May 8 is World Day of 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 has collected interesting facts about this organization.
1. The ICRC operates throughout the world in a neutral and impartial manner.
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, the International Committee of the 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 was at the site of the Battle of Solferino and saw 40,000 dying wounded soldiers on the battlefield, whom no one cared about. It was then that Dunant became convinced of the need for an organization that, acting on the basis of 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 Assistance to Wounded Soldiers ("Red Cross") was created in Geneva.
3. The first ICRC emblem was the Swiss flag, with the red field changed to white and the white cross to red.
It was decided to use the Swiss flag as the emblem of the Red Cross, in which the colors were reversed - the cross became red instead of white, and the background - 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 emblem of the red crescent during the Russian-Turkish war (1877-1878), believing that the red cross is 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 sign of the red lion and the sun was used as a symbol of the organization.
5. In times of armed conflict, international humanitarian law protects ICRC representatives.
ICRC representatives cannot take sides in armed conflicts or engage in 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 has postponed joining the ICRC because of the emblem.
Israel's admission to the International Red Cross Movement was postponed for almost 60 years due to a controversy over the organization's symbols, as the ICRC did not accept the additional emblem, and the Israelis refused to use the Christian cross and the Muslim crescent moon as symbols. According to the Third Additional Protocol, adopted in December 2005 at the 29th Conference, Israel was allowed to use the Red Crystal as the emblem of the National Society - a red diamond on a white background.
7. The ICRC has received the Nobel Prize three times.
There was only one three-time Nobel Prize winner in the history of the Nobel Prize - 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-Sardino-French War, fought on June 24, 1859 between the combined forces of France and the Kingdom of Sardinia against the Austrian army. The battlefield was the vicinity of the Lombard village of Solferino. The battle ended in victory for the Franco-Sardinian coalition.
The conversation about the Red Cross and the Red Crescent - more precisely, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement - is most appropriate to begin on June 24, 1859, when the battle took place near Solferino, a village in Lombardy. To say that the battle was fierce is to say nothing: several thousand wounded were thrown onto the battlefield to die in agony!
The Swiss Jean-Henri Dunant, among others, was a witness to these terrible events. Shocked, he decided that something must be done! If the state does not take care of the soldiers who do not spare themselves at the behest of politicians - it means that someone else should do it - there should be an organization that will take care of the victims of wars, without making any distinctions either by citizenship or by nationality, nor by religion - which will help people just 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: it is necessary to create national organizations that will deal with 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 Assistance to 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 was held on August 8, 1864, it was then that the convention "On the improvement of the condition of the wounded in the armies of the belligerent countries" was adopted, known as the Geneva Convention, and an agreement was reached on an international organization whose tasks would include helping people who suffered in military conflicts. At the same time, the emblem of this society was established - it was supposed to become a kind of "protective letter" for its representatives in areas where there is a war.
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 you know, has a white cross on a red one, while its "reverse" version - a red cross on white - became the sign of the organization. The organization itself - based on the 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 a proposal was put forward to introduce a third - the red Star of David - but this proposal did not receive support). True, already in the XXI century - when any mention of religion in general and of Christianity in particular - causes a storm of irrational hatred - a third emblem was introduced - a red crystal in the form of a diamond.
It should be noted that such an emblem - a combination of symbols of different religions - corresponds as much as possible to the principles of this organization, proclaimed at the International Conference in 1965:
-humanity
-impartiality
-neutrality
-independence
-voluntary
-unity
-universality.
This means that the organization is international, all national societies included in it have equal responsibilities and rights and support each other, it does not take any of the parties in military conflicts and provides assistance to absolutely everyone in need, making no distinction either by nationality or by race, neither by religion, nor by any other characteristics, does not seek to obtain benefits.
Since 1986 this organization has been called the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. Having started with helping the wounded in the war, she eventually expanded her activities, including helping those who suffered during natural disasters and man-made disasters, training nurses, helping hospitals, collecting donor blood, helping people with disabilities, and even "educational program" 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. This organization includes 190 National Societies and over 100 million volunteers.
At all times, there was a need to designate in some way field hospitals, carts with the wounded, and first aid points in military operations. For this purpose, up to the 19th century, various signs were used. However, such designations were not always known and understood by the other, opposing side, therefore, attacking or shelling military hospitals was a common thing, a cost of war.
