Macedonian Red Cross in frames of the dissemination activities will organize a campaign for protection and use of the emblem of the Red Cross in the Republic of Macedonia, under the slogan “Symbol for respect”.

WHAT IS DISEMINATION?

In wider sense of the meaning, dissemination means spreading knowledge about the importance of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, the role and mandate of the International Committee of the Red Cross, International federation of Red Cross and red Crescent Societies and the activities of the national societies, the Fundamental Principles of the Movement, International Humanitarian Law and human values.

FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES

Humanity, impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Voluntary Service, Unity, Universality

Dissemination is one of the priority objectives of Macedonian Red Cross in compliance with the development Plan of the organization for the period 2006-2010 as a legal and statutory obligation. The dissemination is conducted by trained human resources (volunteers and staff) who started their training in 1995 which was organized by the International Committee of the Red Cross and the next rounds of the trainings were conducted in 2002 and 2004 by Macedonian Red Cross.

The disseminators come from various professional background, age groups, gender and ethnic background.

The target groups covered with the dissemination are mainly primary school pupils, high school and university students, representatives of local governments, representatives from nongovernmental organizations and associations of citizens and members of the governing structure of the Red Cross branches.

The topics covered with the dissemination sessions are as follows: History of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, fundamental principles, emblem of the Red Cross, the mandate and activities of the components of the Movement, Red Cross activities, International Humanitarian Law and the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and the Additional Protocols of 1977. The topics are presented to the target audience depending on the interest and the need.

The disseminators use variety of printed and video materials, manuals and other tools for dissemination.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

• Building volunteer network capacities
• Enhancement of the dissemination / communication programme
• Training for Macedonian Red Cross staff
• Dissemination sessions with trained disseminators
• Printing and promotion of materials

ACTIVITIES

Dissemination sessions – The disseminators form the Red Cross branches and the City Red Cross of Skopje conduct monthly dissemination sessions in the municipalities with different target groups and different dissemination content dependent on the target groups.

Workshops with disseminators – For purpose of provision of regular information and setting the future objectives and provision of better information for the disseminators in the area of IHL, particularly emphasis is placed on the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and the Additional Protocols to the Geneva Conventions of 1977 and IHL in general.

Education of human resources – Macedonian Red Cross organizes training seminars for volunteers for purpose of implementation of dissemination activities

Project activities

PROMOTION OF HUMAN VALUES

National Committee for International Humanitarian Law

The initiative of Macedonian Red Cross for formation of inter-ministerial body for dissemination and implementation of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) in the Republic of Macedonia was accepted and successfully adopted in June 2006 by a decision of the Government of the Republic of Macedonia. In compliance with the conclusion of the Government of RM, the National Committee for International Humanitarian Law was formed and the office of the Committee is located in Macedonian Red Cross headquarters.

The National Committee for IHL is comprised of representatives from: Ministry of foreign affairs, Ministry of defense, Ministry of justice, Ministry of education and science, Ministry of culture, Ministry of health, General Secretariat of the Government of RM and Macedonian Red Cross.

The National Committee is chaired by the representative of the Ministry of foreign affairs and the administrative and technical work is done by the representative of Macedonian Red Cross.

PRINTED AND PUBLISHED MATERIALS

• Brochure “Permanent humanitarian mission” (in Macedonian and Albanian language);
• Brochure “History of the Red Cross” (in Macedonian and Albanian language)
• Publication of the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and the Additional Protocols of 1977
• “Rules for use and protection of the Red Cross emblem”
• Brochure for the Red Cross emblem;
• Cartoon “Story of an idea” (in Macedonian, Albanian, Serbian and Roma language);
• DVD-CD - Cartoon “Story of an idea” (in Macedonian and Albanian, language);
• Manual for practical use of the International Humanitarian Law (in Macedonian and Albanian language);
• Other materials used for dissemination.