Introduction

Vision:

The Afghan Red Crescent Society is a philanthropist, self-sufficiency that obeys the principles of International Red Cross and Red Crescent Foundations; this society delivers humanitarian services to the most vulnerable people throughout the country.

Mission:

This is an organization of volunteers, members and various staff to maintain survival, health and human dignity, especially in incidents, armed conflicts and other emergencies, and helping to build a strong society.

With the unity and unification of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, especially in accordance with the principles of the International Movement, including non-solidarity and independence, humanitarian efforts have been the priorities of this society.

The history of the International Movement of the Red Crescent and the Red Cross:

Until the middle of the nineteenth century, there were no organized or well-established army nursing systems for casualties, nor safe or protected institutions, to accommodate and treat those who were wounded on the battlefield. A devout Calvinist, the Swiss businessman Jean-Henri Dunant traveled to Italy to meet then-French emperor Napoleon III in June 1859 with the intention of discussing difficulties in conducting business in Algeria, which at that time was occupied by France. He arrived in the small town of Solferino on the evening of 24 June after the Battle of Solferino, an engagement in the Austro-Sardinian War. In a single day, about 40,000 soldiers on both sides died or were left wounded on the field. Dunant was shocked by the terrible aftermath of the battle, the suffering of the wounded soldiers, and the near-total lack of medical attendance and basic care. He completely abandoned the original intent of his trip and for several days he devoted himself to helping with the treatment and care for the wounded. He took point in organizing an overwhelming level of relief assistance with the local villagers to aid without discrimination.

In 1863, Gustave Moynier, a Geneva lawyer and president of the Geneva Society for Public Welfare, received a copy of Dunant's book and introduced it for discussion at a meeting of that society. As a result of this initial discussion the society established an investigatory commission to examine the feasibility of Dunant's suggestions and eventually to organize an international conference about their possible implementation. The members of this committee, which has subsequently been referred to as the "Committee of the Five", aside from Dunant and Moynier were physician Louis Appia, who had significant experience working as a field surgeon; Appia's friend and colleague Théodore Maunoir, from the Geneva Hygiene and Health Commission; and Guillaume-Henri Dufour, a Swiss army general of great renown. Eight days later, the five men decided to rename the committee to the "International Committee for Relief to the Wounded".

International Conference

In October (26–29) 1863, the international conference organized by the committee was held in Geneva to develop possible measures to improve medical services on the battlefield. The conference was attended by 36 individuals: eighteen official delegates from national governments, six delegates from other non-governmental organizations, seven non-official foreign delegates, and the five members of the International Committee. The states and kingdoms represented by official delegates were: Austrian Empire, Grand Duchy of Baden, Kingdom of Bavaria, French Empire, Kingdom of Hanover, Grand Duchy of Hesse, Kingdom of Italy, Kingdom of the Netherlands, Kingdom of Prussia, Russian Empire, Kingdom of Saxony, Kingdom of Spain, United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway, and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.

"Committee of the Five": Gustave Moynier, Guillaume-Henri Dufour, Henry Dunant, Louis Appia, Théodore Maunoir

Among the proposals written in the final resolutions of the conference, adopted on 29 October 1863, were:

The foundation of national relief societies for wounded soldiers;
Neutrality and protection for wounded soldiers;
The utilization of volunteer forces for relief assistance on the battlefield;
The organization of additional conferences to enact these concepts;
The introduction of a common distinctive protection symbol for medical personnel in the field, namely a white armlet bearing a red cross.

The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement:

The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is an international humanitarian movement with approximately 97 million volunteers, members and staff worldwide, which was founded to protect human life and health, to ensure respect for all human beings, and to prevent and alleviate human suffering. Within it there are three distinct organizations that are legally independent from each other, but are united within the movement through common basic principles, objectives, symbols, statutes and governing organizations.

In 1919, representatives from the national Red Cross societies of Britain, France, Italy, Japan, and the US came together in Paris to found the "League of Red Cross Societies" (IFRC). The original idea came from Henry Davison, who was then president of the American Red Cross. This move, led by the American Red Cross, expanded the international activities of the Red Cross movement beyond the strict mission of the ICRC to include relief assistance in response to emergency situations which were not caused by war (such as man-made or natural disasters). The ARC already had great disaster relief mission experience extending back to its foundation.

