Tag: Standing Commission

A D J L M P R Z

Alexandra Issa-el-Khoury

Mrs. Alexandra Issa-el-Khoury served as the Vice-Chairwoman of the Standing Commission from November 1973 until October 1977. Previously, she had been a Member of the Central Committee of the Lebanese Red Cross since 1951 until she succeeded her mother as President of her National Society. During her tenure as President, her National Society was able to regain and maintain a truly unique position of impartiality and humanitarian spirit, which was respected by all parties to the tragic conflict in Lebanon. Mrs. Issa-el-Khoury has been an active member of the Movement on an international level too, having attended many international conferences and meetings. She received the Henry Dunant medal in 1981 and a road in Beirut, Lebanon has been named after her. She had a degree in Philosophy and was born in Beirut, Lebanon in 1926 where she died in 1997.[1][2]

[1] Standing Commission

[2] http://www.rdl.com.lb/1997/1926/khoury.htm

Angela Countess of Limerick

Angela Countess of Limerick

Angela Countess of Limerick served as Chairwoman of the Standing Commission from October 1965 until November 1973, when she retired after having been re-elected as Chairwomen in September 1969. The Countess of Limerick first joined the Movement in 1915 as a Nurse working for the British Red Cross and her outstanding Red Cross career would ultimately span 61 years.

Angela, née Trotter, spent her early childhood in Romania. During World War I, she worked as a Red Cross Voluntary Aid Detachment nurse in military hospitals in England and France. Between the wars she studied for a diploma in Social Science at the London School of Economics, married the subsequent 5th Earl of Limerick and expanded her Red Cross, local government and social work. From 1934 until 1940, she was President of the London Branch of the British Red Cross. During World War II Angela was in charge of Red Cross services throughout London during the “blitz” and from 1942 was also deputy chairman of the Executive Committee of the War Organization of the British Red Cross Society (BRCS) and the Order of St. John of Jerusalem. In 1944-45 she toured the War Organization’s Commissions in the Middle East and Italy and inspected relief work, visiting 17 countries.[1] Post war, 1946-63 Angela was a Vice-Chairman of the BRCS’s Executive Committee and a leading figure at the 1946 meeting in Oxford of the League of Red Cross Societies. She visited most of the BRCS Overseas Branches in Africa, the Far East and the Caribbean and a large number of National Societies. She was widely respected for her uncompromising support of the integrity of the Movement and its fundamental principles. In 1948, she was elected as the Vice-President of the British Red Cross Society and one of the Governors of the League of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.[2] Angela was a valuable member of the Joint Committee for the Re-Appraisal of the Role of the Red Cross 1972-75, chaired by Donald Tansley. She also chaired the Council of the BRCS from 1974-76 and, on retiring, she was appointed a Vice-President.[3]

Angela was known for her wide vision and gave encouragement and inspiration to many people. The Times of London said in her obituary: “Angela Limerick had a great breadth of vision, an astonishing memory and grasp of detail, and a remarkable ability to establish close and lasting personal relationships after brief acquaintance; above all she had the gift of inspiring and encouraging others and bringing out the best in them.”[4] She received numerous awards, including a G.B.E. and a C.H., and in 1975 she received the Henry Dunant medal. The Countess of Limerick was born in 1897 and died in 1981.[5]

[1] British Red Cross

[2] Standing Commission

[3] British Red Cross

[4] http://www.redcross.int/en/history/not_limerick.asp

[5] Standing Commission

Dr. Nadejda Troyan

Dr. Nadejda Troyan

Dr. Nadejda Troyan served as a member of the Standing Commission from November 1973 until October 1977. Prior to her election, Mrs. Troyan was President of the Red Cross Society of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR).

