Red Cross on a white background, is the Emblem of Red Cross, recognized in 1864 as the distinctive sign for medical relief teams on the battle field.

   In the Russo-Turkish war the Ottoman empire used a Red Crescent in place of the Red Cross. Egypt too opted for the Red Crescent while Persia chose a Red Lion on a white background. These symbols were written and accepted into the 1929 Geneva Conventions. The IRCS adopted RED CROSS as its emblem.

   The National Society make use of the emblem as an indicative device in peacetime and during armed conflicts within the limits stipulated in national legislation, the regulations and its statutes only for activities consistent with the principles set out by International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent.

   The Red Cross, Red Crescent and Red Crystal emblems are symbols of protection in times of armed conflict . Their use is enshrined in international humanitarian law.  Article 44 of the First Geneva Convention (12 August 1949) makes the distinction between the protective use and the indicative use of the emblems and outlines the general rules governing the two uses.

   Protective use – Use of the emblem for protective purposes is a visible manifestation of the protection accorded by the Geneva Conventions to medical personnel, units and transports.

   Indicative use – Use of the emblem for indicative purposes in wartime or in times of peace shows that a person or item of property has a link with the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

   The importance of the distinction between the protective and indicative uses of the emblems cannot be overestimated.  It is the responsibility of all members of the Movement to protect and respect the emblems and to guard against their misuse.

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