Головна | 6 IHL & Emblem Protection

6 IHL & Emblem Protection

No. The Red Cross on a white background was chosen by the founders of the International Committee for the Relief of Wounded Soldiers at the Geneva Conference in October 1863 as a symbol to be worn on doctors' armbands on the battlefield and ensure their neutral status. Therefore, the Red Cross had a protective function from the beginning. But by analogy with field physicians, it was quickly used by other medical and paramedical institutions not only on the fronts of the war but also in the rear, up to pharmacies and other stores. However, such an expanded interpretation of the Red Cross as a mere medical symbol contradicted the position of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, which insisted and insists that the Red Cross symbol (as well as the Red Crescent and the Red Crystal) should be used solely to protect human beings. from any military attack, and any other application, including commercial, undermines this single function of the Red Cross emblem. These views are reflected in the Geneva Conventions and national legislation. Including the Ukrainian: Law of Ukraine "On the Symbols of the Red Cross, Red Crescent, Red Crystal in Ukraine" and the Criminal Code of Ukraine. These documents prohibit any misuse of the Red Cross emblem. This applies, inter alia, to medical facilities that do not belong to the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and are not at risk of military attack. Emergency medical services, pharmacies, medical centres, etc. can instead use genuine medical symbols specifically designed for their needs: a blue "star of life" (link to the image), a green cross with a caduceus (link to the image), and so on. If you notice on a building, vehicle, person, etc. that does not belong to the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, the use of the Red Cross, Red Crescent or Red Crystal emblem is clearly illegal, please send an email to: national@redcross.org, ihl@redcross.org.ua or visit the official page on the social network - https://www.facebook.com/RedCrossUkraine/
Neither. In fact, it is not known exactly what the founders of the International Committee of the Red Cross were guided by when they chose this symbol in Geneva in October 1863 to protect people who were helping wounded soldiers on the battlefield. The official version of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement on the interpretation of the Red Cross symbol, however, has remained unchanged for over a hundred years: the red cross on a white background is only an inverted version of the Swiss flag (which is known to be a white cross on a red background) special merits of Switzerland as the birthplace of the International Movement. Therefore, the red cross on a white background has no religious or religious significance. Currently, the Red Cross is used as an emblem by 157 of the 192 national societies of the International Movement around the world, including countries where Christianity is not the dominant religion.
International Humanitarian Law (IHL) is a branch of the international law, the main goal of which is to limit the effects of armed conflict by protecting the people who do not participate in hostilities, and by restricting and regulating the means and methods of warfare available to the combatants. IHL is applied in armed conflict situations, both on the international and domestic levels. Should you have questions about IHL, please address them to the coordinator of International Humanitarian Law of URCS: ihl@redcross.org.ua.
International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement has the exclusive right to use the emblem, flag, markings and name of the Red Cross, Red Crescent and Red Crystal. The use of the logo by persons, who are not authorized to do so, entails criminal liability under the Criminal Code of Ukraine according to the Law of Ukraine ‘On Use of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Symbols in Ukraine’