Cambodian Red Cross

The Cambodian Red Cross (CRC) is the largest humanitarian organization in Cambodia. Established on the 18 February 1955, it is officially recognized by the Royal Government as the primary auxiliary to the public authorities in humanitarian services. ^[1]

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History

1955-1994

  On October 7 1960 under recognition by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the organization was admitted as a Member of the International Federation of Red Cross Red Crescent Societies (the Federation) the following day. However, during the Khmer Rouge Regime (1975-1979), all Red Cross activities in Cambodia were suspended due to government policies at the time and the CRC's seat in the General Assembly of the Federation was abandoned. As a result of the Khmer Rouge, between 1979 and 1994, the CRC lost its national unity as each of the four factions in Cambodia set up their own Society within their respective areas of control. However, the NS was reunified in 1994 and the CRC was reinstated to the Federation.

1994-2002

  Since the reunification in 1994, the Cambodian Red Cross has undergone many important processes of organizational development and changes with Three major General Assemblies to assess the organizations' function and structure. The 1st Term was held by Princess Norodom Marie Ranariddh, President of the CRC from 1994 - 1998. The 2nd and 3rd Terms were held by Madam President Bun Rany Hun Sen, President of the CRC from 1998 -2002 and re-elected in August 2002. With Her Majesty Queen Norodom Monineath Sihanouk residing as Honorary President, since 1994.

Whilst there are significant constraints in human and financial resources, the CRC has attempted to raise the level of integration and consolidate its framework not only domestically but transnationally with the International Federation, ICRC, cooperation partners and NS's in the region and throughout the world. CRC has successfully implemented a three year development plan (1998-2000); a second development plan - a five year period was developed in 2001 and revised in 2002.

Strategy 2003 - 2010

  2003, marked the development of a new strategy, known as Strategy 2003 - 2010. As part of this the process, CRC achieved adoption of two national laws. Two Royal Decrees were signed by the King of Cambodia on 6 May 2002 -one giving the official recognition of the Cambodian Red Cross and the other on the use and protection of the Red Cross / Red Crescent emblems in the country.

The Strategy 2003 - 2010 fundamentally illustrates how the Cambodian Red Cross (CRC) can contribute to poverty reduction of the most vulnerable areas in Cambodia by becoming a leading humanitarian organisation.

The objectives and actions detailed in this Strategy have been designed to help the CRC move in the same strategic direction as the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement as a whole.

Awards and International recognition

On the 11th of November, 2001, at a ceremony held in Geneva, Madame Phlech Phiroun, Former President of the Cambodian Red Cross and Roger Durand, Founder and president of the Henry Dunant Society and former Vice-president of the Geneva Red Cross received the Henry Dunant Medal for their services to humanity.

On 18th February 2004, the Cambodian Red Cross attended the National Conference on Mine Action Achievements at the Council of Ministers in Phnom Penh.

Current outlook

Today, the CRC delivers a plethora of programs including health care, and distributing information on the Movement's Fundamental Principles and Humanitarian Values and Disaster Response and Preparedness activities throughout Cambodia. The organization has a comprehensive network of 24 branches throughout all provinces in the Kingdom, with some 126, 318 members; and a network of more than 5,700 Red Cross Volunteers (RCV) and 5,300 Red Cross Youth (RCY) all uniting to deliver services and implement programs to meet the needs of the needy in contemporary Cambodian society.

References