A common concern for humanitarian values was a recurrent theme of discussions during the visit to the International Federation’s Geneva secretariat, on 29 September, of a delegation from Japan’s Meiji Jingu shrine, one of the major donors to the Empress Shôken Fund.
The Empress Shôken Fund was established in 1912 by Her Majesty the Empress of Japan to support Red Cross and Red Crescent humanitarian activities worldwide and is managed by a Joint Commission of members from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the International Federation. In the morning, the delegation was greeted by Olivier Vodoz, Chairman of the Joint Commission and ICRC Vice-President.
In the afternoon, the delegation was welcomed by Federation Deputy Secretary General Ibrahim Osman, who stressed the importance of these Japanese contributions. “These grants have made a big difference in the lives of millions of vulnerable people around the world,” he said. “The Fund is a very effective and sustainable source of contributions for Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.”
The head of the Meiji Jingu delegation, Vice Chief Priest Shigehiro Miyazaki, pledged continuing support for the Fund and underlined the importance of Red Cross and Red Crescent work, in particular because of its local impact. “There should be solidarity in the community. We share Red Cross humanitarian values,” he noted. “There are many financial problems in the world and many ordinary people need help. We will continue to help them.”
The Fund has steadily grown thanks to contributions from the Japanese government, the Japanese Red Cross Society, the Meiji Jingu shrine and the Imperial Family. Since its inception a total of 604 grants for projects, totalling just over 12 million Swiss francs, were awarded to Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies.
In 2008, the Fund granted nearly 470,000 Swiss francs to 11 projects, with a special emphasis on African initiatives, ranging from youth programmes, and mobile health units for isolated communities, to psychosocial support, emergency help for vulnerable elderly people and blood donation programmes.
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Federation Deputy Secretary General Ibrahim Osman hands a copy of a book on the history of the Federation, entitled "Beyond Conflict", to the head of the Meiji Jingu delegation, Vice Chief Priest Shigehiro Miyazaki, to thank him for his support to the Shôken Fund. (p18373)
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