The Red Cross Day was celebrated for the first time throughout the world on 8 May 1948, the anniversary of the birth of Henry Dunant, the founder of the Red Cross. It subsequently changed names several times and in 1984 became " World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day ".
The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is the world’s largest humanitarian network. The Movement is neutral and impartial, and provides protection and assistance to people affected by disasters and conflicts.
The Movement is made up of nearly 100 million members, volunteers and supporters in 190 National Societies. It has three main components:
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
190 member Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
As partners, the different members of the Movement support communities in becoming stronger and safer through a variety of development projects and humanitarian activities. The Movement also works in cooperation with governments, donors and other aid organizations to assist vulnerable people around the world.
The ICRC, the Federation and the National Societies are independent bodies. Each has its own individual status and exercises no authority over the others.