Highlight of the JRCS International Activities in FY 2024 (from April 2024 to March 2025) - Summary Part1: Dissemination of Humanitarian Value
In 2024, in addition to the ongoing humanitarian crises in Ukraine, Israel and Gaza, there were numerous conflicts, disasters and other emergencies around the world, including the earthquake off the east coast of Taiwan and the large-scale fire in Los Angeles, USA. As a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement(Movement), the Japanese Red Cross Society (JRCS) has contributed to the Movement’s humanitarian action in collaboration with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and 191 National Societies worldwide. In this edition, we highlight our key international activities in FY 2024 across four areas of focus, expressing our deep gratitude for the invaluable support of our volunteers, members, partners and donors.
Implementation of the NHK International Helping Hand Campaign
Every December, JRCS and NHK（Japan Broadcasting Corporation） collaborate on a fundraising campaign known as the NHK International Helping Hand Campaign. This year, marking the 42nd anniversary of the campaign, it was titled " Helping Each Other Paves the Way to Hope." The objective of the campaign was to promote cooperation to protect human lives, health, and dignity of people facing various humanitarian crises, including conflict, and to provide hope to those in need. For more information on the campaign, please click here .
This year, we received a total of 78,462 donations, amounting to JPY 725,941,418. We would like to express our sincere gratitude for the warm support.
The fund is to be utilized for the purposes of humanitarian aid through the global Red Cross Red Crescent network, based on three main areas: (1) responding to the needs of refugees and displaced people affected by conflict, (2) responding to frequent and increasingly severe disasters, and (3) strengthening resilience of people and communities. A detailed activity report will be published on the JRCS website in summer.
Dissemination of International Humanitarian Law
This year's NHK International Helping Hand Campaign centered on the recent surge in conflicts, providing an opportunity to highlight the Movement's humanitarian actions in conflict zones and promote the International Humanitarian Law (IHL), which stipulates universal rules that must be respected during times of conflict. An article, published in collaboration with HuffPost Japan, provides insights into the current conflict situations in the Middle East, with a particular focus on regions such as Israel and Gaza, approximately one year after the escalation of armed conflict. These insights were based on reports from staff members of the JRCS's Regional office (click here for the article). In addition, we had the privilege of conducting an interview with actress Sayaka Akimoto, exploring her perspectives on recent conflicts and IHL. Together with Ms. Akimoto, we brainstormed various options for humanitarian support. (available in video).
The ICRC Delegation in Japan, the Embassy of Switzerland in Japan, and the JRCS co-hosted the "War in Cities Exhibition" at the Minato Mirai Gallery A, located in Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture from December 18 to 25 December 2024. The exhibition showcased handbags, dolls and other personal belongings damaged in the intense fighting in Iraq, collected by the ICRC staff. These items provided visitors a powerful, firsthand glimpse into the suffering of civilians in urban warfare. During the exhibition period, the gallery welcomed a total of 1500 visitors.
©ICRC
Participants of the seminar ©JRCS
On 19 and 20 February 2025, an online seminar on the dissemination of IHL was held for JRCS staff, with 77 participants from all over the country discussing how to disseminate IHL in the future. In addition to the lecturers from the JRCS staff, the ICRC Delegation in Japan, the Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs Division the Foreign Policy Bureau Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Judge Advocate General the Ground Staff Office Ministry of Defence and the Arms Control and Disarmament Division, the Disarmament, Non-Proliferation and Science Department Ministry of Foreign Affairs also generously cooperated with the seminar and presented the efforts of the relevant organisations.
During their stay, they visited the JRCS Headquarters, the JRCS Tokyo Metropolitan Chapter, the Japanese Red Cross College of Nursing, and the. These visits provided valuable opportunities to discuss ways to strengthen organizational capacity and expand humanitarian activities. They also visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, where they learned about the history of the atomic bombing, the relief activities carried out by the JRCS at that time, and the ongoing medical care and support provided to survivors. This visit is expected to further strengthen the partnership between the URCS and the JRCS and contribute to advancing humanitarian assistance for the affected people.
For more information, please click here.
The delegation from the URCS visiting the Atomic Bomb Dome ©JRCS
Advancing Humanitarian Diplomacy through the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement’s Statutory Meetings
In October 2024, the IFRC General Assembly, the Council of Delegates of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, and the International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent were held in Geneva, Switzerland. The meetings brought together representatives from the States Parties to the Geneva Conventions, the ICRC, the IFRC, and National Societies from around the world.
During the conferences, key resolutions were adopted, including promoting a global culture of respect for IHL, ensuring adherence to the Fundamental Principles of the Movement when addressing humanitarian needs and risks related to disasters and climate change, and advancing sustainable, locally-led humanitarian action.
In line with the resolutions on IHL adopted at the conferences, the JRCS, together with the Government of Japan, announced a joint pledge to further promote and strengthen the dissemination of IHL. Additionally, during the conference, the JRCS held bilateral meetings with various National Societies to exchange views on future cooperation for mutual development.
For more information on the international conferences, visit here.
Toward the Elimination of Nuclear Weapons
Youth Volunteers of the American Red Cross (ages 13-24) had worked on the “Youth Action Campaign” to disseminate knowledge of IHL to their peers, with the theme of “Nuclear Weapons and Armed Conflict” for one year from July 2023. Considering the importance of the theme, the JRCS has also actively cooperated by holding Japan-U.S. Youth events during the same period. In July 2024, as a summary, some representatives of the American Red Cross’IHL Youth Action Campaign exchanged their views with various experts on nuclear weapons, including government officials. Dr. Masao Tomonaga, Honorary Director of was invited as one of the guests. Click here to watch a video of the discussion between the American Red Cross Youth representatives and Dr. Tomonaga.
The third Meeting of States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons（TPNW）took place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, USA in early March 2025. Two JRCS staff members and two from the ICRC Delegation in Japan attended the meeting. Further details will be released on the Red Cross International NEWS in April.
Promoting Humanitarian Activities through Women Empowerment
Ms. Margareta Wahlstrom, founder and representative of GLOW Red (Global Network for Women leaders in the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement: click here to learn more), has been awarded the Henry Dunant Medal, the highest honor of the Movement. Find more information here.
GLOW Red will participate in the "WA" space of the "Women's Pavilion in collaboration with Cartier" at Osaka/Kansai World EXPO 2025 on September 9-10. Discussions will focus on "Building Diverse Organizations" on the first day and "Women as managers in a crisis" on the second day. This event is open to the general public (by lottery) in addition to GLOW Red members. Further details will be posted on the official website of Osaka/Kansai World EXPO 2025 at a later date.
Additionally, taking this opportunity, the JRCS will host the GLOW Red annual meeting at the JRCS headquarters in Tokyo. During this gathering, participants from diverse international backgrounds will engage in discussions on strategies for promoting humanitarian initiatives through the pivotal role of women in leadership.
JRCS, in collaboration with the Movement, will remain committed to ensuring the delivery of humanitarian assistance in accordance with our Fundamental Principles.