History of the Afghan Red Crescent:

For the first time in the history of the country, at the initiative of Kabul Municipality, a meeting was held in the general garden of Kabul with the participation of all sections of the country and well-wishers, which resulted in consultations. A small philanthropic community called the Center for Primary Aid was founded. At the meeting, 20 members from all over the country were appointed as members and Mohammad Ibrahim Khan as the director of the foundation.

The purpose of founding this community was to help people who are affected by natural disasters. To strengthen this foundation, King Mohammad Nader Shah donated 30,000 afghanis from his personal fortune to encourage all the countrymen to do this kind of charity, to help this newly formed society.

At the request of the International Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement Conference in The Hague, the Government of Afghanistan was asked to establish a Red Crescent Society in the country. And functioned under the Ministry of Finance.

The movement, which had not met the ten conditions set for recognition by a national body, had been operating under the auspices of the Ministry of Health for some time. This organization was transformed into the Red Crescent in 1935. Hence, the exact date of its establishment in Afghanistan is shown as the 1935.

The Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS) was recognized as the 83th member of this organizations by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) as an independent national organization in the year 1956, after fulfilling the rules, regulations of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

Fundamental principles of the Red Cross and Red Crescent International Movement:

Humanity:

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) are based on the idea of providing assistance to the wounded on the battlefield without discrimination. In its national and international mission, it strives to prevent and alleviate human suffering wherever it may be. It aims to support human life, health and respect for human beings. The movement promotes mutual understanding, friendship, cooperation and lasting peace among the people

Impartiality:

The movement does not discriminate on the basis of nationality, ethnicity, class, religion or political affiliation, and seeks to alleviate the suffering of the people by giving priority to their needs and urgent needs.

Neutrality:

In order to gain and maintain the trust of all, the movement does not take sides in any conflict and does not engage in political, ethnic, religious, religious or ideological violence.

Independence:

The movement is independent. Although national societies support their governments in humanitarian service and are subject to the laws of their respective countries, they must always maintain their independence. On this basis, they will be able to adhere to the principles of the movement at all times

Custom Services:

The Red Cross and Red Crescent is one of its favorite charitable movements and is not seeking profit in any way.

Unity:

There can be only one National Society of the Red Cross and Red Crescent in each country. This community must be open to all, to carry out its humanitarian services throughout the country.

Globalization:

The International Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, which has the same status in all communities and shares the same duties and responsibilities in helping each other, is global.

The history of the Red Cross and Red Crescent’s logo:

The symbol that the Red Cross uses-a red cross on a white background-is used by Red Cross units around the world. It is the reverse of the flag of Switzerland and was chosen to represent both the organization's neutrality and honor the nationality of Jean Henry Dunant, who first proposed the idea of a voluntary group dedicated to relief of war victims in 1862.

The organization and its symbol were established at the Geneva Convention of 1864.

During the war between Russia and Turkey, the Ottoman Empire declared that it would use the Red Crescent on a white background in place of the Red Cross. While respecting the Red Cross symbol, the Ottoman authorities believed that the Red Cross was, by its very nature, offensive to Muslim soldiers. The Red Crescent was temporarily accepted for the duration of this conflict.

The Red Crescent has been recognized as the official emblem of the national society since the year 1935, although its shape and size have changed several times. The National Community Symbol is a means of identifying the community and is used for identification and support.

Support means that when volunteers, staff and volunteer vehicles of the national community come to provide medical aid to the war wounded under the shadow of this sign, they should not be attacked by the armed parties involved and their services should not be hampered, so they and their equipment should be supported.

Diagnosis in the sense that the person, means of transportation, facilities, health centers, stores and warehouses adorned with the mark belong to the national community. If the sign is used for support, the size is large and there is no surrounding text to be seen from distant areas, but a small number of identifying signs (metallic headgear, bracelet, embellished hat and vest). Is used.

