Red Crescent. Medical cross: origin, meaning and description. Red cross and red crescent

May 8 marks World Day for the International Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (ICRC), which serves as a neutral mediator in armed conflicts and provides protection and assistance to victims of conflict. AiF.ru collected Interesting Facts about this organization.

1. The ICRC carries out its activities throughout the world based on the principle of neutrality and impartiality.

The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is the world's largest humanitarian organization. It includes the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, International Committee Red Cross and National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in 186 member countries.

Henri Jean Dunant. Photo: Public Domain

2. The initiator of the creation of the Red Cross was Swiss writer Henri Jean Dunant.

In June 1859, the Swiss writer Henri Jean Dunant found himself at the site of the Battle of Solferino and saw 40 thousand dying wounded soldiers on the battlefield, about whom no one cared. It was then that Dunant became convinced of the need for an organization that, acting on the basis international treaties, would provide assistance to the wounded. He began to voice this idea at all European courts, and his efforts were crowned with success. In 1863, the International Committee for the Relief of Wounded Soldiers (Red Cross) was created in Geneva.

3. The Swiss flag was chosen as the first emblem of the ICRC, on which the color of the red field was changed to white and the color of the white cross was changed to red.

It was decided to use the Swiss flag as the emblem of the Red Cross, in which the colors were swapped - the cross became red instead of white, and the background was white instead of red.

4. The Red Cross is not the only symbol of the organization.

The Ottoman Empire announced its intention to use the red crescent emblem during the Russo-Turkish War (1877-1878), believing that the red cross was offensive to Muslim soldiers, causing them negative associations with the crusaders. Since then, most Islamic countries have used the red crescent as the organization's emblem. In Iran, until 1980, the symbol of the organization was the red lion and the sun.

5. During armed conflicts, international humanitarian law protects ICRC representatives.

ICRC representatives cannot take sides in armed conflicts or enter into disputes of a political, racial, religious or ideological nature. The Red Cross and Red Crescent emblem also protects medical facilities, such as ambulances or hospital buildings, as long as they are not used for military purposes.

6. For 60 years, Israel delayed joining the ICRC because of the emblem.

Israel's admission into the International Red Cross Movement was delayed for almost 60 years due to a dispute over the organization's symbols, with the ICRC not accepting an additional emblem and the Israelis refusing to use the Christian cross and Muslim crescent as symbols. According to the Third Additional Protocol, adopted in December 2005 at the 29th Conference, Israel was allowed to use the Red Crystal - a red diamond on a white background - as the emblem of the national society.

7. The ICRC has received the Nobel Prize three times.

In the history of the Nobel Prize, there has only been one three-time winner - the International Committee of the Red Cross, which received the Peace Prize in 1917, 1944 and 1963.

The Battle of Solferino is the largest battle of the Austro-Sardinian-French War, which took place on June 24, 1859 between the combined forces of France and the Kingdom of Sardinia against Austrian army. The battlefield was the vicinity of the Lombard village of Solferino. The battle ended in victory for the Franco-Sardinian coalition.

These are variations of a bowl with a snake, and a six-pointed star of life, and a caduceus, and a medical red cross. The last symbol was extremely popular in the USSR, although at that time its meaning was not interpreted entirely correctly.

Red cross symbol: first appearance

Despite the fact that the age of the Red Cross is like medical sign- about 150 years old, this symbol has a more ancient history.

In the XII-XIV centuries, the Templars and Hospitallers were founded in Europe. Their goal was to liberate the holy city of Jerusalem from Jewish and Muslim rule. After the city was conquered, many Europeans wanted to see with their own eyes the area where their Lord lived, died and rose again.

However, the journey to Jerusalem was unsafe, as there were many robbers on the roads. In addition, Europeans, unaccustomed to the Palestinian climate, fell ill with local diseases. To solve these problems, the Knights Templar, who conquered Jerusalem, took upon themselves the needs of the pilgrims. The Orders of the Templars and Hospitallers provided protection for travelers from Europe during the pilgrimage, and also organized hospitals to care for the wounded and sick.

To be recognized, the Templars and Hospitallers decorated outerwear and shields with insignia of the order. Hospitallers - with a white cross on a black or red background, and Templars - with a scarlet cross on a snow-white background. Not all the deeds of these knights were worthy, but for most pilgrims they became a symbol of selfless care and protection.

