The fundamental principles were created in Vienna in 1965. They bind together the National Red Cross and Red Crescent societies, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent societies. This makes the British Red Cross part of a worldwide movement

The fundamental principles mean that people we help can trust that we’re neutral, independent and impartial. Our supporters know that we help those most in need both in the UK and internationally, and our staff and volunteers can see they’re a part of something unique.

Read more:https://www.redcross.org.uk/about-us/what-we-stand-for

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Representation and empowerment of persons with disabilities
We commit to using our Community Engagement and Accountability (CEA) strategic imperative and its associated processes to ensure persons with disabilities are represented and empowered to lead and shape positive, sustainable change in their own lives, communities and society, alongside their peers.

Timeframe and/or implementation plan
The next 2-3 years will be devoted to working with the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (RCRCM) on a coordinated approach to CEA, building the capacity of our staff, and compiling learning to better our approaches. We will ensure that disability inclusion training is part of all CEA training, execution and learning.   

Theme: Eliminate Stigma and Discrimination
Year: 2018
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Access to financial services
Cash modalities have great potential in delivering inclusive aid. We commit to using our position as one of the leaders on cash modalities, within the RCRCM, so they work to increase economic opportunities for persons with disabilities, including access to financial services.

Timeframe and/or implementation plan
In the next year, we will review current training given to our cash experts, to make sure it is inclusive of persons with disabilities. We will collaborate with stakeholders across the RCRCM to ensure a disability inclusion lens is applied to research conducted to assess current cash modalities and develop those of the future.

Theme: Routes to Economic Empowerment
Year: 2018
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We commit to being a key voice within the RCRCM, in relation to the inclusion of people with disabilities in all phases of rapid deployment in emergencies. We commit to contribute to the efforts of the IFRC in using all relevant humanitarian inclusion standards and guidelines.

Timeframe and/or implementation plan
The next 2-3 years will be devoted to increasing the capacity of our delegates to address the rights and needs of persons with disabilities, amongst communities in crises, through integrating disability inclusion skills in RCRCM competency frameworks and training.

Theme: Conflict and Humanitarian Contexts
Year: 2018
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A more inclusive British Red Cross is essential to provide more inclusive programmes, and role model inclusion for partner National Societies. We have a target to increase staff disclosing a disability from 6% to 8% by end of 2019, in recognition that our work, national and international, will benefit from the insights of people with lived experience of disability.

Timeframe and/or implementation plan
Our Inclusion and Diversity Programme is led by our CEO and a senior level steering group, and runs to end of 2019. It includes making our employment and volunteering opportunities, properties and technology more accessible, increasing our disability confidence, improving routes for person with disabilities to have their voices heard, reviewing policies and processes, and improving data and reporting mechanisms to inform decision making.

Theme: Other
Year: 2018