Foreign and Commonwealth Office
The Prime Ministers Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, Baroness Anelay, celebrated World Red Cross and Red Crescent Week at an event jointly hosted by the British Red Cross and the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Baroness Anelay paid tribute to the extraordinary dedication of staff and volunteers of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement who provide help and assistance to the most vulnerable communities across the world, including the survivors of sexual and gender based violence.
Baroness Anelay said:
The theme for this week could not have been better chosen. Sexual and gender based violence can take place anywhere and affect anyone. It is not restricted by age, gender, or location. Thats why the movements message is so important - that it will support everyone, everywhere.
Since my appointment as the Prime Ministers Special Representative, I have visited a number of conflict-affected countries and seen first-hand the terrible effects of sexual and gender-based violence. But I have also seen how victims lives can be transformed when they are given help and support. That support often comes from organisations such as the British Red Cross and the ICRC, and I greatly value that.
Further information
World Red Cross and Red Crescent Week (commencing on 8 May) is an annual celebration of the work of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (the Movement). The theme for 2016 is Everywhere for Everyone. The Movement is the worlds largest independent humanitarian network, comprised of the International Committee of the Red Cross, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and 189 individual national Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
National Red Cross and Red Crescent societies have special roles as humanitarian auxiliaries to their governments. They work and undertake a wide variety of emergency response and preparedness activities, as well as those aimed at the promotion of health and social care, within their territories. The UK national society, the British Red Cross Society, is the governments formally recognised auxiliary in the humanitarian field and was incorporated by Royal Charter in 1908.
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