Women of the Red Cross and Red CrescentWomen are hardly mentioned, and then only as victims.
Girls are not mentioned, nor are ladies. “Lady” is mentioned many times – but
only because Lady Limerick was a Vice President of the Conference and Chair of
the Standing Commission[i].
[i] XXIst International conference of the Red Cross, Istanbul, September 6-13, 1969: report; [Geneva : ICRC : League], 1969; the electronic version may be found at https://library.icrc.org/library/docs/DIGITAL/CI_1969_RAPPORT_ENG.pdf
Again, there was a hiatus: apparently it was judged impossible to convene a successful Conference in the aftermath of the Cuba crisis, but in 1965 matters had calmed down somewhat, and delegates met in Hofburg in Vienna at the beginning of October of that year.
Lady Limerick was elected to chair the “General Commission”[i], but apart from that there is not a single interesting reference to women, ladies or girls – in the present context.
At this Conference Lady Limerick was also elected to the Standing Commission[ii], which elected her Chairman[iii] at its first meeting after the Conference
[i] XXth International Conference of the Red Cross, Vienna, October 2-9 1965 : report; [Geneva : ICRC : League], 1965; P 35; P 45/134 in the electronic version at https://library.icrc.org/library/docs/DIGITAL/CI_1965_RAPPORT_ENG.pdf
[ii] XXth International Conference of the Red Cross, Vienna, October 2-9 1965 : report; [Geneva : ICRC : League], 1965; P 91; P 103/134 in the electronic version at https://library.icrc.org/library/docs/DIGITAL/CI_1965_RAPPORT_ENG.pdf
[iii] https://standcom.ch/biographies-of-current-and-previous-standing-commission-members/
The 19th Conference featured, for the first time, a woman as Chairman of the event. She was Rajkumari Amrit Kaur; she also chaired the opening session of the Council of Delegates. Her first remarks to the latter body was:
“Ladies and Gentlemen: It is my privilege as Chairman of the Red Cross Society of the host country to extend to you all the warmest of warm welcomes. I cannot tell you how the Indian Red Cross feels about this Conference. We are delighted to have had the honour of your acceptance of our invitation. I hope the Conference will be a great success and yet another landmark in the history of this great movement. Now, according to tradition, I propose the election of the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross to come and take this Chair. I hope you will receive him with acclamation. M r. Leopold Boissier, President of the I.C.R.C., took the Chair amidst acclamation.[i]”
At the International Conference, she took the floor for the first time at 2:30 pm on October 28, 1957, inviting the President of the ICRC to deliver his report on the proceedings of the Council of Delegates:
“I t is my privilege once again as Chairman of the Indian Red Cross to extend a very hearty welcome to you. I will now ask Mr. Leopold Boissier to read to you the Report of the Council of Delegates. [ii]”
This is how Rajkumari Amrit Kaur was introduced to the Conference by the President of the ICRC, Mr Boissier:
“Ladies and Gentlemen: I have the honour to present to you the report of the Council of Delegates which met this morning, and appointed Lady Limerick as its Vice Chairman.
The first item which I must subm it to you is the election of the Chairman of this Conference.
As Chairman of the Council of Delegates, I have the honour to submit for your consideration the appointment of the Chairman of this XlXth Conference. The Council has unanimously proposed the election of Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, Chairman of the Managing Body of the Indian Red Cross.
(Applause.)
In accepting the proposal of the Council of Delegates by acclamation, you have honoured the whole Red Cross movement, for there is no better illustration than Rajkumari Amrit Kaur of the ideals of our movement, because of her extensive knowledge, her experience, and her devotion. You are all familiar with the various stages of her career which have led her from her ancestral home, through Oxford and the capitals of Europe, to the work of assisting the weak and the forsaken. As a disciple of Gandhi, she learned from him to see in every human being, whoever he may be, a brother to be loved and understood. Working beside the master towards that ideal, she took part in India’s accession to independence, and since then has held high office in the central Government and abroad. In her, we greet India of the past, India of the future which by dint of tremendous efforts is developing today, and India the eternal. In her we also greet with affectionate admiration the first woman Chairman of an International Red Cross Conference and, through her, if I may be permitted to say so, all women who are the best workers for our cause. (Applause.) In your name I now hand to her the emblem of Chairman of the Conference.
