On 8 May the International Movement of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, consisting of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, will celebrate World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day under the theme "Together for Humanity".

The South African Red Cross Society (SARCS) together with the ICRC Regional Delegation for Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean and the International Federation Zonal office in South Africa will celebrate this day together in Pretoria and will specifically look at the importance of the Emblems for the Movement.

In August 2007, President Thabo Mbeki passed the South African Red Cross Society and Legal Protection of Certain Emblems Act 2007¹ into South African law. The act protects the use of the Emblems of the Movement in South Africa; and the Society will use the 8 May platform to launch a three-month emblem campaign aiming to combat the misuse of the Red Cross Red Crescent Emblems.

January 2008 marked the one year anniversary of the coming into effect of the Third Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions, which introduced a third protective Emblem in the effort to end proliferation of the Emblems. The three Emblems currently in use are the Red Cross, the Red Crescent and the Red Crystal.
Speakers for the day include the former President of SARCS, Head of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies' Southern African Zone, and the Head of Delegation from the ICRC. The Dean of the Diplomatic Corps will also convey a message on behalf of the diplomatic community.

The function takes place on Thursday 8 May from 12noon to 3pm at the Pretoria Country Club, 241 Sydney Avenue, Waterkloof, Pretoria.

To set up an interview with any of the speakers or for any further information please contact:

South African Red Cross Society (SARCS)
Thami Mthembu – National Information and Communications Coordinator
Tel: 27 21-532 0202
Cell: 076 914 2334
Email: tmthembu@redcross.org.za

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
Seija Tyrninoksa – Regional Relationship Management Coordinator
Tel: 27 11-303 9726
Cell: 082 450 3984
Email: seija.tyrninoksa@ifrc.org

International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
Annemarie Watt – Head of Communications
Tel: 27 12-430 7335/6/7
Cell: 082 559 2046
Email: com.pre@icrc.org

¹The Act provides statutory recognition for the South African Red Cross Society and statutory protection for the emblems of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.