Red Cross and Red Crescent reaches into Europe's shadows
18 April 2002

Faced with growing human abuse and vulnerability in what the Red Cross and Red Crescent defined today as "the shadowlands" of Europe, the world's largest humanitarian network has endorsed a regional strategy on migration and health to reach millions of people deprived of care and social justice.

The plight of migrants and victims of HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis were among the issues prioritised by the 6th European Regional Red Cross and Red Crescent Conference which brought 50 national societies to Berlin this week to produce a plan of action. Didier Cherpitel, Secretary General of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, said of HIV/AIDS today, "Stigma and discrimination force people into the shadows. The sex trade takes place and drugs are injected in the shadows. We must reach into the shadows to help those who are marginalized, sick, destitute or who have lost hope, and to do that we renew our support to the millions of volunteers on whom the success of our community-based actions rests."

The Red Cross and Red Crescent already assists and protects migrants, among them so-called illegal migrants of whom there are an estimated three million in Western Europe, and 20 to 40 million worldwide. Migration specialist Helene Lackenbauer of the Swedish Red Cross told the conference, "Because of their illegal status, certain migrants are invisible before the law and are often denied even their most basic rights. Following our principles of humanity and impartiality we cannot duck this issue. If we ignore these people, we deny them the right to a voice and the possibility of contributing positively to their communities."

The Berlin Charter approved by the conference contains European policy on a range of migration and health issues which will be implemented by two plans of action. Referring to the Middle East, Prof Knut Ipsen, President of the German Red Cross, and of the conference, said, "Our gathering has taken place at a time when the impact of international humanitarian action is seriously challenged by lack of respect for International Humanitarian Law and human rights law."

There was a critical need, he said, for a reaffirmation of respect for and trust in these laws as well as in the fundamental principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

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

Marie-Francoise Borel, Information Officer - mobile telephone: + 41 79 217 3345
John Sparrow, Regional Information Officer - mobile telephone + 36 20 340 24 60
Rita Plotnikova, Information Officer - mobile telephone + 41 79 217 3329

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.