To pass on to future generations

28. Promoting the Humanitarian Values of the Red Cross

This initiative seeks to expand support for humanitarian aid and promote its values, fostering a society where life and dignity are sustainably protected.

The Red Cross and Red Crescent (RCRC) Movement has long advanced this mission through the promotion of International Humanitarian Law (IHL). is a set of international rules designed to protect humanitarian aid activities—such as those carried out by the RCRC Movement in conflict zones—and to regulate the use of protective symbols used to identify them. However, at its core, it is founded on the principles of Humanity (protecting life and dignity), Impartiality (treating all people based solely on their level of suffering), and Neutrality (remaining independent from political conflicts). These principles are also relevant in school and human rights education.

In Japan, the Japanese Red Cross Society and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Tokyo Delegation collaborate to promote IHL through activities such as moot courts on IHL for university students and lectures on RCRC principles and IHL at Junior Red Cross-affiliated schools. Through these efforts, young people are encouraged to develop a deeper appreciation for the sanctity of human life and dignity, inspiring them to carry these values into society in the future.

Deepen your understanding of the Red Cross and IHL through the various publications by the Japanese Red Cross Institute for Humanitarian Studies: https://www.jrc.ac.jp/ihs/english/