Slovak Red Cross
Address:Grösslingová 24
814 46 Bratislava
Tel: + 421 2 57 10 23 01
Fax: + 421 2 52 92 32 79
Email: sekretariat@redcross.sk
Website: http://www.redcross.sk/
Legal Basis:
1919: The society was originally founded,1993: Following the break-up of Czechoslovakia, the ICRC recognized the Slovak RC, which joined the International Federation the same year. 1994: The latest version of the Red Cross law was adopted. October 2001: The statutes were updated during the last General Assembly and national elections took place.
Mission:
The Red Cross/Red Crescent Fundamental Principles have been adopted by the General Assembly and are clearly represented in the mission statement. The International Federation’s Strategy 2010 has been adopted and applied. There is good cooperation between the society and the government, particularly with the ministry of labour, social affairs and family, ministry of health, ministry of foreign affairs, ministry of defence and ministry of home affairs. The Slovak RC is well known in the country through its well-established activities for vulnerable people and has a positive public image.
Constituency:
The Slovak RC has a headquarter and 41 branches (with 41 secretariats), which cover the whole territory.
Organisation/planning:
The Slovak RC activities are revised on a regular basis and consultations with branches are carried out regarding implementation. The latest concept document for activities was adopted by the General Assembly in October 2001 for the period 2001 to 2005.
In the framework of three-year cooperation with the British Red Cross which ended in 2000, three new activities began at headquarters level: fund-raising, communication with the public and regular promotion of the Slovak RC in the media. The German Red Cross provided support for disaster preparedness program.
Leadership:
The supreme board meets at least once a year and the executive board meets four times a year. The leadership structures of the Slovak RC are clearly defined with responsibility and accountability identified.
A new secretary general was appointed in 1998 and confirmed by the General Assembly in 2001.
Challenge:
Slovakia became an independent state in 1993 after the peaceful political split-up of Czechoslovakia. The country is a parliamentary democracy. The new government, elected in 1998, adopted hard economic measurements to stabilize the economy. Since 2000, the Slovak economy has stabilized.
In 2001 and 2002, the privatisation process was extended (all banks and public gas monopoly). The economic constraints are relatively high unemployment rate (19.6 per cent), foreign trade deficit, budget deficit and growing foreign debt.
Paid staff:
There are 114 staff members, of whom 31 work at headquarter. All headquarters staff are professionals. A policy on recruitment and training is to be set up and will include appraisals.
Volunteers:
There are approximately 130,071 members, including 3,493 youth members. The volunteer recruitment policy requires development, although the youth section is strong.
Members:
There are approximately 130,071 members, including 3,493 youth members. The volunteer recruitment policy requires development, although the youth section is strong.
Domestic Activities
Blood
Non-remunerated blood-donor recruitment and donor education continues. A system of awards exists for blood donors linked to specific campaigns throughout the year. Two mobile blood units, used by the Slovak Red Cross with Austrian RC support, are running in Bratislava metropolitan area. The Slovak RC will be prepared for future changes in the health care system, especially as regards blood transfusions.Dissemination of IHL & RC principles
IHL Dissemination
The Slovak RC’s International Humanitarian Law dissemination project started in 1998 and continues to work in all regions of Slovakia. It is supported by the ICRC’s regional delegation in Budapest.First Aid
Health and first aid
A number of programmes promote health education among the population. First-aid education targets the general public in institutions and at work, as well as primary and secondary school children. Four of the Slovak Red Cross first-aid courses have been approved by the European standards body and a European standards certificate can, therefore, be issued on completion of the course. Besides public education in 42 regional branches, the education of the trainees and first-aid instructors continued in 2001 at the first-aid central educational centre, established in the Slovak RC’s national headquarters, under the supervision of ministry of health experts. Linked to first-aid activities is the water rescue service, which is organized in 15 centres, involving some 1,000 lifesavers. At the Almaty Conference (2001), it was decided that the ERNA (European Network of Red Cross/Red Crescent Societies on HIV/AIDS) secretariat, established in 1999 in Slovakia, should continue its activities.
Risk reduction / Disaster Preparedness
Relief and preparedness
In the last three years following severe flooding, the NS was involved in distributing relief assistance to the affected communities. The society has also delivered different humanitarian items and financial contributions to other National Societies in response to different emergencies. Long-term plans are, in cooperation with the German Red Cross, to develop a better response to natural disasters through the disaster preparedness project. Social Services
Social welfare
The Slovak RC runs social centres for elderly people (seven), disabled children (three), lonely mothers with children (four), and homeless people (three). It also operates home-care services involving 4,500 qualified caregivers community kitchens (13) with home delivery for immobile people, and 36 centres for material aid distribution. The society also runs projects to benefit the empowerment of Roma communities (education and empowerment of skills in the area of health and social field for Roma girls and women).Tracing
Tracing
This service is offered to help people who have lost contact with their closest relatives due to natural or industrial disasters, political or armed conflicts, or social and health conditions. Thanks to the international network of the Red Cross and Red Crescent tracing services and the ICRC’s Central Tracing Agency, it is possible to search and obtain documentation about missing people, and to deliver messages from and to areas of armed conflict. Since 1993 the Slovak RC has dealt with 5,338 tracing requests and messages.Youth
Youth
The main youth activities are leadership training, raising people awareness on first aid and hunger, HIV/AIDS and drug abuse prevention. The number of volunteers and leaders is continuously increasing.
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; ERNA – European Network of Red Cross/Red Crescent Societies on HIV/AIDS; 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: 5.380 million
GPD per capita:
GDP per capita: € 11,900
Life expectancy:Life expectancy: 74.4 years
Infant mortality:Infant mortality rate: 8.5 ‰
Accession to the EU:
Accession to the EU: 2004
