Massive misuse of Red Cross/Crescent emblems in Bangladesh
Sunday, 26 July 2009
GAZIPUR, July 25 (UNB): The emblems of Red Cross/Crescent are in massive misuse in Bangladesh as the symbol of doctors, hospitals and pharmacies amid the government's failure to take proper action against the violators, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) officials told a journalists' workshop here Friday.
They said the hospitals, doctors and ambulances are supposed to use the specific logos earmarked for them by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
ICRC mission in Dhaka said that they had been working with the Ministries concerned and the doctors' associations with a view to putting an end to the misuse of ICRC logo across the country.
"We're working with the government to ensure proper use of logos," said Finn Ruda, Head of Mission, ICRC Dhaka after the workshop in reply to a question.
Some ICRC officials said that the use of Red Cross/Red Crescent logo was only for identification and protection of personnel during any ICRC operation at any place. But such emblem was found in use as doctor's symbol here, they said, and added that they have already talked to the Law and Health Ministries about such massive misuse of ICRC emblem.
The Geneva Convention Implementing Act-1936 prohibits misuse of the Red Cross symbol and if anyone is found misusing the logo, s/he can be fined Tk 50.
Terming the Red Cross as a private and independent organisation with Headquarters in Geneva, an ICRC official said it works globally with seven principles - humanity, neutrality, impartiality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality.
The workshop for journalists, titled 'Reporting in Times of Violence and Disaster: Understanding the Context and the Actors', was organised jointly by Dhaka Reporters' Unity (DRU) and ICRC at the BRAC Centre for Development and Management at Rajendrapur in Gazipur.
Some 40 journalists of print and electronic media took part in the daylong workshop where some senior journalists presented papers and also shared their experiences with the participants.
They said the hospitals, doctors and ambulances are supposed to use the specific logos earmarked for them by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
ICRC mission in Dhaka said that they had been working with the Ministries concerned and the doctors' associations with a view to putting an end to the misuse of ICRC logo across the country.
"We're working with the government to ensure proper use of logos," said Finn Ruda, Head of Mission, ICRC Dhaka after the workshop in reply to a question.
Some ICRC officials said that the use of Red Cross/Red Crescent logo was only for identification and protection of personnel during any ICRC operation at any place. But such emblem was found in use as doctor's symbol here, they said, and added that they have already talked to the Law and Health Ministries about such massive misuse of ICRC emblem.
The Geneva Convention Implementing Act-1936 prohibits misuse of the Red Cross symbol and if anyone is found misusing the logo, s/he can be fined Tk 50.
Terming the Red Cross as a private and independent organisation with Headquarters in Geneva, an ICRC official said it works globally with seven principles - humanity, neutrality, impartiality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality.
The workshop for journalists, titled 'Reporting in Times of Violence and Disaster: Understanding the Context and the Actors', was organised jointly by Dhaka Reporters' Unity (DRU) and ICRC at the BRAC Centre for Development and Management at Rajendrapur in Gazipur.
Some 40 journalists of print and electronic media took part in the daylong workshop where some senior journalists presented papers and also shared their experiences with the participants.