(Rajkumari Amrit Kaur then took the Chair) [iii]”.
Otherwise, the report of the 19th
Conference contains no references to women of any interest in the present
context.
[i] XIXth International Conference of the Red Cross, New Delhi, October-November 1957: proceedings; [Geneva : ICRC : League], 1957; P 23; P 41/198 in the electronic version at https://library.icrc.org/library/docs/DIGITAL/CI_1957_RAPPORT_ENG.pdf
[ii] XIXth International Conference of the Red Cross, New Delhi, October-November 1957: proceedings; [Geneva : ICRC : League], 1957; P 40; P 58/198 in the electronic version at https://library.icrc.org/library/docs/DIGITAL/CI_1957_RAPPORT_ENG.pdf
[iii] XIXth International Conference of the Red Cross, New Delhi, October-November 1957: proceedings; [Geneva : ICRC : League], 1957; P 40; P 58/198 in the electronic version at https://library.icrc.org/library/docs/DIGITAL/CI_1957_RAPPORT_ENG.pdf
This Conference heard the word “Women” uttered three times – each time as a member of a wider group and, perhaps most significantly in an intervention by the Holy See, in which the following paragraph appeared:
“In the humanitarian task incumbent upon it for the benefit of those who suffer, the Red Cross will doubtless have a t heart to be ever mindful of those missionaries of every nationality and every denomination, of those women, nurses and valiant Sisters who serve unsparingly in hospitals, orphanages, hospices, leper colonies and other humanitarian institutions of every kind[i].”
Girls were mentioned once – as among those who had
supported the Conference.
[i] [Eighteenth] XVIII international Red Cross Conference, Toronto, July-August 1952 : proceedings; [Geneva : ICRC : League], 1952; P 134; P 150/212 in the electronic version at https://library.icrc.org/library/docs/DIGITAL/CI_1952_RAPPORT_ENG.pdf
Again, a world war interrupted the regularity of International Conferences of the Red Cross, this time for 10 years, after which one was convened in Stockholm in the early autumn of 1948
One of the first, few, instances of the use of the word “women” in the report from this Conference occurs in a report from the Lebanese Red Cross delivered by Mrs Kettaneh, who mentions women both as victims and as actors; the context is the events that had recently taken place in Palestine or, as it was now called, Israel:
“There has been a veritable flood of old people, women and children who have had to leave their country, abandoning their homes, their houses, their businesses, often everything they possessed. The neighbouring countries are giving all possible assistance to these refugees; their hospitality is limited only by the extent of their resources.
…
The men and women of the Lebanese Red Cross have worked with all their strength in order to prevent the spread of epidemics in the camps where the refugees have been assembled.[i]”
The Conference adopted a “Declaration on Peace” which had been submitted to it by the Board of Governors of the Leage (i.e., the General Assembly which it was called when reorganized), and which contained the following phrase:
“The primary rôle of the Red Cross in the preservation of peace is, therefore, one of conducting activities through which men, women and children throughout the world may act to relieve and prevent human suffering both at home and abroad
…
“ It is therefore for all national Red Cross, Red
Crescent and Red Lion and Sun Societies, and for each of their individual members, men, women, and children, all of
whom, individually or collectively, belong to this universal federation, the
League of Red Cross Societies, to support and sustain the basic Red
Cross activity of mutual aid and friendly co-operation between individuals and
nations, thereby contributing to the further objective of the Red Cross to
contribute to the foundations on which peace can be built” [ii].
[i] [XVII] Seventeenth international Red Cross Conference, Stockholm, August 1948 : report; [Geneva : ICRC : League], 1948; P 56; P 62/120 in the electronic version at https://library.icrc.org/library/docs/CDDH/CI_1948/CI_1948_RAPPORT_ENG.pdf
[ii] [XVII] Seventeenth international Red Cross Conference, Stockholm, August 1948 : report; [Geneva : ICRC : League], 1948; P 102; P 108/120 in the electronic version at https://library.icrc.org/library/docs/CDDH/CI_1948/CI_1948_RAPPORT_ENG.pdf
AS at other Conferences individual National Societies reported on their organization and activities. One of these was, in 1938, the Indian Red Cross:
“The Indian Red Cross collaborates with the other health and philanthropic organizations of India. Thanks to this co-operation, relief work at the time of the Quetta earthquake was carried out with a maximum of efficiency.
The Society has perfected its organization for relief in time of war or national disaster by the formation of reserves of voluntary aids, establishing a list of certificated nurses and women doctors, and working out a mobilization plan.[i]”
Somewhat later the Conference discussed the tenth Hague Convention, and the following is included only for the language utilized, and which would not be employed in 2019 – perhaps the present time is less poetic:
“II. THE REVISION OF THE TENTH HAGUE CONVENTION FOR THE ADAPTATION TO WARFARE AT SEA OF THE PRINCIPLES OF THE GENEVA CONVENTION.
The Tenth Hague Convention is a venerable lady who has not changed the fashion of her dress for more than thirty years. Her attire is consequently somewhat faded and out of date. It is now time—and here, again, the feeling is unanimous—for her to go to the dressmaker[ii]”.
Given that the Conference took place in London a particular proposal was practicable, and put forward by Mrs. Amanda Brieba de Lorca of Chile:
“On behalf of the women of Chile, and as delegate of the Chilean Red Cross, I wish to propose to the other women delegates at this Conference that we should go together to the monument of Florence Nightingale and lay at the feet of her statue, as a mark of our fervent admiration, a tribute of eternal gratitude. (Applause). [iii]”
While it does not throw much light on the role of women within the Movement, a topic before the Conference did directly affect those of that gender:
“VII. PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN AGAINST SUFFERING RESULTING FROM ARMED CONFLICTS.
The consideration of this question was asked for by the French Red Cross, which, in a document pre sented to us by Count Clauzel, explained that it was not asking the Conference (if only because its initiative had been taken so late) to come to definite conclusions. The French Red Cross simply asked that the attention of governments should be drawn to this serious problem.
During the discussion, the representatives of the Save The Children International Union, Mrs. Morier and Airs. Small, emphasised the great importance of this problem for the organisation they represented, and kindly offered their fullest co-operation to the International Committee for the study of this question. The offer was gratefully accepted, and the Commission acted upon the French proposal by approving a draft Resolution, formulated as follows : —
“The XVIth International Red Cross Conference,
Affirming the importance of the problem of protecting women and children against the sufferings resulting from armed conflicts,
Requests the International Red Cross Committee to study this problem in co-operation with the Save the Children International Union,
And recommends that the national Red Cross Societies bring this question before their Governments, after consultation with the national bodies specially concerned with the protection of women and children. [iv]””
That resolution was adopted.