Article 7 of the Interim Statute of the Afghan Red Crescent Society states regarding the symbol of the National Society:

1- The Afghan Red Crescent Society has a special seal and emblem in which the red moon is painted red on the white ground with the Pashto language (Afghan Red Crescent Society) at the top and Dari below it. The language (Jamiat-e-Hilal-e-Ahmar-e-Afghani) is written in brackets and in black.

2- The Afghan Red Crescent Society is bound by the four Geneva Conventions and the accompanying Protocols to develop a specific procedure for the proper use of the National Society logo.

3- Procedures for the proper use of the National Society logo are prepared and prepared by the Secretary General of the National Society in consultation with the General Director of the National Society.

4- Misuse of support and identification marks is a violation of the Geneva Conventions on how to use the symbols of the movement's constituents, as the abuse of the emblem undermines public opinion during armed conflict. The effect and its importance destroy credibility and trust.

In accordance with the Geneva Conventions and the accompanying Protocols to which States commit themselves, the proper use of the logo is directed at its states in the first instance in order to respect it. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the national community are urging officials and those who have abused it to stop. Currently, the International Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (ICRC) uses three types of symbols: the Red Cross, the Red Crescent and the Red Crystal.

International Red Cross Movement and Red Crescent Signs:

The emblem is a symbol of identity of a country, community, organization, company, person and group and has been used since ancient times.

The International Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, a humanitarian movement, is composed of: the International Committee of the Red Cross, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. All three compounds use special symbols to identify themselves, as mentioned below.

1859

Prior to the nineteenth century, the symbols used to identify armed forces ‘medical services varied according to their country of origin. The symbols were not generally well known, were rarely respected and were not entitled to any form of legal protection.

In the second half of the nineteenth century, the rapid development in firearms technology led to a dramatic increase in the number of dead and wounded during wartime.

On 24 June 1859, the War of Italian Unification was raging. Henry Dunant, a Swiss citizen, was on a private trip that took him to the town of Solferino. There, he witnessed the misery of more than 45,000 soldiers abandoned, dead or wounded, on the battlefield.

Back in Geneva, Henry Dunant started writing a book proposing drastic improvements in the assistance afforded to war victims.

On 17 February 1863, a five-member committee, the future International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), met to study Dunant’s proposals.

1863

One of its main objectives was to adopt a single distinctive symbol backed by the law to indicate respect for army medical services, volunteers with first aid societies and the victims of armed conflicts.

The symbol needed to be simple, identifiable from a distance, known to everyone and identical for friend and foe. The emblem had to be the same for everyone and universally recognizable.

On 26 October 1863, the first International Conference was convened. It included delegates from 14 governments.

In addition to adopting ten resolutions, which provided for the establishment of relief societies for wounded soldiers - the future Red Cross and, later, Red Crescent Societies - it also adopted the Red Cross on a white background as the uniform distinctive emblem.

1864

In August 1864, the Diplomatic Conference, convened for the purpose of transforming the resolutions adopted in 1863 into treaty rules, adopted the First Geneva Convention.

Modern international humanitarian law was born.

The First Geneva Convention recognized the Red Cross on a white background as the single distinctive emblem.

Since the emblem was to reflect the neutrality of the armed forces ‘medical services and the protection conferred on them, the emblem adopted was formed by reversing the colors of the Swiss flag.

Switzerland's permanent neutral status had been firmly established in practice for several years, and had been confirmed by the Treaties of Vienna and Paris in 1815. Furthermore, the white flag was and remains a symbol of the wish to negotiate or to surrender; firing on anyone displaying it in good faith is unacceptable.

The resulting symbol had the advantage of being easily produced and recognizable at a distance because of its contrasting colors.

1876

1949

The Diplomatic Conference convened in 1949 to revise the Geneva Conventions in the aftermath of the Second World War studied three proposals for a solution to the question of the emblems:

a proposal from the Netherlands for a new single symbol;
a proposal to revert to using a single red cross symbol;
a proposal from Israel for the recognition of a new emblem, the red shield of David which was used as the distinctive symbol of the Israeli armed forces’ medical services; All three proposals were rejected.

The conference expressed its opposition to the proliferation of protective emblems. The Red Cross, the Red Crescent and the red lion and sun remained the recognized emblems.