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Recognising
the importance of volunteers for Red Cross Red Crescent
, the International Federation made the following
pledge to the 27th International Conference of Red
Cross and Red Crescent in November 1999.
Volunteers are the most important
strength of any National Society; they are "the
power of humanity" and the champions of Red Cross
Red Crescent humanitarian values. The International
Federation therefore pledges the following:
- to review the current situation
of volunteers and identify areas where change is needed
to improve services to beneficiaries, the status of
volunteers and their role in the organization,
- to develop clear policies, guidelines
and best management practices for volunteers which
focus on human resources development,
- to ensure equal opportunities
for men and women of all ages as volunteers in service
delivery and National Society leadership, to bring
about greater involvement of marginalized groups, and
to provide the required support by paid staff,
- to cooperate with governments
to broaden the existing legal, fiscal and political
bases for volunteering, and to mobilize increased public
support,
- to expand cooperation with other
volunteer organizations at all levels, and play a significant
role in the International Year of Volunteers in 2001.
Other pledges to humanity made
by participants at the International Conference (governments,
National Societies, the ICRC and observers) are available
on the web site of the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement. |
