League of Red Cross Societies

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

Abbreviation	IFRC
Motto	Protecting Human Dignity
Formation	1919 (1919)
Type	Humanitarian aid organization
Purpose	Assist and coordinate all activities by National Societies of the Red Cross Movement
Headquarters	Geneva, Switzerland
Secretary General	Elhadj As Sy
President	Tadateru Konoe
Main organ	Governing board
Parent organization	International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
Budget	390,505,000 CHF
Website	www.ifrc.org

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies reaches 160 million people each year through its 190-member National Societies. It acts before, during and after disasters and health emergencies to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people. It does so with impartiality as to nationality, race, gender, religious beliefs, class and political opinions.

Guided by Strategy 2020 – the IFRC’s collective plan of action to tackle the major humanitarian and development challenges of this decade – the IFRC is committed to saving lives and changing minds.

The IFRC is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement along with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and 190 National Societies. The IFRC's strength lies in its volunteer network, community-based expertise and independence and neutrality. It works to improve humanitarian standards, as partners in development and in response to disasters. It persuades decision makers to act in the interests of vulnerable people. It works to enable healthy and safe communities, reduce vulnerabilities, strengthen resilience and foster a culture of peace around the world.

The seven Fundamental Principles that guide the work of the IFRC and its members are: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality.

In 1919, representatives from the National Red Cross Societies of Britain, France, Italy, Japan, and the US came together in Paris to found the League of Red Cross Societies (LORCS) whose stated goal was "to strengthen and unite, for health activities, already-existing Red Cross Societies and to promote the creation of new Societies". The original idea was Henry Davison's, then president of the American Red Cross War CommitteeAmerican Red Cross and he was assisted by the British general Sir David Henderson who became the Director-General. This move, led by the American Red Cross, expanded the international activities of the Red Cross Movement beyond the strict mission of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to include relief assistance in response to emergencies which were not caused by armed conflict (such as man-made or natural disasters). The American Red Cross already had great disaster relief mission experience extending back to its foundation.