Red Crystal

Senator Richard Gordon, who was elected as the Vice-Chairman of the 29th International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (ICRC) held in Geneva, Switzerland from June 20-21, was instrumental in amending the statutes of the organization to incorporate the additional emblem of the Red Crystal, which now has the same status as the Red Cross and the Red Crescent.

The Red Crystal has been adopted as a secular emblem, with no national, religious or cultural associations for the use of national associations that do not wish to use the Red Cross or the Red Crescent. This move ensures additional protection to war victims and humanitarian workers in conflict situations where the Red Cross or the Red Crescent cannot be used.

The adoption of the Red Crystal paved the way for the grant of full membership to the Israeli National Humanitarian Organization, Magen David Adom. Magen David Adom, which in Hebrew means the Red Shield of David, had been denied membership because it refused to adopt either of the IFRC`s official cross or crescent emblems. Since MDA`s founding in 1929 it has used a red, six-pointed star as its emblem.

The Palestine Red Crescent Society, which was ineligible for official entrance to the IFRC because the Palestinian territories have not attained statehood, was likewise inducted into the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement after the Statutes were amended.