Red Cross Movement
The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is the world's largest humanitarian network, with around 97 million members and volunteers and a presence and activities in almost every country.
It incorporates the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (the International Federation), as well as National Societies in 185 countries.
Together, all the above components of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (the "Movement") are guided by the same seven Fundamental Principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality. In the same manner, all Red Cross and Red Crescent activities have one central purpose: to help without discrimination those who suffer and thus contribute to peace in the world.
The Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement directs and coordinates international assistance to victims of natural and technological disasters, to refugees and health emergencies. More than half of the National Society members and volunteers are youth, therefore the International Federation is also considered among the largest youth organizations in the world.
By working in partnership with this movement, World Scouting contributes to its humanitarian mission.
Millions of people throughout the world live in situations of armed conflict, including in countries where Scouting is present.
As the mission of Scouting is to contribute to the establishment of lasting peace, it is considered to be especially important to work closely with the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement to underline the fact that "even in war there are limits". These limits are fixed by the Geneva Conventions, which define International Humanitarian Law (IHL).
