The history of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement dates back to the year of 1859. The Movement was founded thanks to the efforts of Jean-Henri Dunant, a Swiss businessman and social activist, who watched the battle of Solferino, one of the bloodiest battles in the 19th century.
The medical services of the armies were few in number and therefore could not provide medical care to all the wounded. Many people laid in the churches, streets and squares. The wounded were in a state of extreme exhaustion and suffered from severe pain. The lack of support and unsanitary conditions resulted in a huge increase in human suffering and disability.
Dunan, a man with a big heart, could not just walk away. With no medical knowledge, he applied bandages, brought food, water and tobacco to the wounded, spoke with them. Dunant assisted everyone without exception and without dividing the soldiers into friends and foes. This became one of the fundamental principles of the Movement: impartiality and neutrality.
This battle gave rise to the idea of creating voluntary medical societies that would assist the wounded during war. Henri Dunant shared his memories and ideas in the book “A Memory of Solferino”. The book had a strong impact on many people. From all over Europe, people sent their letters to Dunant. His ideas were supposed to turn into reality.
History of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
Humanitarian assistance
Looking at the history of the Movement, we would like to note that it took just two years from the establishment of a five-person committee to the signing of an international agreement by 16 governments (by the way, the Geneva Conventions are still considered to be one of the most enduring agreements of international law). And all this was done mainly thanks to the actions and efforts of one person!
Today, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement brings together 189 national societies. It is the largest humanitarian organization with credibility and respect throughout the world.
Emblems of the International Movement
To adopt a single distinguishing sign that would mean the legal protection of medical services of armed forces, volunteers providing assistance to the wounded, as well as victims of armed conflicts, was one of the primary tasks faced by the founders of the Movement.
History of the Red Cross Society in the Kazakh SSR
The Kazakh SSR was formed in 1936. As a result, on March 5, 1937, it was decided to create the Red Cross Society of the Kazakh SSR.
With the collapse of the USSR and the independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Red Cross Society of the Kazakh SSR was transformed into the Red Cross and Red Crescent Society of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Since April 17, 1992, the Society has been operating on the basis of the Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On the Activities of the Kazakh Red Crescent and Red Cross Society” and the Geneva Conventions of 1949
On March 31, 1993, the Republic of Kazakhstan acceded to the Geneva Conventions for the Protection of War Victims of 1949 and the two Additional Protocols of 1977 thereto.
In 1993, the Society was renamed to the Red Crescent and Red Cross Society of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
In March 2002, the Society officially adopted the new name “The Red Crescent Society of the Republic of Kazakhstan” and the emblem of the Red Crescent (due to the adoption of the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On the Emblem and Distinctive Sign of the Medical Service of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan” in December 2001).
In November 2003, the Red Crescent Society of the Republic of Kazakhstan was recognized by the International Committee of the Red Cross and became a member of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.