Press Release
May 16, 2009

ANGARA SEEKS PROTECTION OF INT'L HUMANITARIAN EMBLEMS
To emphasize the role of Red Cross, Red Crescent and Red Crystal in saving lives

Sen. Edgardo J. Angara today said that the country should re-affirm the country's commitment to international humanitarian efforts by ensuring the proper use of international humanitarian emblems such as the Red Cross, Red Crescent and Red Crystal.

"The country's enduring commitment to international efforts mitigating the adverse effects caused by war can be traced back to the post-World War II era, when the Philippines proclaimed its adherence to the 1864 Geneva Conventions on February 14, 1947. In this diplomatic conference held in Geneva, Switzerland, an internationally recognized humanitarian symbol was born - the Red Cross," said Angara who chairs the Senate Committee on Finance.

He added, "This internationally recognized emblem is purposely used to protect humanitarian workers, vehicles and medical facilities in times of armed conflict and other situations of violence, and identify the members of the Movement. And in these trying times wherein some parts of the country suffers from the scourge of armed conflict, the protection of these emblems is a must."

In 1947, two months after the Philippines' adherence to the Geneva Conventions, the country established its National Red Cross (PNRC) through Republic Act No. 95 in 1947.

Also, the Philippines joined 193 other nations that have ratified or adhered to the Four Geneva Conventions of August 12, 1949, making it the most widely accepted and recognized treaty in the world. It was ratified by the country in 1952.

The Philippines has likewise ratified the 1977 Additional Protocol II and the 2005 Additional Protocol III. It has signed but not yet ratified the 1977 Additional Protocol. While this treaty has yet to be ratified, it does not bar the country's legislature from adopting certain provisions thereof as part of our national legislation including those governing the use and protection of the emblem of the Red Cross or Red Crescent.

Angara recently filed a bill which seeks to define the use and protection of the Red Cross, Red Crescent and Red Crystal emblems through the following provisions:

Defining the emblems' use:

Protective Use - The emblem used as a protective device during armed conflict is the visible sign of the protection conferred by the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols on medical personnel and medical units and transports in time of armed conflict.

Indicative Use - The emblem shows that a person or an object is linked to an institution of the International Movement of the Red Cross and Red Crescent.

The bill also penalizes misuse of the Red Cross, the Red Crescent or the Red Crystal emblem as an Indicative Device in Peacetime and In Time of Armed Conflict.

"Human life is our primary consideration in filing this bill, which is also the primary concern of all humanitarian efforts. Through this bill which I recently filed, these humanitarian emblems will be accorded its due respect and recognition aside from maximizing its proper use," added Angara.

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