Part IV The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, 40 Rights and Obligations of Foreign National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

Abstract

This chapter describes the origins of National Societies of the Red Cross or the Red Crescent before elaborating on their legal status as well as their mandates, roles, and tasks. Together with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the International Federation, National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies form the three components of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. They have been endowed with a mandate by the international community which is at the same time considerably broad and distinct, entailing specific tasks, roles, rights, and obligations. The scope of their privileges and immunities is limited and largely determined by bilateral agreements between a deploying National Society/Movement component and the Receiving State. The chapter highlights the legal framework of National Societies’ international operations as well as specificities of their relationship with military bodies.