Janet Davidson

Janet Davidson

Mrs Janet Davidson was Vice-Chairwoman of the Standing Commission between December 2003 and November 2007. As a member of the Canadian Red Cross since 1973, she has held several positions. During her tenure as national president, she deftly guided the Canadian Red Cross through a period of transformation, refocusing its mandate. Overseeing the operations of the Vancouver General and University of British Columbia hospitals, as well as the G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre, she is one of Canada’s most senior front-line health care administrators.[1][2] She sat on the Board of Governors since 1997, assuming the Presidency of the Board between 1995 and 1997. Prior to this, she was President of the Alberta division (1990-1992) and the Edmonton Branch (1985-1987) of the Canadian Red Cross. In 1997, she was also elected as the Vice President of the Federation (for the Americas) where she served for six years until 2004. Outside the Movement, she has a background in health having been President and CEO of the Toronto East General Hospital (2000-2001), CEO of Capital Health Edmonton (1996-1999) and Assistant Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Health, amongst others. She has received numerous awards for her professional and personal accomplishments, including the Society’s two highest rewards, the Distinguished Service Medal and the Order of the Red Cross, and on February 9th 2007 Mrs Janet Davidson was appointed Officer of the Order of Canada.[3] She holds a BSc in Nursing from the University of Windsor and Master of Health Service Administration from the University of Alberta. Janet Davidson was born on the September 19th, 1947.[4],[5]

[1] Canadian Red Cross

[2] http://archive.gg.ca/media/doc.asp?lang=e&DocID=4958

[3] http://www.redcross.ca/cmslib/general/janet_english_bio.pdf

[4] Standing Commission

[5] http://www1.uwindsor.ca/alumni/janet-davidson-bscn-71

Lady Novar

Lady Novar (Helen Hermione Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood) served as a member of the Standing Commission from October 1930 until October 1934. Before becoming a member of the Standing Commission, she had been tirelessly and effectively working for the Movement for many years.

Lady Novar’s younger years were spent in various countries owing to her father’s distinguished diplomatic and crown appointments. In 1889 she married Ronald Munro Ferguson who was a Member of Parliament. Lady Helen became a member of the Council of the Scottish Branch, British Red Cross Society from 1909 to 1912, and foundation President of the local Red Cross in Fife, being a passionate advocate of Red Cross ideals and principles. In 1914 Sir Ronald Munro Ferguson GCMG was appointed Governor-General of Australia.

When war was declared in August 1914, Lady Helen created a Red Cross Headquarters at Government House in Melbourne, founding Red Cross divisions and branches in each State. She held her position as foundation President of the Australian Branch of the British Red Cross Society until 1920. Lady Helen was regarded as a brilliant leader and an excellent public speaker. On return to the UK in 1920 Sir Ronald was created Viscount Novar and Lady Novar became Viscountess Novar. Intermittently from 1920 to 1932, she served on the Board of Governors of the League of Red Cross Societies, first representing the Australian Branch and from 1927, the Australian Red Cross Society.[1] She was also President of the Kirkcaldy branch of the Queen Victoria Nursing Association, a position she held for over 50 years, as well as being President of the Young Women’s Christian Association for over 25 years. As a strong-willed and independent-thinking woman who wished not only to be known in conjunction with her husband, she preferred in a working capacity to be known as Lady Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood. Viscountess Novar continued her Red Cross service representing the Australian Red Cross on the League of Red Cross Societies’ Board of Governors and at International Conferences of the Red Cross in 1921, 1928 and in 1930 when she was elected to the Standing Commission for one term.

She was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Law (LL.D.) and in 1918 was invested as a Dame Grand Cross, Order of the British Empire (G.B.E.) due to her work for the British Red Cross Society.[2][3] She was the daughter of Fredrik Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, 1st Marquess of Dufferin and Ava, and was married to Lord Novar from 1889 until his death in 1934, a union that was childless. Lady Novar was born on March 14th 1863 in Bangor, Northern Ireland and died on April 9th, 1941 in Scotland as Viscountess Novar.[4]

[1] British Red Cross

[2] http://thepeerage.com/p5787.htm#i57864

[3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_Munro-Ferguson,_Viscountess_Novar

[4] Standing Commission

 

