Red Cross - Code of Conduct

1. International Federation
of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
INDUCTION TRAINING COURSE
CODE OF CONDUCT FOR THE INTERNATIONAL RED
CROSS AND RED CRESCENT MOVEMENT

2. International Federation
of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Code of conduct
 Agreed upon by 7 International Humanitarian Agencies: IFRC,
ICRC, Caritas International, International Save the Children,
Lutheran World Federation, Oxfam and World Council of Churches;
 Seeks to guard the standards of behavior of International
Humanitarian Agency and Humanitarian Aid workers as well as to
maintain the high standards of independence, effectiveness and
impact to humanitarian activities;
 Adopted by Federation through General Assembly and The Council
of Delegates (Birmingham, 1993) and International Conference
(Geneva, 1995);

3. International Federation
of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Code of conduct
 Consist of 10 (ten) fundamental principles related to Humanitarian
Relief Operation and 3 (three) Annex that regulatory with
governments of affected countries, donor governments and
intergovernmental organizations;

4. International Federation
of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Code of conduct
1. The Humanitarian Imperative comes first :
• The right to receive humanitarian assistance that should be enjoyed
by all citizens of all countries wherever it is needed;
• Obligation to provide humanitarian assistance;
• The prime motivation is to alleviate human suffering;
• When giving humanitarian aid it is not a partisan or political act.

5. International Federation
of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Code of conduct
2. Aid is given regardless of the race, creed or nationality of the recipients
and without adverse distinction of any kind. Aid priorities are calculated on
the basis of need alone
• Humanitarian aid will be given based on the need
• Proportional;
• Recognize the crucial role played by women and will ensure that this role is
supported;
• Have access to the necessary resources and have equal access to all victims.

6. International Federation
of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Code of conduct
3. Aid will not be used to further a particular political or religious
standpoint;
• Humanitarian aid will be given according to the need of individuals,
families and communities;
• Not withstanding the right of NGHAs to espouse particular political or
religious opinions;
• Not tie the promise, delivery or distribution of assistance to embracing
or acceptance of a particular political or religious creed.

7. International Federation
of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Code of conduct
4. We shall endeavour not to act as instruments of government foreign
policy;
• International Humanitarian Agencies must formulate its own policies and
implementation strategies and do not seek to implement the policy of any
government;
• In order to protect the International Humanitarian Agencies independence
it will seek to avoid dependence upon a single funding source.
5. We shall respect culture and custom;
• International Humanitarian Agencies must endeavour to respect the
culture, structures and the communities and countries they are working.

8. International Federation
of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Code of conduct
6. We shall attempt to built disaster response on local capacities
• We will strengthen the capacities by employing local staff, purchasing
local material and trading with local companies;
• We will work through local NGOs as partners in planning and
implementation, and the proper co-operate with local government
structures where appropriate;
• Place a high priority on the proper co-ordination.
7. Ways shall be found to involve programme beneficiaries in the
management of relief aid;
• We will Strive to achieve full community participation in our relief and
rehabilitation programmes.

9. International Federation
of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Code of conduct
8. Relief must strive to reduce future vulnerabilities to disaster as well as
meeting basic need;
• Strive to implement relief programmes which actively reduce the
beneficiaries’ vulnerability to future and help create sustainable lifestyles;
• Pay particular attention to environmental concerns in the design and
management of relief programmes;
• Endeavour to minimize the negative impact of humanitarian assistance,
seeking to avoid long-term beneficiary dependence upon external aid.

10. International Federation
of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Code of conduct
9. We hold ourselves accountable to both those we seek to assist and
those from whom we accept resources;
• All our dealings with donors and beneficiaries shall reflect an attitude of
openness and transparency;
• Need to report on the activities, both from a financial perspective and the
perspective of effectiveness;
• Recognize the obligation to ensure appropriate monitoring of aid
distributions and to carry out regular assessments of the impact of
assistance.

11. International Federation
of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Code of conduct
10. In our information, publicity and advertising activities, we shall
recognize disaster victims as dignified humans, not object of pity;
• Respect for the victims
• In our public information we shall portray an objective image of the
disaster situation where the capacities and aspirations of victims are
highlighted and not just their vulnerabilities;
• While we will cooperate with the media in order to enhance public
response, we will not allow external or internal demands for publicity to
take precedence over the principle of maximizing overall relief assistance;
• We will avoid competing with other response agencies for media coverage
in situations where such coverage may be to the detriment of the service
provided to the beneficiaries or to the security of our staff or beneficiaries.

12. International Federation
of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies