Red Cross Law

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Red Cross Act (RKG), with the full title Federal Act on the Recognition of the Austrian Red Cross and the Protection of the Sign of the Red Cross , is a federal law that has been in force in Austria since February 1, 2008 , which recognizes the Austrian Red Cross (ÖRK) as a national Red Cross Society within the meaning of international humanitarian law and the protection of the Red Cross symbol against misuse. It is based on the Model Red Cross Act, which was proposed by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in 2006, and with its adoption replaced the "Federal Act of June 27, 1962 on the Protection of the Sign and Name of the Red", known as the "Red Cross Protection Act" Cross ”.

content

In the Red Cross Law of the WCC, among others, the provision of humanitarian values, supporting the Austrian authorities in the humanitarian field, the spread of Gedankenguts of the Red Cross and the contents of the are as tasks Geneva Conventions as well as in the event of armed conflict , the support of the medical service of the armed forces set . In return, the Austrian authorities are obliged to support the WCC in fulfilling its tasks within the framework of their organizational and financial possibilities. In addition, the law empowers the WCC to obtain the necessary information and to transmit data in order to work in the missing person tracing service, to transmit Red Cross messages and to reunite families. For full-time and voluntary workers of the WCC, in accordance with the text of the law, there is an obligation of confidentiality when performing international tasks of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, provided that disclosure of relevant information could hinder or limit the performance of these tasks.

The Red Cross Act confirms at national level the provisions of the Geneva Conventions on the use of the protective symbols of the red cross on a white background, the red crescent moon on a white background, the red lion with red sun on a white background and the red crystal on a white background. In Austria, the red cross on a white background may only be used by the WCC or by those persons and institutions that have been approved by the WCC, but not as a trademark. The WCC is also entitled to use the Austrian federal eagle in its coat of arms and seal next to the red cross . In addition, the improper use of the Swiss cross - a white cross on a red background - is prohibited. An exemption from all fees and federal administrative taxes applies to the collection of registration information and the transmission of family messages by the tracing service of the WCC.

Regulations in other countries

In Germany , comparable regulations for the DRK are contained in the DRK law . The protection of names and symbols is regulated in Section 125 of the Administrative Offenses Act. In Switzerland , the Federal Decree on the Swiss Red Cross applies to the SRC and the federal law on the protection of the mark and name of the Red Cross applies to names and symbols .

Web links