World Red Cross Red Crescent Day is celebrated on 8 May each year. It is an annual celebration of the 7 principles of International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement; humanitarian, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.

Around the world, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement provide a wide range of services to the most vulnerable people in all situations, from responding to needs in disaster and conflict situations to assisting. They reach out to the community and advocate on behalf of those in need, those in urban areas, and difficult access areas.

This day is celebrated to mark their achievements and encourage people to help the ones in need. It is also celebrated to mark the birthday of the founder of International Committee of the Red Cross, Henry Dunant (8 May 1928). Henry Dunant was the first recipient of the Nobel Peace Price.

Let us know a little about how this day came into existence:

• The idea for an “annual action that could take hold in the whole world … that would be a major contribution to peace” was introduced just after World War I.
• This initiative, known as the “Red Cross Truce”, was studied by an International Commission established at the 14th International Conference of the Red Cross.
• Its report, presented to the 15th International Conference of the Red Cross in Tokyo in 1934, was approved.
• It was only after World War II, in 1946, that the Tokyo proposal was studied by the League of Red Cross Societies (LRCS), renamed the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in 1991.
• Two years later, having considered the principles of the truce and its applicability across different regions of the world, the proposal of an annual International Red Cross Day was adopted and the first Red Cross Day was celebrated on May 8, 1948.
• The official title of the day changed over time, and became “World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day” in 1984.

After that Every year 8 May Started to be celebrated as ‘World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day’. There were some themes and slogans introduced from 2009 onwards for the celebration. The Themes are mentioned below:

Year	Theme
2009	Change in the Climate and it causes on the Human’s which serves as a Today’s Solferino
2010	City
2011	Search for the Volunteer which is inside you
2012	Move of the Youth
2013	Be Together for the reason of Humanity
2014	Get Together for everyone people
2015	Together for Humanity
2016	Everywhere for Every People
2017	Less Known Red Cross Stories
2018	Memorable smiles from around the world
2019	#Love
2020	#keepclapping
2021	Unstoppable

The theme for ‘World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day’, 2021 is ‘Unstoppable’. This theme is particularly for the frontline workers who amidst this pandemic have been unstoppable in providing their best services to the patients. On this World Red Cross Day and Red Crescent Day, we are particularly proud of the work of volunteers and staff at the forefront of meeting the growing needs of the COVID-19 pandemic-influenced community. They spread goodness and solidarity all over the world, bringing hope and dignity in despair.

‘We Thank and Salute all the people who have been working day and night to provide the best facilities in this pandemic to the people, We are proud of you!’