Portuguese Red Cross

Address:

Jardim 9 deAbril, 1 a 5               
1249-083 Lisbon               
Portugal

Tel: +351 213913900
Fax: +351 213913993
Email: internacional@cruzvermelha.org.pt
Website: www.cruzvermelha.pt

President of Portuguese Red Cross: Luis Barbosa
Head of International Department: Carlos Pimenta Araújo

Legal Basis:
1868: Portuguese RC is created by Royal Charter. 1919: Portuguese RC joins the League.1993: Adoption of the current statutes; at the most recent General Assembly in September 1997 it is decided that the statutes should be amended to take into account the structure at field level. No deadline is set for this change.1999: New elections; the statutes are under review.

Mission:
The mission statement is contained in the Portuguese Red Cross statutes, updated in 1993. The new statutes are the result of consultations between the three levels of the National Society (local chapters, district branches and HQ). After official approval, regional information meetings were held in order to explain new approaches. The field offices then informed the membership of the new statutes.

Constituency:
The society is based on three levels of geographical responsibility, which cover the entire country:National Headquarters, 25 district branches (with district assemblies and district directorates) 155 local chapters (local assemblies and local directorates)

Organisation/planning:
New development plan: A new building for HQ has been purchased, and was operational by early 2001. In several delegations improvements have been made and a few are preparing new installations.

Leadership:
General Assembly
Supreme Council
National Directorate

Paid staff:
218 at HQ and 498 in the branches and chapters. All levels of governance and management (Secretary General and Secretaries) are based on membership with no restriction relating to population groups, gender or age (other than the minimum age requirement of 18 years).

Volunteers:
About 5,000 at branch and chapter levels; the recruitment of more volunteers is hampered by the limited capacity of the national society to develop more activities.

Domestic Activities
Educational and training programs
The aim is to offer people courses in professional and social fields as well as scholarship certificates.

Health prevention and promotion
This programme represents 22% of Portuguese RC activities, and consists of: Relief stations, Clinic services, Rehabilitation projects, Health community projects, Relief units, Social Services

Social action program
This represents 45% of Portuguese RC activities, consisting of social intervention projects for vulnerable groups, ethnic minorities, the homeless and drug addicts. Support and orientation: 48% ; Homecare for the elderly and dependent people: 28% ; Support to children and youth: 9%

Youth Section
The main activities consist in: Social counselors for handicapped youth; Dissemination of Red Cross Principles in schools; First aid training in schools; Social activities
In 1997, the youth section had 700 volunteers and 500 leaders.

Amount spent on international work:
417,748 Euro spent on international work (2001)

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 Reference Center on Psychological Support WENDOV – Western European Network on Volunteer Development WEYRCN – West European Youth Red Cross Network

Country Information
Population: 10.637713million (2010)
GPD per capita: € 18 243.28 (2010)
Life expectancy: male - 76.50  | female -  82.56 (2009)
Infant mortality: 3,4 ‰ (2010)
Accession to the EU: 1986