That is why, when choosing a sign for world organization to help victims of hostilities, its creators decided to use the well-known red cross of the Knights Templar.

How the red cross became a symbol of military medical service

As long as people have existed, wars have existed. After each battle, there are many wounded who can survive if treated in a timely manner. medical care. However, previously, military doctors searched for the wounded only after the end of the battle, since, without distinctive insignia, they risked being killed.

During the war of 1859, many soldiers died in Europe, many of them could have been saved if medical assistance had been provided in time. Swiss businessman and philanthropist Jean-Henri Dunant, who observed this war, came up with the idea of ​​​​creating an organization to help wounded soldiers.

In 1863, on the initiative of Dunant, an international conference was convened in Geneva, at which an international organization to help victims of wars, the Red Cross, was established.

It was chosen as the emblem of this organization (outwardly it resembled the symbol of the Order of the Hospitallers). But for practical reasons, the well-known red cross (a symbol on a white background) soon became the logo of the new humanitarian organization.

Gradually, all employees of military field hospitals began to wear armbands with red crosses, signaling to enemy soldiers that they were just medics. Thus, it became possible to evacuate the wounded from the battlefield without waiting for it to end.

Meaning of the red cross symbol

The Red Cross is not just a beautiful emblem. All four ends of this sign symbolize important human qualities that members of the organization should have equally.

• The courage to risk your own life to help others.
• Prudence when providing assistance to victims, so as not to unnecessarily risk your life.
• Fair treatment of all those in need, regardless of their social status or race.
• Moderation in work, because in order to help the sick, a doctor himself must be healthy.

Red cross and red crescent

In the 70s of the 19th century, the Ottoman Empire and other eastern non-Christian countries became a frequent participant in military conflicts. Their governments allowed the Red Cross to operate in their territories, in return asking them to adapt the organization's symbol for Muslims. This is how the emblem of a scarlet crescent on a white background appeared, which became a symbol of military medical care in Muslim countries. And the organization itself has since become known as the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

Red cross and other emblems

In the first half of the 20th century, Turkish, Persian and Egyptian authorities asked the Red Cross to introduce additional distinctive signs: the red lion and sun. The organization's leadership agreed, but soon other states demanded the addition of additional symbols. Fearing that the Red Cross would have too many distinctive symbols and create confusion, the leadership refused to recognize other emblems and abolished the red sun and lion symbols in 1980.

Beginning in the 2000s, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement began to develop a new emblem, and in 2005 the third current symbol of the organization was created - the scarlet diamond.

Symbol of the medical red cross in the Russian Empire

Red Cross organization Russian Empire began operating in 1876 on the basis of the Holy Cross community of sisters of mercy. Its members wore a special badge in the form of a red cross with an emblem inside.

Since the beginning of the 20th century, all military doctors began to actively use the red cross emblem as a distinctive sign. Nurses who worked in field hospitals or evacuated wounded soldiers directly from the battlefield wore an embroidered red cross on their apron, headdress or shoulder band instead of a badge.

There was a medical red cross on the cars and vans in which the wounded were transported. It could also be seen on buildings where temporary military hospitals were located.

Origin in the USSR

After the February and October revolutions, the Red Cross was abolished and its property was nationalized. However, a few months later this organization was reinstated.

Throughout Civil War and in subsequent years it was the Red Cross that was involved in the prevention and treatment of tuberculosis, typhoid and other diseases, and also helped the famine-stricken in the 20s. Because of this, the people began to perceive the symbol of the organization as a medical cross.

Until 1938, in the USSR, the Red Cross performed the functions of all medical and preventive institutions, until, by decree of the Council of People's Commissars, all the property of this organization was again confiscated and given to official health authorities. Together with numerous hospitals and sanatoriums (including the famous “Artek”), organized by the Red Cross, the medical cross badge was also awarded.

From this period, he began to play the role not only of a symbol of military field medicine, but also of the entire healthcare system in the USSR.

With the beginning of the Great Patriotic War The USSR Ministry of Health and the Red Cross joined forces to help soldiers at the front and civilians in the rear.

Both of these organizations used the scarlet medical cross as a distinctive sign. As a result, after the victory, citizens of the USSR began to associate this symbol with medical care. Since the late 40s, the red cross began to be used on signs and equipment of hospitals, first-aid posts and pharmacies.

