The Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement were adopted at the 20th International Red Cross Conference.

The seven Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement are the pillars of this global humanitarian organization. They guide Red Cross action in any part of the world and in any crisis situation. These principles were formally adopted in 1965 and are as follows:

HUMANITY
Inspired by the desire to help, without discrimination, the wounded on the battlefields, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is committed to preventing and alleviating human suffering in all circumstances.
Its aim is to protect their life and health and to ensure respect for human beings.  
According to the principle of Humanity, every human being in suffering, wherever he or she may be, must be helped, even if this is difficult to do. The aim of the Movement is to protect life and health and to ensure respect for human beings. In peacetime, protection mainly means preventing disease, disasters and accidents, or averting their effects by saving human lives (for example, by training in first aid). In wartime, protection means assisting those protected by humanitarian law (e.g. civilians, wounded soldiers or prisoners who must be fed, protected and treated fairly). Humanity means promoting mutual understanding, friendship and lasting peace between peoples.

II. IMPARTIALITY

Help all victims without discrimination of race, nationality, religion, social class or political opinion.
Assistance is provided according to people's needs and suffering.
The order in which the available assistance is given must correspond to the urgency and the scale of the problem to be solved.
 NEUTRALITY
The Movement refrains from taking part in hostilities and controversies of a political, racial, religious or ideological nature.
This enables the Red Cross to gain the trust of all parties to a conflict and to operate in war zones.
Neutrality means that the Red Cross does not become involved in or take sides in political, religious, racial or ideological controversies. If the Red Cross were to adopt a particular position, it would lose the confidence of a section of the population and would not be able to continue its activities. Any member or volunteer of the Red Cross is required to exercise self-control, to behave in a neutral manner and not to express opinions while carrying out his duties.

INDEPENDENCE
The movement is independent from any public power, even though it receives support from governments to carry out its humanitarian work.
Although the National Societies are recognized by their governments as auxiliaries to the public authorities and are subject to the laws of their countries, they must maintain their autonomy in order to be able to act in accordance with the Principles of the Movement at all times. No Red Cross organization can accept to be subordinated to a political party or to become an instrument of government policy. Independence also covers the relationship with donors or sponsors.

VOLUNTEERING
It is a movement of voluntary and disinterested help.
Volunteering is the altruistic desire of a person to perform certain tasks for someone else in a spirit of human brotherhood. This principle shows that the work of the Red Cross and its volunteers is underpinned by individual commitment and dedication to a humanitarian purpose and is not inspired by the desire for financial gain.

UNITY
There is only one National Red Cross or Red Crescent Society in each country.
All National Societies are united in one International Movement.

UNIVERSALITY
The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, in which all National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies have equal rights and a duty to help each other, is universal.
Suffering is universal; it can affect anyone, so the relief of suffering must also be universal. The principle of universality imposes a collective responsibility on the Movement. The equality of National Societies in terms of status and rights is reflected in the fact that, at the Movement's international conferences and in the governing mechanisms, each Society has one vote.