Story of another Cross

It is in this context that the story of another cross, the Red Cross might be helpful and relevant. This is not the place to make a long historic excursion. Suffice to say that the history of the Red Cross and its protective emblem, a well kept secret in Trinidad and Tobago, goes way back to the 1860s when the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) was established in Switzerland, driven by a prominent business man from Geneva (Henri Dunant) and a group of like-minded Swiss citizens, with the mandate and mission to provide humanitarian assistance and protection to the victims of war and armed conflict. This was and remains the overriding imperative of the ICRC, the oldest humanitarian organisation in today’s world. The role and work of the ICRC and its protective emblem has been formally recognised in international law by the community of states, most specifically in the Geneva Conventions of 1949 to which some 192 members of the United Nations are contracting parties, including all the member states of Caricom.

The emblem of the International Committee of the Red Cross, ie, the red cross against the white background, has been ever since the distinctive and legally protected symbol of the humanitarian mission of the International Red Cross Movement. As such, the emblem initially did not convey any religious connotation; it was simply the reverse of the Swiss Flag in reference to Switzerland being the birth place of the International Red Cross Movement. With the establishment of many national Red Cross Societies all around the globe, a number of countries voiced difficulties in accepting the Red Cross as their emblem at the national level, it being perceived as a symbol of Western tradition and Christian heritage. Showing respect and acceptance of diversity, the International Red Cross Movement revised its statutes and introduced a second emblem ie, the Red Crescent, allowing countries of Islamic tradition to use this second protective emblem instead of the Red Cross. And today, we are seeing the Red Crescent fulfilling its humanitarian mission in many countries hit by natural or man-made disasters.

In more recent times, the debate over the introduction of a third emblem has gained renewed attention. A few countries (Israel among them) had difficulties in accepting either the Red Cross or the Red Crescent as the emblem of their National Societies, thus excluding themselves from being part of the otherwise almost universal RC movement. Thus, the movement was faced with the dilemma of either introducing yet another emblem or losing out on its universality which is one on the very fundamental principles of the International Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement. Decade long deliberations finally led to the adoption of a third, more neutral emblem, ie a red framed Crystal with a white background to be used by countries that cannot accept either one of the traditional emblems. Again, the introduction of a new emblem needed to be enshrined in a legal framework which was done by a diplomatic conference of state Representatives last December in Geneva, through the adoption of a third Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions.

Caribbean States were conspicuously absent in Geneva, but the opportunity to sign and ratify the third Additional Protocol at a later stage is there, if only for demonstrating solidarity with the International Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement.

Although the context of the “two crosses” is quite different, certain parallels or lessons may be drawn: Changes of established symbols or emblems require respect and sensitivity and must be done within the law; new symbols or emblems must become a uniting force in a pluralistic highly diverse society, national or international; thus, new symbols or emblems must avoid any religious connotations, perceived or real, if they are to receive universal support and acceptance; and to this effect, the design of a neutral symbol for the highest award in Trinidad and Tobago seems to be the way forward. It is up to the newly established Awards Committee to come up with a fitting proposal