Red cross symbol today

After the collapse of the USSR, many CIS countries continued to use the red cross as an emblem of medicine, however, starting in the 2000s, they gradually abandoned this tradition, since it is illegal. The fact is that the scarlet cross sign is the property of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and symbolizes free medical care, as well as military field medical service. And most modern hospitals in the CIS operate entirely or partially on a commercial basis, which contradicts the principles that this sign symbolizes. In addition, the red cross was created as a distinctive sign of medics on the battlefield, not intended for use in peacetime.

In this regard, in the CIS today, a bowl with a snake or an American star of life is more often used as medical symbols. And the military medical service of the Russian Federation, starting in 2005, developed its own emblem with a red cross on a green background and a bowl with a snake in the center.

Today, the medical red cross is gradually becoming a thing of the past as a symbol of healthcare in the CIS. I would like to believe that all the principles that he symbolized will remain relevant for health workers in the future.

The Red Cross is the emblem of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (ICRC). The ICRC is an international humanitarian organization working throughout the world today. She is providing humanitarian aid to people affected by conflict and armed violence, and raises awareness of laws that protect victims of war. The Red Cross Movement considers its main goal to be “To help all those who suffer without any adverse distinction, thereby promoting peace on Earth” and unites more than 100 million volunteers (volunteers) around the world.

The International Red Cross Society was founded by a Swiss entrepreneur and public figure Henri Dunant in 1863 in Switzerland. After the Battle of Solferino on June 24, 1859, when more than 40 thousand soldiers died in the battle, Henri Dunant was shocked by the almost complete lack of medical care on the battlefield. He decided to devote himself to caring for wounded soldiers.

In 1884, the first international Conference of the International Committee of the Red Cross took place. At this conference, the society's emblem was adopted - a red cross on a white background. The color design of the organization's logo is a reverse color scheme of the Swiss national flag, out of respect for the birthplace of the Movement.

The name "International Red Cross" was officially approved in 1928 at the 13th international conference in The Hague. At the same time, the organization's charter was adopted.

During the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878, the Ottoman Empire refused to use this emblem. The Red Cross evoked negative associations among the Turks with the Crusaders. The Ottoman Empire announced its intention to use the red crescent instead of the red cross as a defensive emblem, while indicating that it would respect the red cross used by the enemy. The Ottoman Empire was followed by other countries where the majority of the population professes Islam.

The Geneva Convention of 1929 recognized the red crescent as a second protective emblem.

At the 25th International Conference of the Red Cross, held in October 1986, a new name for the organization was approved - the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (ICRC).

By the way...

Headquarters of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Geneva

International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement(also known as International Red Cross or International Red Crescent) is an international humanitarian movement founded in 1863 and uniting more than 100 million employees and volunteers (volunteers) around the world.

The movement considers its main goal to be “To help all those who suffer without any unfavorable distinction, thereby contributing to the establishment of peace on Earth.”

Components of the International Red Cross:

Governing bodies of the Movement:

• The International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent is usually held once every 4 years. It hosts meetings of national societies with representatives of member states of the Geneva Conventions.
• Council of Delegates - Council meetings occur once every 2 years.
• The Standing Commission is an authorized body International conference in the period between Conferences.

Fundamental Principles[ | ]

In their activities, volunteers and employees of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies are guided by these fundamental principles.

Humanity

The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, born of the desire to provide assistance to all wounded on the battlefield without exception or preference, strives in all circumstances, both internationally and nationally, to prevent and alleviate human suffering. The movement is called upon to protect the life and health of people and ensure respect for human personality. It contributes to the achievement of mutual understanding, friendship, cooperation and lasting peace between peoples.

Impartiality

The movement does not discriminate on the basis of nationality, race, religion, class or political opinion. It only strives to alleviate the suffering of people, and first of all, those who need it most.

Independence

Movement is independent. National Societies, while assisting their governments in their humanitarian activities and subject to the laws of their country, must nevertheless always maintain autonomy in order to be able to act in accordance with the principles of the Red Cross.

Voluntariness

In its voluntary assistance activities, the Movement is in no way guided by a desire for profit.

Unity

There can only be one National Red Cross or Red Crescent Society per country. It must be open to everyone and carry out its humanitarian activities throughout the country.

Versatility

The movement is worldwide. All National Societies use equal rights and are obliged to help each other.

