Development of Humanitarian

Works under the Globalization

Bonnie So
Head of International & Relief Service
Hong Kong Red Cross

Framework
Foundation of Red Cross Movement a global
humanitarian organization
What is Globalization?
How Globalization Lead to Better Living?
How Globalization Lead to Better Humanitarian
Work?
Globalization & Humanitarian Issues
Global RC Work

Foundation of
Red Cross Movement
Battle Solferino on 24 June 1859
Book Memory of Solferino
Man Henry Dunant

*World RC Day : 8 May

Red Cross Movement

ICRC International Committee of
the Red Cross (conflict)

IFRC International Federation of

Red Cross & Red Crescent
Societies (Natural Disaster)

NS- National Societies (181 NSs)

Geneva Convention
To safeguard our Neutrality:
Four Geneva Convention in 1949
Two additional Protocols in 1977

1st Geneva Convention

Wounded soldiers
on the battlefields

2nd Geneva Convention

Wounded and
shipwrecked
at sea

3rd Geneva Convention

Prisoners
of War (PoW)

4th Geneva Convention

Civilians under
enemy control

Additional Protocols
1st protocol International conflict
2nd protocol non-international conflict

International Red Cross & Red

Crescent Societies

Intl
Conference
Govts signed
the GVA
Conventions

Basic Seven Principles

Humanity
Impartiality
Neutrality
Independence
Voluntary Service
Unity
University

 Humanity

Prevent and
alleviate
human
suffering

 Impartiality

Give priority
to the most
urgent cases of
distress

 Neutrality

Not take sides

 Independence

Act in
accordance
with the RC
principles

 Voluntary Service

No desire of
gain

 Unity

One RC in one
country and
open to all

 University

All RC have
equal status
and share
equal duties

Humanitarian Works
Without discrimination
International and national
Prevent and alleviate human suffering
Protect life and health
Ensure respect for the human being

What is Globalization?

What is Globalization?
Emergence of a global society in which
economic, political, environmental, and
cultural events in one part of the world
quickly come to have significance for
people in other parts of the world.

What is Globalization?
It describes the growing economic,
political, technological, and cultural
linkages that connect individuals,
communities, businesses, and
governments around the world.

What is Globalization?
Globalization is result of advances in

communication, transportation, and

information technologies.
I would said the world is globalizing

e.g. Changes in the speed of transport

1500-1840: horse-drawn
coaches/sail ships (16kph)
1850-1930: steamships and
locomotives (56-104 kph)
1950s : propeller air (480-640
kph)
1960s: jet air (800-1120 kph)

e.g. Changes in communication

3000 BC -First World War(191418) : Pigeon post
1837 : telegraph
1876 : telephone
1955 : the first radio facsimile
transmission was sent across
the continent
late-1970's and 1980's : BBS &
email
1988: Digital cellular phone

How Globalization Lead to

Better Living?

How Globalization Lead to Better

Living?
Globalization with solidarity
There is a shared responsibility to assist
countries and people excluded from or
disadvantaged by globalization. Globalization
may help to overcome inequality both within and
between countries and contribute to the
elimination of poverty.

How Globalization Lead to Better

Living?
Greater accountability to people
Public and private actors at all levels with power
to influence the outcomes of globalization must
be democratically accountable for the policies
they pursue and the actions they take. They
must deliver on their commitments and use their
power with respect for others.

How Globalization Lead to Better

Living?
Deeper partnerships
Many actors are engaged in the realization of
global social and economic goals international
organizations, governments and parliaments,
business, labor, civil society and many others.
Dialogue and partnership among them is an
essential democratic instrument to create a better
world.

How Globalization Lead to Better

Living?
An effective United Nations
A stronger and more efficient
multilateral system is the key
instrument to create a democratic,
legitimate and coherent framework for
globalization.

How Globalization Lead to Better

Humanitarian Work?
Quick Information
DMIS
Disaster Management Information System
SMS
EMAIL
Teleconference

How Globalization Lead to Better

Humanitarian Work?
Quick Resources Mobilization
FACT- Field Assessment & Coordination Team
ERU Emergency Respond Team
RDRT Regional Disaster Response Team

How Globalization Lead to Better

Humanitarian Work?
Experience Exchange across borders
Regional and international workshops
Study trips
Shared of training manuals and promotional
materials
Standardization of work practice, e.g. first aid,
disaster management

How Globalization Lead to Better

Humanitarian Work?
Communications among humanitarian
organizations, business sectors and
governments

How Globalization Lead to Better

Humanitarian Work?

Example from Gujarat earthquake

in 2004

Example from Tsunami in 2004

Globalization & humanitarian issues

1. Need Driven or Media Driven
e.g. Philippine Typhoon vs Tsunami
Forgotten disasters
2. Need Driven or Donors Driven
e.g. corporate donations; designated donations;
enthusiastic volunteers
3. Peer Pressure

Globalization & humanitarian issues

3. Language Barrier
4. Culture Barrier
5. Political Sensitive

*train up people in the region to serve the region

Globalization & humanitarian issues

Some study revealed that the gap between the
richest and poorest countries, and between the
richest and poorest groups of individuals in the
world, has increased => some groups become
economically/socially more vulnerable
Richest : poorest 1:30 in 1960 to 1:80 in 1995

Globalization & humanitarian issues

Spreading of vulnerable factors following to
greater regional economic integration:
e.g. along the Mekong River Basin, the problems of
drugs, HIV/AIDS, child trafficking, environmental
degrading is spreading particularly along areas
benefit from globalization

International Red Cross work in

global resources re-distribution
Where more than 80% of
donation raised from affluent
countries, most of these
resources is targeted to the
most vulnerable countries in
humanitarian work.

No of IFRC appeal since 1919

Global Red Cross campaign

for the deprived
Global Red Cross campaign advocacy on
prohibition of use of landmine

Global Red Cross campaign

for the deprived
Global Red Cross campaign
Even Wars have limits

Global Red Cross campaign for the

deprived
International Red Cross
Red Crescent Centre on
Climate Change and
Disaster Preparedness Monitoring and study on
global climatic change
www.climatecentre.org

Global Red Cross campaign for the

deprived
International Red Cross
Regional network in Asia
and Africa on HIV/AIDS
prevention and care

Global Red Cross campaign for the

deprived
International Red Cross
Africa initiative in
improving health
condition in Africa

Know more about Red Cross!

Hong Kong Red Cross
http://www.redcross.org.hk
International Red Cross
http://www.ifrc.org
http://www.icrc.org