At the International Conference of 1863, the question arose about the need to adopt a single universal sign to protect field hospitals and designate medical personnel. The conference participants found a solution and adopted a regulation on a universal special sign - a red cross on a white background. At the Diplomatic Conference of 1864, the Geneva Convention "For the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded and Sick Soldiers in War on Ground" was adopted and a single distinctive sign for military medical services - the red cross, which should protect not only the wounded on the battlefield, but also those who helps them. Neither the participants in the conferences, nor the countries that signed the Geneva Convention, did not strive for the emblem to bear any religious connotation, to be associated with the symbols of Christianity. "Out of respect for Switzerland, the heraldic sign of the red cross on a white field, formed by the reverse arrangement of the federal flowers ..." This explanation is given in Article 38 of the 1949 Geneva Convention.
Turkey, like other states, has signed the Geneva Convention and has not expressed any objections to the emblem. But when another war in the Balkans began in 1876, Turkey was faced with a situation that a Muslim could not put on a cross, because this is apostasy. Turkey has told the Swiss government that it will respect the mark protecting enemy hospitals, but it is adopting a red crescent on a white background as a protective mark for its own hospitals. Later, Iran chose for itself the emblem of a red lion and sun on a white background. In 1929, these two new emblems were officially recognized. A number of states proposed to adopt other emblems in addition to the existing ones. Over the years, all of these proposals have been rejected because many signs can reduce their defensive value. In 1980, Iran abandoned the red lion and sun emblem and opted for the red crescent emblem. 
In December 2005. A Diplomatic Conference was held in Switzerland, at which the third Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions of 1949 was signed on the creation of an additional emblem for the international movement of the Red Cross and Red Crescent - a red crystal. The additional emblem is a red outline on a white background in the form of a rhombus (it stands on one of its vertices) and does not carry any religious, political or other meaning. It has the same international status as the existing emblems. With its adoption, there will be no change in the application of the pre-existing emblems, unless the state decides otherwise. Countries and National Societies that currently use the red cross and red crescent emblems and wish to retain them in the future will continue to use them as usual. The Russian Red Cross still uses the red cross emblem.
The Russian Red Cross is the only organization on the territory of the Russian Federation that has the exclusive right to use the phrase "Red Cross" and the distinctive emblem of the Red Cross in its name.
According to the existing rules, only one of these emblems can be used by this or that state as a mark of distinction of its national society.
Adults and children all over the world know that under the shadow of these signs they will always be greeted with compassion and mercy.
Currently, the emblem is used as a protective and distinctive sign.
As a protective mark, the emblem acts as a visible mark of protection in accordance with the provisions of the Geneva Conventions. The emblem is used as a protective sign during armed conflicts. It should inspire respect and deter aggressive actions. During the period of armed conflict, the emblem protects: mobile sanitary units and inpatient medical institutions belonging to both armies and relief societies (Articles 19 and 42 1 of the LC); medical units and medical personnel of societies of neutral countries providing assistance to one of the belligerents (arts. 27, 40 and 43); permanent medical and religious personnel of the army and relief societies, including administrative personnel (arts. 24, 26 and 40); temporary army medical personnel (arts. 25 and 41); medical property of the army and aid societies (Articles 33, 34 and 39). 
Further, the First Geneva Convention lists the organizations that have the right to use the protective emblem during hostilities:
- Army medical service;
- recognized aid societies providing their services to the medical service in accordance with article 26 (in particular, the NRCS and the KP).
International Red Cross organizations and their personnel are entitled to use the emblem at any time.
The emblem shows the participants in the battles that certain persons, medical institutions, means of transporting the wounded are under the protection of the Geneva Conventions. The emblem is designed to inspire respect and deter combatants from aggressive actions.
The use of the emblem as a distinctive sign aims to show, mainly in times of peace, that the persons or objects designated by it are associated with the organization of the Red Cross or Red Crescent, but are not eligible for the protection of the Geneva Conventions. For the avoidance of misunderstanding, the emblem in this case should be small and the two functions should not be confused. For example, it cannot be used on an armband or placed on a roof.
In accordance with international regulations on the use of the emblem, it can be placed on trauma centers or ambulances, but only if they provide free medical assistance.
The NRC and the KP may use the emblem in accordance with the law and the Fundamental Principles in their activities, such as fundraising campaigns. However, National Societies should refrain from displaying the emblem when undertaking activities that are only distantly related to their primary purpose. They must do whatever is necessary to ensure that the prestige of the emblem is under no circumstances diminished.
States parties to the 1949 Geneva Conventions committed themselves to taking measures to prevent and suppress the abuse of the emblem, both in peacetime and in wartime.