Emblems [ | ]

The first emblem of the ICRC - a red cross on a white background - initially had no religious meaning, representing a negative copy (inversion) of the Swiss flag (instead of a white cross on a red field - red on white). However, during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878, the Ottoman Empire refused to use this emblem, replacing it with a red crescent, since the red cross had negative associations with the crusaders.

Also, the sign of the red lion and sun received the status of the official symbol of the movement. national symbol Iran. However, after the Islamic Revolution of 1979, during which the lion and sun disappeared from the country's flag and coat of arms as symbols of the old monarchical system, the new Iranian government established the more traditional red crescent for Muslim countries, renaming its wing international society respectively . However, formally the red lion and sun continue to be considered one of the emblems of the MDCC, and Iran retains the right to reintroduce this symbol into use at any time.

During the First World War[ | ]

French leaflet from 1915

With the outbreak of the First World War, the International Committee of the Red Cross faced extraordinary difficulties, which it could only cope with with the assistance of national societies. To help medical services European countries Red Cross workers came from all over the world, including the USA and Japan. On October 15, 1914, the International Committee of the Red Cross founded the International Prisoner of War Agency, which by the end of 1914 employed 1,200 people, mostly volunteers. By the end of the war, the Agency had forwarded more than 20 million letters and messages, 1.9 million broadcasts, and collected donations amounting to 18 million Swiss francs. With the assistance of the Agency, about 200 thousand prisoners of war were able to return home as a result of the prisoner exchange. The Agency's file for the period from 1914 to 1923 included more than 7 million cards for prisoners and missing persons. This directory helped identify more than 2 million prisoners of war and provided them with the opportunity to establish contact with their loved ones. This catalog is now in the Geneva Museum of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent. The right to use the catalog is limited.

During the war, the International Committee of the Red Cross monitored the compliance of the parties to the conflict with the Geneva Conventions of 1907 and, in case of violations, appealed to the violating country with a complaint. At the first use of chemical weapons in history, the Red Cross expressed strong protest. Even without a mandate from the Geneva Conventions, the International Committee attempted to improve the conditions of the affected civilian population. In territories that had the official status of occupied, the International Committee helped civilian population under the terms of the Hague Conventions of 1899 and 1907. These conventions were also legal basis work of the Red Cross with prisoners of war. In addition to the work described above International agency, The Red Cross carried out inspections of prisoner of war camps. During the war, 41 Red Cross delegates visited 524 camps throughout Europe.

From 1916 to 1918, the International Committee of the Red Cross published a number of postcards with photographs from prisoner-of-war camps. They were imprinted everyday life prisoners, their receipt of letters from home, etc. The International Committee thus tried to instill hope in the hearts of the families of prisoners of war, to reduce uncertainty about the fate of people close to them. After the war, the Red Cross organized the return home of more than 420 thousand prisoners of war. From 1920, the task of repatriation was transferred to the newly founded League of Nations, which assigned the job to the Norwegian diplomat Fridtjof Nansen. Subsequently, its legal mandate was expanded to include assistance to refugees and displaced persons. Nansen introduced the so-called Nansen passport, which was issued to refugees who had lost their citizenship. In 1922, Nansen's efforts were noted Nobel Prize peace.

For its fruitful work during the war, the International Committee of the Red Cross was awarded the 1917 Nobel Peace Prize. This prize was the only Nobel Prize awarded between 1914 and 1918.

In 1923 the Committee changed its policy regarding the election of new members. Until then, only residents of Geneva could work on the Committee. This restriction was lifted, and now all Swiss were given the right to work on the Committee. Taking into account the experience of the First World War, a new addition to the Geneva Convention was approved in 1925, outlawing the use of asphyxiating and poisonous gases and biological substances as weapons. Four years later, the Convention itself was revised, and the second Geneva Convention “relating to the treatment of prisoners of war” was approved. The war and the activities of the Red Cross during the war period significantly increased the reputation and authority of the Committee in international community, and led to the expansion of the scope of his activities.

In 1934, a draft of a new convention on the protection of civilians during armed conflict appeared and was approved by the International Committee. However, most governments had little interest in implementing this convention, and it did not come into force until the outbreak of World War II.

During the Second World War[ | ]

Red Cross message from Lodz, Poland, 1940.

