Dear Colleagues,

The theme for World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day 2004 will be “Stop Discrimination.” This follows logically from the theme of “Protecting Human Dignity” from the International Conference, when our President noted:

“Discrimination, violence, intolerance and lack of respect for diversity represent one of the key challenges to the goal of protecting human dignity. Together, they marginalize individuals and communities and deny their access to services and fuel mistrust, exclusion and abuse.”

To show our solidarity with those who suffer from discrimination – either because of their race, gender, ability, colour, orientation, age or health – we suggest that Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies host an event, preferably at their headquarters, at which minorities and others suffering from discrimination are invited. This will show that the Red Cross Red Crescent is a safe, welcoming place for those who are shunned elsewhere.

We are preparing supporting information messages for use in your media by the end of March. For the moment, please begin planning events in your National Societies. We will create a space on FedNet and the Caribbean website (www.caribbeanredcross.org) where you can share ideas, and where we will place information as we count down to May 8, 2004.

Additionally, if there is anything in particular that you would like the Port-of-Spain Sub Regional Office of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to assist with, please let us know as soon as possible.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or suggestions.

Regards,

Allison Ali
Information Officer
Port-of-Spain Sub Regional Office

1-868-624-1557/1-868-627-2665 (tel)
1-868-627-9627 (fax)
ifrctt07@ifrc.org (e-mail)