There are two types of illegal use of the emblem:
... imitation, i.e. the use of a mark which, due to its shape and color, can be confused with the emblem.
... illegal use of the emblem, i.e. use of the logo by unauthorized organizations or persons (commercial firms, pharmacies, doctors in private practice, non-governmental organizations, individuals).
Any use of the emblem not specifically provided for in the Geneva Conventions and Additional Protocols is an abuse.
The perfidious use of the emblem in wartime to obtain a military advantage is classified as a war crime.
For more than a century, the red cross and red crescent have served humanity, providing protection to victims of armed conflict, as well as those who provide assistance. In December 2005, an additional emblem of the red crystal was created, which is used interchangeably with the emblems of the red cross and red crescent. This document tells you about the history of the creation of emblems.
Until the nineteenth century, each country had its own symbols used by the medical services of the armed forces. These symbols were not widely known, were rarely respected, and did not provide any legal protection.
In the second half of the nineteenth century, the rapid development of firearms production led to a significant increase in the number of killed and wounded during the war.
On June 24, 1859, the War of the Reunification of Italy was fought. During a private trip, a Swiss citizen named Henri Dunant ended up in the city of Solferino. There he witnessed the tragedy of more than 45,000 abandoned soldiers who were killed or injured on the battlefield.
Returning to Geneva, Henri Dunant began writing a book in which he proposed significantly expanding the scope of assistance to victims of the war.
to create in peacetime in each country a group of volunteers to help victims of war;
get countries to agree to protect first aid volunteers as well as those wounded on the battlefield.
The first proposal formed the basis for the creation of National Societies, which today exist in 183 countries. The second is the basis for the creation of the Geneva Conventions, which are signed today by 192 states.
On February 17, 1863, a five-member committee - the future International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) - met to study Henri Dunant's proposals.
One of the main goals of the audience was the adoption of a single distinctive emblem, the use of which would be supported by law and ensure respect for the medical service of the armed forces, volunteers of first aid societies, as well as victims of armed conflict.
The emblem was supposed to be simple, clearly distinguishable from a long distance, known to everyone and the same, both for allies and for enemies. It had to be the same for everyone and be universally recognized.
The first international conference was convened on October 26, 1863. It was attended by delegates from 14 countries.
Ten resolutions were adopted that regulated the creation of societies to help wounded soldiers - the future Red Cross societies, and subsequently the Red Crescent Society. In addition, the conference also adopted the red cross on a white background as a single distinctive emblem.
In August 1864, a Diplomatic Conference convened to transform the resolutions adopted in 1863 into treaty norms adopted the first Geneva Convention.
This is how modern humanitarian law was born.
The first Geneva Convention recognized the red cross on a white background as a single distinctive emblem.
The emblem was intended to reflect the neutrality of the military medical service and to indicate the protection that was offered to it. The adopted emblem was the reverse colors of the Swiss flag.
Switzerland's permanent neutral status was confirmed by the practice of the last few years, and also reinforced by the Vienna and Paris Treaties of 1815. Moreover, the white flag was and remains a symbol of the desire for negotiations or the desire to surrender. It is unacceptable to shoot at anyone who has hung a white flag of their own free will.
The resulting emblem had the advantage of being easy to reproduce and recognizable from a distance as it had contrasting colors.
During the Russo-Turkish War, the Ottoman Empire announced that it intends to use the emblem of the red crescent on a white background instead of the emblem of the red cross. Respecting the emblem of the red cross, the Ottoman authorities were of the opinion that the red cross, by its very nature, was offensive to Muslim soldiers. The red crescent emblem was temporarily approved for use pending the end of the conflict.
After World War I, in 1929, a Diplomatic Conference was convened to revise the Geneva Conventions. The Turkish, Persian and Egyptian delegations asked the Conference to recognize the emblems of the red crescent and the red lion and sun. After lengthy discussions, the Conference agreed to recognize these emblems as distinctive emblems in addition to the red cross. However, in order to avoid a further increase in the number of emblems, the Conference limited the number of countries that can use these emblems to the aforementioned three States that have already used them. In accordance with the Geneva Conventions, the three distinctive emblems have equal status.
Today 151 National Societies use the red cross emblem and 32 National Societies use the red crescent emblem.
