Her Majesty The Gyaltsuen, the president of the Bhutan Red Cross Society, graced the launch of the Bhutan Red Cross Society, coinciding with the World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day yesterday.

The Prime Minister Lyonchoen Tshering Tobgay, Her Excellency Annemarie Huber-Hotz, the Vice President of the International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC) and International Committee of Red Crescent (ICRC), and regional heads of the IFRC and ICRC attended the launch.

Her Majesty The Gyaltsuen said: “His Majesty The King has always reminded us that any real and lasting solution to global issues can only come through a universal wave of human empathy, desire and passion for the common good.”

That our duty should not be only to oneself, or to one’s family and country but that we must build from these true and intimate relationships, outwards and upwards to the nobler duty to the greater world and to peace, prosperity and happiness that is global.

“I am confident that the Bhutan Red Cross Society will greatly supplement the efforts of the Royal Government of Bhutan, the Desuung and various other organisations and CSOs who have pledged their time and service in the spirit of equality, active participation and volunteerism.”

The Bhutan Red Cross Society (BCRS) is an autonomous and not-for–profit organisation established under the Bhutan Red Cross Society Act 2016. It is a voluntary aid society, auxiliary to the public authorities in the humanitarian field, having the mandates to save lives, protect livelihoods and strengthen recovery from disasters; to enable healthy and safe living; and to promote social inclusion and culture of care and protection. The BRCS is part of a network of the movement with 190 countries having an establishment of a Red Cross or a Red Crescent National Society.

The BCRS strives to establish a network of members and volunteers in communities throughout Bhutan to provide services in the areas of social inclusion, health, and disaster risk management that are complimentary to those of the government and other organisations.

“I also extend our gratitude to the Swiss Red Cross, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent for your invaluable support in the establishment of the Bhutan Red Cross Society,” Her Majesty The Gyaltsuen said.

The World Red Cross & Red Crescent Day is observed globally on the birth anniversary of the founder, Henry Dunant, a Swiss businessman born in 1828.

Staff Reporter

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