Cambodian Red Cross
Encyclopedia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
. Established on the 18 February 1955, it is officially recognized by the Royal Government as the primary auxiliary to the public authorities in humanitarian services . It was recognized by the International Committee on October 7, 1960 and admitted as a Member of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent on October 8, 1960 .
1955-1994
Khmer Rouge
The Khmer Rouge literally translated as Red Cambodians was the name given to the followers of the Communist Party of Kampuchea, who were the ruling party in Cambodia from 1975 to 1979, led by Pol Pot, Nuon Chea, Ieng Sary, Son Sen and Khieu Samphan...
Regime (1975–1979), all Red Cross activities in Cambodia were suspended due to government policies at the time and the CRC's seat in the General Assembly of the Federation was abandoned. As a result of the Khmer Rouge, between 1979 and 1994, the CRC lost its national unity as each of the four factions in Cambodia set up their own Society within their respective areas of control. However, the NS was reunified in 1994 and the CRC was reinstated to the Federation.
1994-2002
Bun Rany
Dr. Bun Rany is the wife of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and head of the Cambodian Red Cross. She is addressed and referred to by the honorific "Lok Chumteav", Khmer for Her Excellency.-Early life:...
Hun Sen
Hun Sen
Hun Sen is the current Prime Minister of Cambodia.He has been the sole leader of the Cambodian People's Party , which has governed Cambodia since the Vietnamese-backed overthrow of the Khmer Rouge in 1979...
, President of the CRC from 1998–2002 and re-elected in August 2002. With Her Majesty Queen Norodom Monineath Sihanouk
Norodom Monineath Sihanouk
Queen Mother Norodom Monineath was born on June 18, 1936, in Saigon, Vietnam. She is the wife of HM King Father Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia whom she married in April 1952...
residing as Honorary President, since 1994.
Whilst there are significant constraints in human and financial resources, the CRC has attempted to raise the level of integration and consolidate its framework not only domestically but transnationally with the International Federation, ICRC, cooperation partners and NS's in the region and throughout the world. CRC has successfully implemented a three year development plan (1998–2000); a second development plan - a five year period was developed in 2001 and revised in 2002.
Strategy 2003 - 2010
The Strategy 2003 - 2010 fundamentally illustrates how the Cambodian Red Cross (CRC) can contribute to poverty
Poverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
reduction of the most vulnerable areas in Cambodia by becoming a leading humanitarian organisation.
The objectives and actions detailed in this Strategy have been designed to help the CRC move in the same strategic direction as the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement as a whole.
Awards and International recognition
On the 11th of November, 2001, at a ceremony held in GenevaGeneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
, Madame Phlech Phiroun, Former President of the Cambodian Red Cross and Roger Durand, Founder and president of the Henry Dunant Society and former Vice-president of the Geneva Red Cross received the Henry Dunant Medal
Henry Dunant Medal
The Henry Dunant Medal is the highest World Red Cross award. It is named after Henry Dunant.-Winners:*Pierre Tacier, 1969. Former ICRC Delegate "for gallantry on a battlefield"....
for their services to humanity.
On 18 February 2004, the Cambodian Red Cross attended the National Conference on Mine Action Achievements at the Council of Ministers in Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is the capital and largest city of Cambodia. Located on the banks of the Mekong River, Phnom Penh has been the national capital since the French colonized Cambodia, and has grown to become the nation's center of economic and industrial activities, as well as the center of security,...
.
Current outlook
Today, the CRC delivers a plethora of programs including health careHealth care
Health care is the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in humans. Health care is delivered by practitioners in medicine, chiropractic, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, allied health, and other care providers...
, and distributing information on the Movement's Fundamental Principles and Humanitarian Values and Disaster Response and Preparedness activities throughout Cambodia. The organization has a comprehensive network of 24 branches throughout all provinces in the Kingdom, with some 126, 318 members; and a network of more than 5,700 Red Cross Volunteers (RCV) and 5,300 Red Cross Youth (RCY) all uniting to deliver services and implement programs to meet the needs in contemporary Cambodian society.