The legal basis for the work of the International Committee of the Red Cross during World War II was the Geneva Convention as amended in 1929. The activities of the committee were similar to their activities in the First world war: inspection of prisoner of war camps, organizing assistance to civilians, ensuring the possibility of correspondence between prisoners of war, reporting missing persons. By the end of the war, 179 delegates had made 12,750 visits to prison camps in 41 countries. Central information Agency on prisoners of war issues (Zentralauskunftsstelle für Kriegsgefangene) had 3 thousand employees, the card index of prisoners totaled 45 million cards, the Agency ensured the forwarding of 120 million letters. A significant obstacle was that the German Red Cross, which was controlled by the Nazis, refused to comply with the Geneva Articles.

The International Committee of the Red Cross was unable to reach an agreement with Nazi Germany on the treatment of people in concentration camps, and eventually stopped applying pressure so as not to jeopardize work with prisoners of war. He was also unable to obtain a satisfactory answer regarding the death camps and the mass extermination of European Jews, Gypsies, etc. In November 1943, the International Committee received permission to send parcels to concentration camps in cases where the names and location of the recipients are known. Since the message about the receipt of parcels was often signed by other prisoners, the International Committee was able to identify approximately 105 thousand prisoners and transfer about 1.1 million parcels, mainly to Dachau,

A conversation about the Red Cross and Red Crescent - more precisely, about the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement - is most appropriate to start with June 24, 1859, when the battle took place near Solferino, a village in Lombardy. To say that the battle was brutal is to say nothing: several thousand wounded were thrown onto the battlefield to die in agony!
A witness to these terrible events was, among others, the Swiss Jean-Henri Dunant. Shocked, he decided that he had to do something! If the state does not take care of soldiers who do not spare themselves at the behest of politicians, then someone else must do this - there must be an organization that will take care of those injured during wars, without making distinctions by citizenship or nationality, nor by religion - which will help people only because they need help!
And so J.A. Dunant writes a book where he not only talks about the nightmares of the Battle of Solferino, but also gives recommendations on what can be done to prevent this from happening again: you need to create national organizations, which will be involved in helping the victims, and an international committee to coordinate their actions.
And the voice of J.A. Dunant was heard! Geneva lawyer G. Moynier organized the International Committee for Relief of the Wounded (also known as the Committee of Five), and this committee convened a conference in Geneva in 1863. There were only 36 participants - but the resolutions of this conference also drew attention to the problem. The second conference took place on August 8, 1864, it was then that the convention “For the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded in the Armies of Warring Countries,” known as the Geneva Convention, was adopted, and an agreement was reached on international organization, whose tasks will include helping people affected by military conflicts. At the same time, the emblem of this society was established - it was supposed to become a kind of “safe conduct” for its representatives in areas where the war was going on.
Since the birth of the new organization took place in Switzerland, its emblem was created “in the image and likeness” of the flag of this state: the Swiss flag, as is known, is a white cross on red, but the sign of the organization was its “reverse” version - a red cross on white. The organization itself, based on its emblem, received the following name: “International Committee of the Red Cross.” True, the Ottoman Empire saw a different meaning in such a sign, associating the cross with hated Christianity, and replaced the cross with a Muslim symbol, namely the red crescent. Later - in 1929 - the red crescent was approved as another official emblem (in 2005 there was a proposal to introduce a third one - the red Star of David - but this proposal did not receive support). True, already in the 21st century - when any mention of religion in general and Christianity in particular - causes a storm of irrational hatred - a third emblem was introduced - a red crystal, in the form of a rhombus.
It should be noted that such an emblem is a combination of symbols different religions– corresponds as closely as possible to the principles of this organization, proclaimed at the International Conference in 1965:
-humanity
-impartiality
-neutrality
-independence
-voluntariness
-unity
- versatility.
This means that the organization is international, all national societies included in it have equal responsibilities and rights and assist each other, it does not take any side in military conflicts and provides assistance to absolutely everyone in need, making no distinction either by nationality or race, religion, or any other characteristics, does not seek to obtain benefits.
Since 1986 this organization has been called International movement Red Cross and Red Crescent. Having started with helping the wounded in war, over time it expanded its activities. This included helping victims of natural disasters and man-made disasters, and training of nurses, and assistance to hospitals, and collection of donor blood, and assistance to the disabled, and even “educational education” for the population: how to properly care for children, how to provide first aid, etc. As you can see, the activities of the Red Cross and Red Crescent are quite extensive. The organization has 190 National Societies and more than 100 million volunteers.