International Federation elects new president
7 November 2001

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies tonight elected 49-year-old Juan Manuel Suárez del Toro Rivero to a four-year term as president of the organization. Mr Suárez del Toro, an industrial engineer by training, is the second Spanish citizen to be elected to the office.

With 109 out of the 170 votes cast, Mr Suárez del Toro was elected in the first round by the absolute majority required. The other candidate was current president Dr. Astrid Heiberg, of Norway.

Delegates representing 178 Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies from around the world are participating in the 13th session of the organization's General Assembly, currently being held in Geneva. The General Assembly is the Federation's supreme governing body and meets every two years to debate and adopt policies which are the framework for National Societies' activities in the context of their humanitarian mission to help the most vulnerable.

Mr Suárez del Toro told the General Assembly : "I began my Red Cross adventure many years ago and it means a great deal to me that a volunteer can end up as president of the Federation." He said he would be a president for all National Societies to work towards "a more fair and humane world".

In his 30-year career with the Spanish Red Cross, Mr Suárez del Toro rose through the ranks, from youth volunteer in 1971, taking part in rescue, social welfare and international cooperation activities, to Red Cross Youth Director and President of the Canary Island branch. President of the Spanish Red Cross since June 1994, he was re-elected to the post in March 1999. Juan Manuel Suárez del Toro was also a member of the Federation's Governing Board and a Federation vice-president.

Mr Suárez del Toro is the director of a public transport company and a university professor in economy and business management. He is married and has two daughters.

He takes office as from the end of the current General Assembly on November 10.

For further information, or to set up interviews, please contact:

Denis McClean, Head, Media Service Tel. : + 41 22 730 4428 / 41 79 217 3357
Marie-Françoise Borel, Information Officer Tel.: +41 22 730 4346/ + 41 79 217 3345

The Geneva-based International Federation promotes the humanitarian activities of 181 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies among vulnerable people. By coordinating international disaster relief and encouraging development support, it seeks to prevent and alleviate human suffering. The Federation, National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross together, constitute the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.