Annual report

one
global network
ensuring localized action with global reach 
and impact. With its international organization 
status, the IFRC represents National Societies 
in the highest-level international discussions, 
influencing humanitarian decision-making, as 
well and facilitating funding that most national 
organizations do not have access to.
The IFRC was created by National Societies in 
1919 and is now the world’s largest humanitarian 
membership organization, acting under its own 
constitution with all rights and obligations of a 
corporate body with a legal personality. It is an 
independent humanitarian organization which 
is not governmental, political, racial or sectarian 
in character. Its goal is to “inspire, encourage, 
facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of 
humanitarian activities by National Societies 
with a view to preventing and alleviating human 
suffering and thereby contributing to the 
maintenance and promotion of human dignity 
and peace in the world”.
To achieve this goal, the IFRC has the following 
main functions:
1. 
To act as the permanent body of liaison, co- 
ordination and study between the National 
Societies and to give them any assistance 
they might request.
2. 
To encourage and promote in every country 
the establishment and development of an 
independent and duly recognized National 
Society.
3. 
To bring relief by all available means to all 
people affected by disaster.
4. 
To assist the National Societies in their 
disaster relief preparedness, in the organi-
zation of their relief actions and in the relief 
operations themselves.
5. 
To organize, coordinate and direct inter-
national relief actions in accordance with 
the Principles and Rules adopted by the 
International Conference.
6. 
To encourage and coordinate the partici-
pation of the National Societies in activities 
for safeguarding public health and the 
promotion of social welfare in cooperation 
with their appropriate national authorities.