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POLS5 March 10, 2012 International Committee of the Red Cross Non-governmental organizations can be defined as “private organizations characterized primarily by humanitarian or cooperative, rather than commercial, objectives… that pursue activities to relieve suffering, promote the interests of the poor, protect the environment, provide basic social services, or undertake community development in developing countries” (Ahmed and Werker,2007, p. 3). They also can be characterized as organizations “committed to doing good while setting aside profit or politics” (Zivetz, 1991; Fisher, 1993). NGOs are part of a nonprofit sector which focuses primarily on helping international development and improving the living standards of poor people in developing countries. It is important not to put them in the same category as “community based organizations” (Ahmed and Werker, 2007, p. 3), because unlike non-governmental organizations, their main focus is on benefiting “their members directly” (p. 3). NGOs have been around for quite some time. In fact, they have existed for centuries. However, NGOs along the lines seen today, especially on the international level, have developed in the past two centuries. Examples of groups, that in our contemporary world would be considered NGOs, “helped organize an opposition that led Britain to abolish the slave trade in 1807” (Ahmed and Werker, 2007, p. 4), were groups active in the movement  for women’s suffrage. The phrase non-governmental organization came into use with the establishment of the United Nations in 1945. Since the end of the Second World War, NGOs began to play an important and increasing role in international development. “They often hold an interesting role in a nation’s political, social or economic activities, as well as assessing and addressing problems in both national and international issues, such as human, political and women’s rights, economic development, democratization, inoculation and immunization, health care, or the environment” (University of Dublin, Trinity College). One of the first NGO organizations established was the International Committee of the Red Cross, which today is one of the largest and widely recognized groups of humanitarian NGO’s in the world. The idea of international assistance to victims of war and natural disasters belongs to Henri Dunant, a Swiss businessman and humanitarian. In 1859 Dunant organized a group of volunteers to help victims of the bloody battle of Solferino (Northern Italy). Dunant succeeded in saving many wounded, for whom he found food, water, and shelter. In his book, A Memory of Solferino, published in 1863, Dunant called for “improved care for wounded soldiers in wartime” (ICRC official website). The book aroused widespread sympathy for the victims of the war, and in 1863 the Geneva Society of Prosperity, formed a committee of five members, amongst which was Henry Dunant. Their main task was to consider and incorporate Dunant’s “proposal for national relief society, to help military medical services” (ICRC official website). In response to an invitation by this committee, representatives of sixteen countries gathered at an International Conference in Geneva in 1863. This conference led to the foundation of the Red Cross as an institution. However, Dunant and the other members of the committee were aspiring to make the Red Cross an internationally recognizable organization. They wanted a convention to be adopted to ensure the protection of medical services on the battlefield in a time of war. As a result of their tremendous efforts, twelve nations agreed to adopt the Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded in Armies in the Field, in August 1864. “The treaty obliged armies to care for wounded soldiers, whatever side they were on, and introduced a unified emblem for the medical services: a red cross on a white background” (ICRC official website). The International Committee for the Red Cross is a neutral and independent organization. Its main mission is to alleviate human suffering, “to protect the lives and dignity of victims of armed conflict and other situations of violence and to provide them with assistance” ( ICRC official website). The ICRC has offices in some 80 countries. The ten largest offices of the ICRC are located in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Somalia, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Israel and the Occupied Territories, Colombia, Yemen, Mali/Nigeria. The main activities of the ICRC on behalf of the people affected by war include: visiting detainees, protecting civilians, reuniting families, ensuring economic security, giving people affected by conflict access to basic preventive and curative health care, preventing violence against patients and health care workers, and other activities. (ICRC official website). The success of any organizations highly depends on the people who work for it, on whether they display such qualities as dependability, initiative, positive attitude towards their job, innovation, organization, and commitment to what they are doing. The ICRC selects its delegates through a rigorous procedure. Working for the ICRC is very demanding. The ICRC requires their staff to be prepared to work in dangerous situations and in a wide range of settings. “ICRC staff must be tenacious yet flexible, creative but methodical, at one and the same time curious and discreet, sensitive but also control their emotions” (ICRC) The International Organization for the Red Cross “frequently seeks motivated people who are available at short notice to work in different operational contexts” (ICRC official website.). There are sometimes openings at its headquarters in Geneva. However, in order to be considered for a position, applicants must possess specific professional skills. Applicants must meet all the criteria for a given position. The International Committee for the Red Cross is a leader in humanitarian work around the world. The ICRS has regional offices in Africa, Americas, Asia and Pacific, Europe and Central Asia, and in the Middle East. For example, the ICRC regional delegation in Tashkent helps the authorities in Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan “to promote humanitarian international law and other humanitarian norms and to integrate them into national legislation, curricula of educational institutions and the practices of military and security forces” (ICRC official website). The ICRC in Afghanistan is facing a lot of difficulties. Providing humanitarian aid to the population is extremely challenging due to the widespread conflict in the country. The state of insecurity imposes enormous constraints on the ability of the ICRC and other aid organizations to even know what is really happening in many areas of Afghanistan, let alone provide assistance to those who need it. However, “although there is a long road ahead before the ICRC can travel freely in all conflict-affected areas of Afghanistan, the discreet perseverance in opening avenues for humanitarian dialogue, delivering humanitarian assistance, and influencing behavior has slowly paid off as the ICRC continues to extend its reach (International Review of the Red Cross, p. 186). In 2011 the ICRC staff: Installed hand pumps, trained people to maintain, benefiting 182,000 people; (ICRC website) Continued to improve the water supply and sanitary conditions fro 11,875 detainees in 13 provincial prisons; (ICRC website) Distributed nearly 920 metric tonnes of wheat, 524 metric tonnes of rice, and 410 metric tonnes of beans to over 12,070 participants in food-for-work projects. (ICRC website) Non-governmental organizations are usually created in response to “global inequities” (Ahmed and Werker, 2007, p. 23) .They play an important role in providing basic humanitarian assistance and development. The International Organization of the Red Cross is an excellent example of an organization that provides humanitarian assistance to countries affected by conflict and armed violence worldwide. References "About the International Committee of the Red Cross." 301 Moved Permanently. Web. 11 Mar. 2012. http://www.icrc.org/eng/who-we-are/index.jsp. Fisher, William F. 1997. Doing Good? The Politics and Antipolitics of NGO Practices. Annual Review of Anthropology, 26: 439-464. International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). 2005. ICRC Annual Report 2004. Geneva. Trinity College Dublin." The Role of NGOs. Web. 11 Mar. 2012. http://www.tcd.ie/Economics/Development_Studies/link.php?id=95 Werker, Eric D., and Faisal Z. Ahmed. "What Do Non-governmental Organizations Do." Journal of Economic Perspectives (2007). Web. 9 Mar. 2012. <http://www.hbs.edu/research/pdf/08-041.pdf History of Organization." International Committee of the Red Cross -. Web. 10 Mar. 2012. http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1963/red-cross-history.html