The Emblem

The red cross and the red crescent are the internationally recognized emblems of humanitarian aid and solidarity offer.

The choice of the red cross was made in 1864 as a tribute to Henry Dunant and is Swiss flag in reverse. In 1929, in order to overcome the problems that resulted by the perception of the cross as a religious symbol, the red crescent was adopted as an equal emblem of the Movement.

The emblem serves two purposes:

·Protective

Use of the emblem for protective purposes is a visible expression of the protection granted by Geneva Conventions to medical personnel, premises, equipments and transports.

·Indicative

Use of the emblem for indicative purposes both in times of war and of peace shows that a person or item is related to the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. Respect towards the emblem and the rules of its use are of great importance since it refers to an emblem that should be protected first in order to be able to protect.