The Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement

This booklet uses personal stories and case studies to explain what the Fundamental Principles are and how they apply in today’s world. Imagine you’re a volunteer driving an ambulance in a country going through civil war. What do you do when a soldier refuses to let you through a checkpoint because your patient is from an opposition-controlled area? Or you’re delivering aid after a catastrophic flood. Who do you help first?

These questions are common for aid workers around the world. To help answer them, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement makes use of its seven Fundamental Principles – humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality.