Description
World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day is celebrated on May 8, the birthday of its founder, Henri Dunant. Faced with the horrors of the Battle of Solferino (1859), Dunant initiated the creation of a humanitarian organization to aid the wounded and protect medical personnel. Today, it is the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, the largest global humanitarian network, providing assistance in wars, natural disasters and health crises, protecting human dignity without discrimination and alleviating suffering wherever it occurs.
This year we are also celebrating a great anniversary – 150 years of the Red Cross of Serbia. Founded in 1876 on the initiative of Dr Vladan Đorđević, the first Serbian trained surgeon, it is one of the oldest national societies in the world. The first president was Metropolitan Mihailo, while Princess (later Queen) Natalia donated land for the construction of the Society’s headquarters, which was designed by the prominent architect Aleksandar Bugarski.
Since its beginnings, the Red Cross of Serbia has played a crucial role in caring for victims during the Serbian-Turkish, Balkan, and World Wars I and II. Between the two world wars, the organization’s activities expanded to include social protection and health education.
Today, the Red Cross of Serbia consists of 183 organizations in cities and municipalities, along with two provincial organizations. As part of the International Movement, the Red Cross of Serbia implements programmes of voluntary blood donation, social assistance, first aid, emergency response, and education in various fields of work, remaining unwaveringly faithful to its humanitarian principles.
Expert collaboration: the Red Cross of Serbia.
Artistic realization: MA Jakša Vlahović, academic graphic artist
