According to the Statutes of the Movement, National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies are considered to be “auxiliary to the public authorities in the humanitarian field.”

This auxiliary role can be described as “a specific and distinctive partnership, entailing mutual responsibilities and benefits, based on international and national laws, in which the national public authorities and the National Society agree on the areas in which the National Society supplements or substitutes public humanitarian services[.]” 

In order to be a recognised member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, a National Society’s auxiliary role must be recognised by the national legislation of its country.

The auxiliary role is tied to the founding idea of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

In 1859, a man called Henri Dunant encountered the aftermath of the battle of Solferino, where the French/Sardinian and Austrian armies had clashed. Thousands of people were killed and injured, with very little medical care or other support available.

After supporting an improvised response with local villagers, Dunant later wrote about his experience in “A Memory of Solferino,” in which he called for the creation “in times of peace and quiet” of “relief societies for the purpose of having care given to the wounded in wartime by zealous, devoted and thoroughly qualified volunteers.” These groups would “naturally remain inactive in peacetime. But they would always be organised and ready for the possibility of war.”

This idea inspired the creation of the first National Red Cross Societies (later also joined by National Red Crescent Societies). Their role was described in a resolution of the first Geneva Conference of 1863 as committees of volunteers devoted to “assisting the Army Medical Services” and acting in the battlefield under military command.

This part of the auxiliary role—seconding volunteers for an exclusively medical service under military command—remains one part of the identity of many National Societies. It is enshrined in international humanitarian law, including in the First Geneva Convention of 1949.

But demand very quickly grew for National Societies to address humanitarian need in peacetime as well as during war. So in 1869, the second International Conference of the Red Cross adopted a resolution calling on National Societies to also provide relief “in case of public calamity which, like war, demands immediate and organised assistance.”

As the range of public services provided by National Societies has grown, so too has the expectations around the auxiliary role.

Today, National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies provide a variety of humanitarian services in situations of war and peace. They contribute to public health and social services and support the development of their countries.

Their specific relationship with governments has grown with the nature of the services they provide. At the same time, the Fundamental Principles of the Movement require that National Societies remain independent and able to act impartially and neutrally based solely on people's needs. The extent to which National Societies are able to support the humanitarian and development goals of the public authorities also depends on its capacity as an organisation, which varies from country to country.

The auxiliary role is partially described in the foundational National Red Cross or Red Crescent law or decree, which is required for the National Society to be recognised as a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. However, for the auxiliary relationship to work well, it has often been important that the main activity areas of the National Society—in disaster risk management, emergency response, public health and social services—also be described in sectoral laws, policies, plans and agreements, so that they are well coordinated with the work of relevant ministries and partners.

Many states offer direct and indirect support to their National Societies in relation to the auxiliary role. This can include direct financial contributions, tax exemptions and fiscal concessions, fiscal incentives for donors, and in-kind contributions (such as office space).