A diplomatic conference convened in 1949 to revise the Geneva Conventions after the end of World War II examined three proposals to address the issue of emblems:
a proposal by the Netherlands for a new single emblem;
a proposal to return to the use of a single emblem of the red cross;
Israel's proposal to recognize the new David's red shield emblem, which was used as the distinctive emblem of the Israeli military medical service.
All three proposals were rejected. The conference expressed its protest against the increase in the number of protective emblems. The emblems of the red cross, red crescent and red lion and sun remain the only recognized emblems.
The Islamic Republic of Iran has announced that it is relinquishing its right to use the red lion and sun emblem and will continue to use the red crescent emblem as the distinctive emblem of the military's medical service. However, Iran has reserved the right to revert to the red lion and sun emblem if any new emblems are recognized in the future.
The debate over the emblems continued after the 1949 decision. A number of countries and relief societies operating on their territory still wanted to use national emblems or both emblems of the red cross and red crescent at the same time. By the 1990s, there were also concerns about respecting the neutrality of the red cross and red crescent in several complex armed conflicts. In 1992, the ICRC president issued a public call for an additional emblem, devoid of any national, political or religious connotations.
The 1999 International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent supported the proposal to form a joint working group of representatives of States and National Societies to develop a comprehensive and lasting solution to the issue of the emblem, acceptable to all parties, both substantively and procedurally.
The working group came to understand that the history of most states and national societies is inextricably linked with the use of the emblems of the red cross and red crescent. Thus, the only option for a solution that would suit all parties was the adoption of a third additional emblem, devoid of national, political or religious connotations.
The design of the new logo was intended to allow the National Societies using it to:
place a red cross or red crescent in the center of the new emblem;
place both a red cross and a red crescent in the center of the new emblem;
place in the center of the new emblem any other symbol that is used by that National Society and has been transferred to the depositary State of the Geneva Conventions and the ICRC.
In December 2005, during the Diplomatic Conference in Geneva, states adopted the Third Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions, regulating the use of an additional emblem along with the emblems of the red cross and red crescent. The new emblem, known as the red crystal emblem, addresses several of the problems that the Movement has faced over the years. Among them:
the opportunity for countries that do not want to accept the red cross or red crescent emblem to join the Movement and become full members by using the red crystal emblem;
the ability to use the red cross and the red crescent at the same time.
In June 2006, the International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent was convened in Geneva to amend the Statutes of the Movement following the adoption of a new supplementary emblem.
On January 14, 2007, the Third Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions of 1949 entered into force (this happened six months after the first two countries had ratified it). This completed the process of creating an additional emblem for use by governments and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
It is assumed that snake symbol in medicine appeared in Ancient Babylon about four thousand years ago.
The snake among ancient people was generally one of the totem animals. For that time, the endowment of the magical properties of animals is characteristic - totemism. They were worshiped, elevated to a cult. The totem snake was assigned a double role: the role of good and evil. On the one hand, the snake symbolized deceit and cunning, and on the other, immortality, wisdom and knowledge.
The snake symbol is present in many nations and symbolizes goodness, prosperity and health. Also, snakes were credited with the magical role of healing wounds and teaching witchcraft.
There are various hypotheses trying to explain the connection of the snake in many nations with the healing of the sick. According to one of them - associations of people of incomprehensible phenomena with incomprehensible and mysterious creatures, which were snakes. The causes of illness and death were still unknown.
The serpent was deified and considered immortal, since they are able to shed their skin and be reborn. It was believed that people also had this gift, but cunning snakes stole it.
Crawling creatures figured in the mythology of the Ancient East, in which they were associated with health and healing. In Africa, they were associated with healing and witchcraft. Obviously, because sorcerers were involved in the treatment (the snake was the symbol of the sorcerer).
In European countries, the snake was a symbol of more than just treatment. She symbolized knowledge and wisdom. It is quite possible that the first doctors were noted as knowledgeable, "learned" people.
There are quite a few hypotheses and assumptions, but there is only one fact - a symbol of medicine - a snake.
At first, the snake was depicted without any additional attributes. Later, the emblem in the form of a tripod of Apollo entwined with a snake became known, but the most famous are three medicine emblems: a bowl with a snake, a caduceus and the staff of Asclepius.
One of the most recognizable symbols of medicine is the staff of Asclepius. A snake that coiled around a gnarled stick.
Asclepius is the god of healing, the son of the god of truth and prophecy, Apollo. According to legend, he knew how to raise the dead. Zeus, afraid that all people would become immortal, killed him with a lightning strike. According to one of the legends, Asclepius was invited to the palace of Minos, the king of Crete, whose son died. Asclepius leaned on a staff on the way, when suddenly this staff was wrapped around a snake. Frightened, the doctor killed her. The second immediately climbed onto the staff to resurrect the first with the help of magic herbs. Asclepius found this herb, and resurrected the son of King Minos with medicine from it.
