Netherlands Red Cross

Address:

Leeghwaterplein 27
P.O. Box 28120 - The Hague
Tel: +31 70 445 5666
Fax: +31 70 445 5777
Email: hq@redcross.nl
Website: http://www.rodekruis.nl

Legal Basis:
1867: The Royal Decree establishing the Netherlands RC is passed; the society is recognised by the ICRC in 18681919: The Netherlands RC joins the League1988: Activities with government involvement are redefined1 January 1999: Last update of the statutes of the Netherlands RC, dealing mainly with the new governance structureDecember 2003: Redefinition of the strategic aims: social aid and emergency aid.

Mission:
The mission and statement of the Netherlands Red Cross goals are set out in its strategic document “Zorg voor elkaar” (“Care for Each Other”), approved in 1995 and updated and reconfirmed in “Focus on Assistance” (2003).
The Netherlands RC is responsible for tracing and specific tasks within disaster relief co-operation at a national level. The national government provides subsidies for activities carried out by the Netherlands RC that includes home care assistance and social welfare for war victims and their relatives. The state also provides funds for international co-operation, both for relief and development operations.

Constituency:
The society’s branch structure covers the entire country:Approximately 360 local branches, each an independent legal entity, are committed to participate within the district and national structure in carrying out specific humanitarian tasks in accordance with the Fundamental Principles. At a higher level, branches co-operate within approximately 71 districts; many of them are in the process of merging into larger branches and districts. Within the national general assembly, each district holds one vote

Organisation/planning:
New plan of action: The new plan consolidates activities carried out at national level (mandated by HQ) and at district level. The plan is produced annually, with active participation of staff at national and district levels.
Structure of Netherlands RC: The structure of the society was revitalised by merging local branches into districts, reducing and reorganising staff at HQ, and restructuring the board in line with the core work sectors.

Leadership:
At national level, the National Executive Committee (or National Board) keeps monthly meetings, while the General Assembly is held twice a year.
At district level, covering one or more branches, district boards are composed of representatives from the boards of the branches concerned. The boards usually convene between six and eight times a year.
At branch level, members elect their representatives to the board. All board members are non-paid staff.

Challenge:
Many people still depend on social benefits covering unemployment, incapacity and sickness, despite high economic growth and one of the lowest unemployment rates in the EU (about 4%).

The ageing of the population is expected to be an increasing burden on the social security system, as the number of over-60s is likely to account for over 60% of the population by 2020.

Paid staff:
160 at national HQ (72 men, 88 women), 143 (35 men and 108 women) at district and branch levels

Volunteers:
at branch level, approximately 34,000 active volunteers (70% women and 30% men), mainly active in providing services; additionally, 2,500 unpaid professional staff, mainly active within branch governance and administration. Recruitment and retention of volunteers has been designated as a specific core task at district and branch level

Domestic Activities

Blood
The Netherlands RC has a limited role in this area. The society is a member of the board of the Central Blood Donation/Transfusion Authority. In small branches, blood-donation sessions are organised over a few days each year.

First Aid

First aid and disaster response and preparedness
The activities of this unit aim to complement the national disaster- response programme and to develop small specialist teams to support statutory authorities. There are three major components:Medical assistance: Netherlands RC teams assist municipal ambulance and mobile medical teams. 13 full-time staff members and an estimated 2,200 volunteers are involved.Care and assistance: this unit covers medical and social assistance. The medical assistance staff is also responsible for organising and co-ordinating care and assistance programmes. The number of volunteers is estimated at 4,000.Registration and information: Netherlands RC assists the authorities in registration and provision of information in times of disaster or major accident.

Social Services

Social services
Visiting programme for the elderly First aid training, health promotion campaignsDissemination of IHL and Red Cross PrinciplesYouth activities Vacation substitute for informal carers.

Tracing
Tracing: The Netherlands RC is active in “social tracing” (reuniting long-lost relatives who have been separated by conflict) and in tracing (re-establishing contacts and exchanging messages between relatives who have been separated as a result of a conflict). The main target group is refugees, asylum seekers and illegal immigrants. An estimated 150 volunteers are involved in these activities, with eight paid staff at national HQ. Youth

Youth Section
The main activities consist in:International Humanitarian Law dissemination programme, First aid courses,Social participation programmeInternational exchange programmeIn 2003, this section had 5,000 youth volunteers and 200 leaders
International Activites: Development ActivitiesCapacity building of National Societies worldwide

Core areas of activity

Development/cooperation in the four core areas,Capacity and institution building
Support to relief projects accounts for 34% of the society’s international expenditure (2003), 28% is spent on rehabilitation projects, and 38% is dedicated to long-term assistance.

Personnel:
Staff 26 staff at national HQ112 delegates in the field (International Federation – 22, ICRC – 17, bilateral – 73)

Amount spent on international work:
19.8 million Euro spent on international work (2003)
 In 2003, out of the total expenditure for international work:  30% was spent on bilateral activities50% went through the International Federation12% went through the ICRC8% went through other channels

Membership in RCRC networks:
Climate Change Center; ELSG – European Legal Support Group; ENPS – European Red Cross Societies Network for Psychological Support; EPSG – European Public Support Group; European Reference Center on First Aid; PERCO – Platform for European Red Cross Co-operation on Refugees, Asylum Seekers and Migrants; Reference Center on Psychological Support; WENDOV – Western European Network on Volunteer Development; WEYRCN – West European Youth Red Cross Network

Country Information

Population:Population: 16.258 million
GPD per capita:GDP per capita: € 26,500
Life expectancy: 78.4 years
Infant mortality:Infant mortality rate: 4.2 ‰
Accession to the EU:
Accession to the EU: 1957