Miss Boardman of the USA addressed the Conference to deliver the report of the 4th Commission, which included:
“In the misfortune of war, the whole population
desires to give patriotic service to its country. It is important to consider
how best to capitalize and utilize to the best advantage that desire to be of
service. This is another reason for preparing those desiring to help to be able
to render assistance of a practical nature. And finally, we consider that, in
the great misfortune of war, there are sufferings that are not alone physical,
and that the anguish of the women at home, the men of whose families are
fighting at the front, causes as great suffering as that caused by the weapons
of war. By giving these women an opportunity, if
indirectly, to serve those whom they love and for whose safety they fear, the
Red Cross is rendering its duty to those sufferers at home. [v]”
[i] [XVI] Sixteenth international Red Cross Conference, London, June 1938 : report; [Geneva : ICRC : League], 1938; P 57; P 70/154 in the electronic version at https://library.icrc.org/library/docs/CDDH/CI_1938/CI_1938_RAPPORT_ENG.pdf
[ii] [XVI] Sixteenth international Red Cross Conference, London, June 1938 : report; [Geneva : ICRC : League], 1938; P 79; P 92/154 in the electronic version at https://library.icrc.org/library/docs/CDDH/CI_1938/CI_1938_RAPPORT_ENG.pdf
[iii] [XVI] Sixteenth international Red Cross Conference, London, June 1938 : report; [Geneva : ICRC : League], 1938; P 72; P 85/154 in the electronic version at https://library.icrc.org/library/docs/CDDH/CI_1938/CI_1938_RAPPORT_ENG.pdf
[iv] [XVI] Sixteenth international Red Cross Conference, London, June 1938 : report; [Geneva : ICRC : League], 1938; P 82; P 95/154 in the electronic version at https://library.icrc.org/library/docs/CDDH/CI_1938/CI_1938_RAPPORT_ENG.pdf
[v] [XVI] Sixteenth international Red Cross Conference, London, June 1938 : report; [Geneva : ICRC : League], 1938; P 91; P 104/154 in the electronic version at https://library.icrc.org/library/docs/CDDH/CI_1938/CI_1938_RAPPORT_ENG.pdf
A few mentions of terms like “women” and synonyms – but nothing of particular interest[i].
[i] Quinzième Conférence internationale de la Croix-Rouge tenue à Tokio du 20 au 29 octobre 1934 : compte rendu ; Tokio : Kokusai Shuppan Insatsusha, 1934 ; https://library.icrc.org/library/docs/DIGITAL/CI_1934_RAPPORT.pdf
Before the Conference, the Belgian Red Cross wrote to the gentlemen who might become participants in it:
« Croix-Rouge
de Belgique
Bruxelles, le 1er juin 1930
80, rue de Livourne.
Messieurs,
La Croix-Rouge de Belgique a constitué un Comité spécial de Dames pour l’aider dans l’organisation des réceptions et visites à l’occasion de la XIVe Conférence internationale de la Croix-Rouge qui a lieu, à Bruxelles, du 6 au 11 octobre prochain.
Ce Comité prendra toutes les dispositions nécessaires pour rendre le plus agréable possible le séjour en Belgique des Dames qui accompagneront les délégués à la XIVe Conférence.
Afin de permettre à cette Commission d ’établir au plus tôt son programme, nous avons l’honneur de vous demander si vous ne pourriez nous retourner, rempli, sans retard, le questionnaire ci-joint.
Nous vous remercions vivement d ’avance et vous prions d’agréer, Messieurs, l’expression de notre plus haute considération.
Pour la Croix-Rouge de Belgique:
Le Directeur général,
Ed. DRONSART. [i]»
One of the issues on the agenda of the Conference was « La Croix-Rouge comme acteur de rapprochement entre les peuples », which was addressed by the ICRC represented by M. Huber who spoke at length and mentioned, in passing:
« En associant des hommes et des femmes et, en plusieurs pays aussi, la jeunesse, à l’activité charitable pour les souffrants, la Croix-Rouge développe chez ses adhérents un esprit contraire aux instincts égoïstes et combatifs qui, transportés dans le domaine politique, conduisent aux antagonismes, aux luttes intérieures et à la guerre [ii]»
An Italian delegate, in this case a woman – La Marquise Targiani Giunti – delivered the report of the VIth Commission of the Conference, including this brief paragraph:
« Nous nous adressons aussi à la Conférence, et surtout aux Comités de chaque Société, pour recommander que la préparation, l’organisation, la surveillance de toutes les activités des infirmières soient confiées à une section d’infirmières, à la tête de laquelle se trouve une femme d’expérience, capable de guider ses collaboratrices à la fois avec compétence et activité.
