The National Red Crescent Society of Turkmenistan was founded in 1926, drawing its history from the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement of the second half of the 19th century. Henry Dunant, the founder of the Movement, became the first recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. His birthday, May 8th, is celebrated worldwide as World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day.
In June 1859, Swiss businessman Henry Dunant witnessed the Battle of Solferino in northern Italy—a clash between French and Austrian forces. Forty thousand soldiers lay dead or wounded on the battlefield. Their blood flowed, and they cried out for help. Deeply disturbed by this scene, Dunant appealed to the residents of nearby villages for assistance. He urged people to help the wounded regardless of their nationality, the army they belonged to, or the language they spoke. He converted one of the local churches into a hospital and immediately began rescue operations using basic tools, purchasing all necessary medicines and clothing at his own expense.
Upon returning to his homeland in Geneva, Dunant published the book A Memory of Solferino in 1862. In this book, he not only described what he had seen but also proposed two ideas:
- To establish a peacetime volunteer committee to train volunteers to care for the wounded during wartime.
- To conclude an international agreement to recognize and protect these committees.
In 1863, Dunant and his associates in Geneva founded the International Committee of the Red Cross. In 1919, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies was established.
Today, the societies operating under the symbols of the Red Cross and Red Crescent represent a non-religious and non-political movement with approximately 130 million members in 194 countries. The four Geneva Conventions adopted in 1949 form the foundation of the prestige of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, which spreads its humanitarian principles throughout the world. These historical decisions laid the groundwork for legal protection in cases of conflict, based on respect for human dignity and the principle of humanity. Every state that has ratified the Geneva Conventions commits to disseminating knowledge of international humanitarian law and promoting humanitarian principles.
In 1995, the Independent and Permanently Neutral State of Turkmenistan became the 164th full member of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. It is one of the 194 states to have acceded to the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols.
The activities of the National Red Crescent Society of Turkmenistan, which carries out public charitable work in the country, are inextricably linked with the life of the Turkmen people. It contributes to healthcare, social security, education, and the upbringing of youth in the spirit of humanity. Humanity is one of the moral principles that our people have followed since the time of their ancestors.
