Award for International Red Cross & Red Crescent Movement

Joint Press Release
25 October 2012

International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement receives Prince of Asturias Award for 2012

Geneva (ICRC/IFRC) – The prestigious award in the category of international cooperation will be presented in Oviedo on 26 October to Tadateru Konoé, president of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), and Peter Maurer, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

The jury awarded the prize in recognition of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement's "performance in armed conflicts such as those of Syria, Libya and Somalia and in the natural disasters which have beset Haiti, Indonesia and Japan. The Red Cross Red Crescent and their volunteers save lives, protect livelihoods, provide support for recovery after disaster and crisis, enable people to lead a safe and healthy life and promote social inclusion and a culture of non-violence and peace."

“We are honoured to accept this prestigious award on behalf of all our member National Societies and 13 million volunteers who serve vulnerable people worldwide as part of the work of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement," said IFRC President Tadateru Konoé. "Together, we aim to tackle the major humanitarian and development challenges of this decade. Together, we are committed to saving lives and changing minds."

"I would like to dedicate the award to the staff and volunteers of the Movement who have lost their lives in recent months trying to save the lives of others," said ICRC President Peter Maurer. "In Pakistan, Yemen and Syria, to mention just a few places, we have suffered losses that are tragic for two reasons. First, because talented and selfless persons were taken from us far too soon. And second, because hundreds, perhaps thousands of people are now left without help as a result of these tragic losses."

With nearly 100 million members, volunteers and supporters, 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 vulnerable people and communities including those affected by armed conflicts, natural disasters and other humanitarian emergencies. It has three main components: the International Committee of the Red Cross – the Movement's founding organization – which works to alleviate suffering during armed conflicts and other situations of violence, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, which is active in natural disasters, supporting and coordinating the development of and cooperation among National Societies worldwide, and the National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, which are engaged in relieving suffering with the help of millions of volunteers worldwide.

The ICRC - working to protect and assist people affected by armed conflict and other situations of violence. Find out more: www.icrc.org

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