assessment for crisis communication,’ Journal of Communication Management, vol. 16, no. 2, pp131-145. Veuthey,M 2005, ‘The need for a universal humanitarian order’, foresight, vol. 7, no.1, 26- 46. Read More