Le dernier point mis à l’ordre du jour demande aussi toute notre attention. Il s’agit de la formation des infirmières-visiteuses. Leur collaboration est reconnue aujourd’hui, — on peut dire dans le monde entier, — comme le moyen le plus efficace d’accomplir l’œuvre de prévention contre les maladies sociales, de propager l’enseignement de l’hygiène, de préparer la femme à sa plus grande mission dans la vie, celle de la maternité. Nous ne pourrons assez recommander que le nombre de ces apôtres de la santé publique soit augmenté dans le monde ; mais nous voudrions, pour cette mission, des femmes d’élite judicieusement choisies et bien préparées à lutter avec courage contre les misères de la vie humaine. Nous souhaitons qu’elles aient surtout un enseignement solide sur les questions relatives à la maternité et aux soins à donner aux enfants. C’est là un moyen de préservation de la race humaine, surtout lorsque l’œuvre de l’infirmière-visiteuse s’exerce dans un service rural.
Il faut reconnaître que le nombre des visiteuses n ’est pas suffisant en plusieurs pays. Dans certaines régions les écoles d ’infirmières n ’existent même pas ou ne sont pas encore au point pour la formation complète des infirmières-visiteuses, cependant que la collaboration de celles-ci est reconnue indispensable dans les services d’hygiène sociale. Nous demandons donc instamment aux nations qui se trouvent dans ces conditions, même si elles doivent admettre pour les nécessités du service d’hygiène sociale, un nombre d’auxiliaires qui ne possèdent pas de diplôme d’infirmière, de ne tolérer l’emploi de celles-ci que pendant le temps strictement nécessaire, et de les choisir parmi des femmes d’élite, ayant l’élévation morale qui est la base de l’esprit de la Croix-Rouge.
(Longs applaudissements.)[iii]»
Mlle Van Eeghen of the « Conseil international des Femmes » took the floor to support the resolution on relations between peoples proposed by M Huber of the ICRC:
« Monsieur le Président, Mesdames et Messieurs.
Qu’il me soit permis, au nom du Conseil international des Femmes, de donner ma vive approbation au projet de résolution de M. Huber . Cette résolution a exprimé une préoccupation qui devrait être à la base de toutes les organisations vraiment internationales. Mais pour atteindre à cette compréhension et cette conciliation dans le monde, il faut la participation du peuple to u t entier et il faut donc aussi l’aide des associations féminines.
C’est pour cette raison que j ’ai entendu avec infiniment de plaisir les paroles prononcées ici hier par Mme Dardenne.
Lady Aberdeen, la Présidente du Conseil international des Femmes, m ’a chargée de vous présenter ses meilleurs vœux pour la pleine réussite de cette Conférence et de vous exprimer son sincère regret de ne pas pouvoir être présente parmi vous. File est heureuse de collaborer par le moyen du Conseil international des Femmes à l’œuvre admirable de la Croix-Rouge.
Cette collaboration existe aussi, dans plusieurs pays, entre nos Conseils nationaux des Femmes et vos Sociétés nationales de la Croix-Rouge. Mais il est d ’autres pays où cette collaboration n ’existe pas encore. Ceci m ’amène à exprimer le vœu que le Comité international de la Croix-Rouge fasse un appel à nos Conseils nationaux de Femmes, par l’intermédiaire du Conseil international des Femmes, pour collaborer encore davantage à l’œuvre d’hygiène publique et d’éducation pacifiste entreprise par les Croix-Rouges.
Je puis vous assurer que l’adoption de ce vœu ferait grand plaisir à Lady Aberdeen, et serait un grand encouragement pour notre travail. En somme, l’œuvre du Conseil international des Femmes poursuit le même but humanitaire et le même idéal d ’amour que la Croix-Rouge, puisque nous avons pour devise la règle d’or : « Faites à autrui ce que vous voudriez qu’on vous fît à vous-même. »
(Applaudissements.) [iv]»
M Huber responded to her and others who had spoken in support:
« Mesdames, Messieurs.
