DISSEMINATION

WHAT IS DISSEMINATION?

In wider sense of the meaning, dissemination means spreading knowledge about the importance of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, the role and mandate of the International Committee of the Red Cross, International federation of Red Cross and red Crescent Societies and the activities of the national societies, the Fundamental Principles of the Movement, International Humanitarian Law and human values.

FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES

Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence
Voluntary Service, Unity, Universality

Dissemination is one of the priority objectives of Macedonian Red Cross in compliance with the development Plan of the organization for the period 2006-2010 as a legal and statutory obligation. The dissemination is conducted by trained human resources (volunteers and staff) who started their training in 1995 which was organized by the International Committee of the Red Cross and the next rounds of the trainings were conducted in 2002 and 2004 by Macedonian Red Cross.

The disseminators come from various professional background, age groups, gender and ethnic background.

The target groups covered with the dissemination are mainly primary school pupils, high school and university students, representatives of local governments, representatives from nongovernmental organizations and associations of citizens and members of the governing structure of the Red Cross branches.

The topics covered with the dissemination sessions are as follows: History of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, fundamental principles, emblem of the Red Cross, the mandate and activities of the components of the Movement, Red Cross activities, International Humanitarian Law and the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and the Additional Protocols of 1977. The topics are presented to the target audience depending on the interest and the need.

The disseminators use variety of printed and video materials, manuals and other tools for dissemination.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

Building volunteer network capacities
Enhancement of the dissemination / communication programme
Training for Macedonian Red Cross staff
Dissemination sessions with trained disseminators
Printing and promotion of materials

Activities

Dissemination sessions – The disseminators form the Red Cross branches and the City Red Cross of Skopje conduct monthly dissemination sessions in the municipalities with different target groups and different dissemination content dependent on the target groups.

Workshops with disseminators – For purpose of provision of regular information and setting the future objectives and provision of better information for the disseminators in the area of IHL, particularly emphasis is placed on the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and the Additional Protocols to the Geneva Conventions of 1977 and IHL in general.

Education of human resources – Macedonian Red Cross organizes training seminars for volunteers for purpose of implementation of dissemination activities.

Project activities

PROMOTIAN OF HUMAN ACTIVITIES – PROJECT (Link)

The project “Red Cross in action – promotion of human values” (RCA-PHV) is initiated in 1996 by the Macedonian Red Cross and the International Committee of the Red Cross, with support of the Norwegian Red Cross.
The main goal of RCA-PHV is inclusion of young people of different ethnical background in mutual projects for construction of mutual understanding, tolerance and culture of dialog.
The mission of the program is promotion of the culture of dialog as a basic precondition for building of a intercultural society and promotion of active knowledge and active relation towards life, trough the principles and the values of the Red Cross.

EXPLORING HUMANITARIAN LAW – PROGRAM

EXPLORING HUMANITARIAN LAW (EHP) – is a program with its own structure and potential, supported by International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Macedonian Red Cross (MRC) and other national associations, and with governmental support it is integrated in the education.
The program for research of the humanitarian law is implemented with the support of the International Committee of the Red Cross. It has been implemented in the educational process on international and regional base. This program is implemented in the Republic of Macedonia in the elementary education, while the Bureau for development of the education (part of the Ministry of education and science) is following its implementation in the educational program. The program framework in Macedonia is adjusted for the students in the elementary schools, with a short version of 9 classes which are part of the subject “Citizen Culture” in the eighth grade. The educational program is being implemented by teachers that were trained by teams of trainers and instructors. The training was constructed for all the teachers in the country that are teaching the class “Citizens culture” in the seventh and eighth grade of the eight year elementary education and eighth and ninth grade in the nine year elementary education. The EHL program in Macedonia is implemented through the Bureau for development of education in RM, and it represents one of the best implemented programs in the region.

National Committee for international humanitarian law

On the initiative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Government of the Republic of Macedonia in June 2006 adopted a Conclusion in which the Government of the RM in cooperation with the Red Cross will establish a National Committee for International Humanitarian Law within the premises of the the Red Cross. With that the initiative of the Red Cross of the Republic of Macedonia to establish inter-ministerial body for implementation and dissemination of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) in the Republic of Macedonia was accepted and adopted in the final month of June 2006 with the conclusion of the Government.

The National Committee there are members, representatives from: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Education and Science, the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Health, the General Secretariat of Government and the Red Cross of the Republic of Macedonia.

For expanding the composition of the National Committee, Ministry of Foreign Affairs submitted information to the Government. In 2008 the Government Decision (Official Gazette br.58/2008 year) to expand the composition of this body with representatives of the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and Ministry of Interior.

The headquarters of the National Committee is in the Red Cross and it works on its own rules, according to which the President is from the ranks of ministers, deputy chairman and secretary of the Red Cross.
National Committee examines issues regarding:

Harmonization of national legislation with international humanitarian law;
Effective implementation of IHL and monitoring by taking practical measures and activities;
Monitoring the development of IHL and its dissemination in different segments of social life;
Promoting cooperation and coordination among relevant institutions including cooperation with the Red Cross, in order to identify actions arising in the field of IHL and legal obligations.

The National Committee addopted a national program for implemntation of international humanitarian law, whose realization includes the representatives from other ministrier and institutions, as cariers of distinctive programs.

PRINTED AND PUBLISHED MATERIALS