The Cambodian Red Cross (CRC) organised a workshop on its campaign “Unite with the Cambodian Red Cross for Social Inclusion” to celebrate the 160th anniversary of the World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day, which falls on May 8.
Men Neary Sopheak, first deputy secretary-general of the CRC, said the organisation is the 85th member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent movement.
She said the movement has seven fundamental principles: Humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, volunteerism, unity and universality.
“Based on these principles, we are carrying out our work without discrimination based on social class, ethnicity or political tendencies in helping our people.
“In doing our work, CRC also has some specific tasks that require emphasis on social inclusion, such as social protection policy and gender equality, without leaving anyone behind,” she said.
Va Sopheak, head of the CRC’s department of communicable and non-communicable disease prevention, said the organisation has helped many people, especially to improve the livelihoods of the needy by providing housing and loans, especially to people with disabilities to open their own businesses.
“This is the CRC’s focus. In addition to that assistance, we are also providing education and raising awareness about the dangers of mines and funding support for the Cambodian Mine Action Centre [CMAC] towards a mine-free Cambodia in 2025,” he said.
During the discussion, Reut Sokhonn, director of the CRC’s development office, also mentioned that the organisation gave opportunities to young people and volunteers to become members and carry out humanitarian work at their educational institutions and communities.
He added that the CRC also focused on gender equality, with about 50 per cent of volunteers for the organisation being young women who actively participated in their efforts.
He noted that CRC president Bun Rany has also provided opportunities to youth volunteers to have a voice in creating the CRC strategic plan for 2021-2030.
“This is an important mechanism for the CRC to build resilience in the community in a sustainable way. CRC has also developed a youth policy and volunteer guidelines so that they know their role and duties,” he said.
For the upcoming 160th anniversary on May 8, CRC called on all people to donate so that the organisation will be able to continue its humanitarian works to help the poor and needy based on the fundamental principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent movement.