Je suis profondément touché de l’accueil que ma proposition a rencontré parmi vous et je vous en remercie sincèrement. Je suis parfaitement d’accord avec M. Meinich que la jeunesse doit collaborer dans l’œuvre du rapprochement, des peuples, et je suis d ’accord aussi avec Mlle Van Eeghen pour dire que les femmes peuvent jouer un grand rôle dans ce rapprochement, car les femmes représentent, comme la jeunesse, les idées généreuses de l’humanité. «
(Applaudissements.) [v]»
[i] Quatorzième Conférence internationale de la Croix-Rouge tenue à Bruxelles du 6 au 11 octobre 1930 sous la présidence d’honneur de S. M. la Reine des Belges : compte rendu ; Bruxelles : Imprimerie de l’office de publicité, 1930 ; P 16; P 24/276 in the electronic version at https://library.icrc.org/library/docs/DIGITAL/CI_1930_RAPPORT.pdf
[ii] Quatorzième Conférence internationale de la Croix-Rouge tenue à Bruxelles du 6 au 11 octobre 1930 sous la présidence d’honneur de S. M. la Reine des Belges : compte rendu ; Bruxelles : Imprimerie de l’office de publicité, 1930 ; P 125; P 133/276 in the electronic version at https://library.icrc.org/library/docs/DIGITAL/CI_1930_RAPPORT.pdf
[iii] Quatorzième Conférence internationale de la Croix-Rouge tenue à Bruxelles du 6 au 11 octobre 1930 sous la présidence d’honneur de S. M. la Reine des Belges : compte rendu ; Bruxelles : Imprimerie de l’office de publicité, 1930 ; PP 130-131; PP 139-140/276 in the electronic version at https://library.icrc.org/library/docs/DIGITAL/CI_1930_RAPPORT.pdf
[iv] Quatorzième Conférence internationale de la Croix-Rouge tenue à Bruxelles du 6 au 11 octobre 1930 sous la présidence d’honneur de S. M. la Reine des Belges : compte rendu ; Bruxelles : Imprimerie de l’office de publicité, 1930 ; PP 185-186; PP 193-194/276 in the electronic version at https://library.icrc.org/library/docs/DIGITAL/CI_1930_RAPPORT.pdf
[v] Quatorzième Conférence internationale de la Croix-Rouge tenue à Bruxelles du 6 au 11 octobre 1930 sous la présidence d’honneur de S. M. la Reine des Belges : compte rendu ; Bruxelles : Imprimerie de l’office de publicité, 1930 ; P 186; P 194/276 in the electronic version at https://library.icrc.org/library/docs/DIGITAL/CI_1930_RAPPORT.pdf
Among those who reported on their activities was ICRC, in this case represented by M. Bernard Bouvier who touched on many issues, and among them:
« Le service des recherches ! Je puis en parler
comme d’une entreprise exemplaire, tout simplement et économiquement organisée
avec une seule tête de femme — du reste une tête bien faite, comme on en voit
beaucoup au XXème siècle — et une dactylographe. Depuis 1925, ce service a reçu
15 327 demandes et a répondu par 19 047 lettres, c’est-à-dire par jour 26
lettres reçues et 32 expédiées. [i]»
[i] Treizième Conférence internationale de la Croix-Rouge tenue à La Haye du 23 au 27 octobre 1928 : Compte Rendu ; P 87 ; P 93/226 in the electronic version at https://library.icrc.org/library/docs/DIGITAL/CI_1928_RAPPORT.pdf
As was established custom, the International Conference hear a number of reports about the activities of National Societies, and at this one the Turkish Red Crescent made its contribution, including, under the heading of activities during peacetime:
« La section des dames du Croissant-Rouge de Stamboul a ouvert
un dispensaire pour les nourrissons ou les enfants ont été examinés
régulièrement et suivis au point de vue sanitaire. On distribue aux nécessiteux
du linge et de la nourriture. Une Goutte de lait a fonctionné aussi sous
la direction de la section des clames. Dans ces différents établissements,
30,500 enfants ont été suivis et soignés. Le Croissant-Rouge s’est occupé
aussi, mais pour le moment dans des limites restreintes, de com battre la
tuberculose et la malaria [i]»
[i] Douzième Conférence Internationale de la Croix-Rouge tenue a Genève du 7 au 10 Octobre 1925, Compte Rendu ; P 132 ; P 162/276 in the electronic version at https://library.icrc.org/library/docs/DIGITAL/CI_1925_RAPPORT.pdf