Therefore, Asclepius is depicted standing in a long cloak, leaning on a staff with a snake. By the way, sometimes they were just depicted with two snakes, which apparently was confused with the rod of Hermes.
Rod of Hermes (among the Romans - Mercury) or caduceus
The word "caduceus" is Greek. Indicates the sign of the messenger's authority. Caduceus is the magic wand of the god Hermes, the messenger of the Greek gods. Two snakes entwine it. At the top of the wand is a pair of wings, a symbol of balanced and virtuous behavior. Now it is the symbol of commerce and medicine. However, earlier it was a rather diverse symbolic figure (it is interesting if you know that Hermes, in addition to merchants, also patronized thieves and rogues). For the past four thousand years, the caduceus has been associated with divine powers, sometimes with messengers of the gods. In alchemy, it was a symbol of duality and cosmic energy.
The association with medicine arose from the presence of the same snakes, as well as the snake on the staff of Asclepius.
Bowl with a snake
"Sly as a snake and not a fool to drink" -
medical students
The most widespread medical emblem in Russia. The first images date back to the 8th century BC. At first they were two different symbols:. These were the attributes of the daughter of Aesculapius - the goddess of health Hygea (the science of hygiene, remember?). Hygeia was portrayed with a bowl in one hand and a snake in the other. And there was no such symbol before, which we are used to seeing now.
Historians believe that the bowl with a snake as a symbol was proposed by the famous physician Paracelsus in the 16th century. There are several versions of the true meaning of the symbol. It is possible that the bowl with the snake symbolizes snake venom with its medicinal properties. But most often the cup is considered as a source of wisdom and reason, a source of knowledge for a doctor.
Hygea was portrayed with a snake drinking from a bowl
In Russia, a bowl with a snake as the main medical symbol appeared in the 18th century (initially with two snakes). In 1924, a symbol similar to the modern one was the hallmark of military medicine. This sign is currently the official emblem of the military medical personnel of the Russian army.
Symbol of military medics since 2005
Red cross symbol
This is the official emblem of the Red Cross Society. For many, it is associated with medical activity, perceived as "everything medical." The meaning of this sivol is completely different. This is a special symbol. Designed to protect medics during military operations. Therefore, now he is being removed from the signs of pharmacies, medical caps, car first aid kits (not sure if he is active). This is one of the few symbols that is recognized all over the world.
Red Cross symbols
The symbol of the red cross and red crescent (and now also a red diamond) is the official emblem of the International Red Cross Movement. The initiator of the creation of a society that provides charitable medical care to the wounded during the wars was the Swiss Henri Dunant in the 19th century. In fact, the red cross is the inverted (colors swapped) flag of Switzerland. Although the symbol of the red cross has been known since the time of the Crusades.
In Muslim countries, the emblem of the red crescent plays the same role; in Israel, the red Star of David is widespread.
In 2005, the International Committee of the Red Cross adopted another symbolism: the red diamond (or crystal). The fact is that a large number of applications for the recognition of national emblems were sent to the Committee: a red flame from Thailand, a red cedar from Lebanon, a red palm from Syria, even a red rhino from Sudan. From Zimbabwe, a red star was generally declared. They felt that such a variety could destroy the very idea of a universal symbol, so they left these three emblems.
According to the Geneva Convention of 1949, the emblem of the Red Cross is assigned to humanitarian medical transports, buildings, missions in order to protect against attacks during an armed conflict. Buildings, cars are equipped with this symbol, it is applied to the form. This emblem has one special feature: it cannot be purchased as a trademark or brand.
Now confusion has arisen in Russia: a red stripe, a red cross and a phone number 03 on ambulances are applied in accordance with GOST 1975, but this is prohibited under the Geneva Convention.
Star of Life
Ambulance logo. First of all in the USA
An emblem that looks like a blue snowflake. The six-pointed star symbol for emergency medical care in the United States. In the center of the emblem is the famous staff of Asclepius with a snake. Used in emergency vehicles throughout the United States. Until 1973, the ambulance used an orange cross on a white background (orange is the color of all MChS, as it is clearly visible). In 1997, the US patent for this symbol expired. Now it can be seen in other countries (for example, Peru, Poland).
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