Mavy d’Aché Assumpção Harmon

Mrs. Mavy Harmon

Mrs. Mavy Harmon served as a member of the Standing Commission between October 1986 and December 1995. Prior to joining the Standing Commission, Mrs. Harmon was Vice-President of the Brazilian Red Cross from 1974 to 1977 and National President from 1977 to 2001. She also served as a member of the Committee on the Revision of the Statutes of the International Red Cross (1984-1986) and was a member of the Executive Council of the League of Red Cross and Red Crescent. She supported and encouraged the first meetings of the National Societies of Portuguese Language. Mrs. Harmon was Vice President of CORI (Inter Regional Committee) from 1984 till 1987, and in 1985 was elected to the League Commission Baremo. During her presidency the Brazilian Red Cross hosted the Sixth General Assembly of the League of Red Cross Societies from 16 to 28 November 1987. Outside the Movement, she was Chairman and founder of the Non-Governmental Organizations in Brazil (CENG) and founder, Member of the Board and Director for the Community Affairs of the organisation Fundo Comunitario (United Way). She was the first Brazilian woman graduate from the War Military College in 1973. Mrs. Harmon also graduated from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro as Professor of Germanic Languages​​. She was married and spoke five languages (English, French, Spanish, German and Portuguese).[1] She was born in Rio de Janeiro in 1924 and died there in 2002[2]

[1] IFRC archives

[2] Brazilian Red Cross Society

Mrs Véronique Ahouanmenou

Mrs Ahouanmenou was a member of the Standing Commission between April 1993 and 1995, when she replaced HE Dr Abu Goura, who retired due to health issues, as a member. She was the first President of the Benin Red Cross (previously known as the Red Cross Society of Dahomey) which was accepted into the Movement in 1963. She worked tirelessly as President of this National Society from 1959 till 1996.[1] She was also formerly a member of the Federation’s Executive Council and has served the Movement for over forty years, a dedication and service for which she was awarded the Henry Dunant medal in 2009.[2]

[1] http://croixrougebenin.afredis.com/description.html

[2] http://www.icrc.org/eng/resources/documents/news-release/2009-and-earlier/57jnu3.htm

Princess Christina Magnuson

Princess Christina Magnuson

Princess Christina Magnuson served as a member of the Standing Commission between December 1995 and December 2003. Before joining the Standing Commission, she was President of the Swedish Red Cross, a position she took up in 1993. Prior to that she had been Vice President (1987-1993) and had held various other positions with the Swedish Red Cross, beginning as a volunteer in 1973. Princess Magnuson was also involved internationally in the Movement Chairwomen of the Steering Group for the World Campaign for the Victims of War (1987-1990) as well as representing the Swedish delegation at numerous international conferences of the Movement. She studied at Radcliffe College and at the University of Stockholm. Princess Magnuson received the Henry Dunant medal in 2005. She was born on August 3rd, 1943 and is married with three sons.[1]

[1] Standing Commission

Princess Margriet

Princess Margriet of the Netherlands

Princess Margriet served as Chairwomen of the Standing Commission between December 1995 and December 2003. She has been an active part of the Movement since she joined her local branch of the Netherlands Red Cross as a volunteer in 1966. Internationally she has also been involved in the Movement having been both a member and the vice-chairman of the Study Group on the Future of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. Outside the Movement, she has been President of the European Cultural Foundation, Patroness of the Foundation “SOS Children’s Villages, the Netherlands” and a Member of the Advisory Committee of the National Association for the Care of the Terminally Ill, amongst others. Princess Margriet studied at the University of Montpellier and Leiden University. She was born in Ottawa, Canada on January 19th, 1943 and is married with four sons.

Rajhumari Amrit Kaur

Rajkumari Amrit Kaur served as a member of the Standing Commission from August 1952 until 1964 (when she passed away), having been re-elected in November 1957. Although the Standing Commission lost two members that year (General Gruenther retired), the remaining members decided not to replace them as the next International Conference of the Red Cross was only months away (the election of new members are voted on at the Conference).[1] Amrit Kaur was born into the princely family of Kapurthala and was educated at Oxford University, England.[2] She had a long and distinguished career in the Indian government after having been active in the drive for Indian independence. With independence in 1947, she was appointed as the Minister for Health and was the first woman in the Indian Cabinet. In 1950, she was also elected as the first female President of the World Health Organization. Amrit Kaur later became the President of the Indian Red Cross Society, a post which she held for fourteen years. During her tenure, she founded the Tuberculosis Association of India, the Central Leprosy Teaching and Research Institute and the Amrit Kaur College of Nursing. She continued to pursue humanitarian causes up until her death in 1964. Amrit Kaur was born on February 2nd 1889 and died on October 2nd 1964.[3]

[1] IFRC archives

[2] http://www.iloveindia.com/indian-heroes/rajkumari-amritkaur.html

[3] Standing Commission