This year, the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is celebrating 60 years since the creation of our fundamental principles.
The principles were agreed in Vienna in 1965 and they steer everything our staff and volunteers do. The principles help us meet our responsibilities under International Humanitarian Law and take into account the lessons we learned from the first 100 years of our history.
Every day and through every crisis for the last 60 years, our fundamental principles have guided us as we’ve supported people around the UK and across the world. They continue to do so today, and underpin everything our staff and volunteers do.
Emergency response volunteer Joanna hugs Virginia, a service user who was affected by flooding in Pontypridd in November 2024. PHOTO: Francesca Jones/British Red Cross
Our unique position
Our fundamental principles – humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, universality – make our movement unique.
They are more than just words or guidelines.
For example, our impartiality means we help the person in front of us, no matter who they are, where they come from, or what their beliefs are. Because we remain neutral, we do not take sides in conflict. This helps ensure we are trusted to work across borders and divides.
The principle of voluntary service represents the common motivation uniting all those working within the Movement: a desire to help others. Across the world today there are more than 16 million Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers.
The fundamental principles help us to reach and support the people who need us most, for as long as we are needed. This could be providing search and rescue support moments after an earthquake, providing life-saving care for people in conflict zones or helping reunite families torn apart by a disaster.
Some examples of our principles in action across our history can be seen below. Visit our What We Stand For page for more information on each of our fundamental principles.
Syrian Arab Red Crescent volunteers seen responding after the 2023 earthquake. PHOTO: Syrian Arab Red Crescent
Universality – Working together in response to the Türkiye - Syria earthquake
When a series of devastating earthquakes struck southern Türkiye near the northern border of Syria in February 2023, staff and volunteers from both the Syrian Arab Red Crescent and the Turkish Red Crescent responded immediately, providing food, shelter and medical aid.
Since the earthquakes hit, staff and volunteers have worked tirelessly supporting people in need across both countries.
Universality means that every national society in International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement has equal status and has a responsibility to help each other, for the benefit of all.
Neutrality – conflict in Somalia
During the devastating 1990s conflict in Somalia, the Somali Red Crescent Society and the International Committee of the Red Cross turned an old Mogadishu prison into a hospital after parts of the city were cut off from hospital services.
No matter which group controlled the area, the hospital was able to remain open and operational because its staff had gained the trust of all sides.
The principle of Neutrality helps ensure our staff and volunteers have the trust and confidence of all, so they can provide humanitarian support to people who need it.
Milyon lives with her four children in a remote community that has been significantly impacted by ongoing drought in Burao, Somalia. PHOTO: Angela Hill/IFRC