Swedish Red Cross

Address:

Hornsgatan 54 Box 17563
- Stockholm
Tel: +46 8 4524600
Fax: +46 8 4524761
Email: postmaster@redcross.se
Website: www.redcross.se

Legal Basis:
1865: Swedish Red Cross was founded1919: The Swedish Red Cross joins the League of Red Cross Societies1999: General Assembly, national elections and revision of statutes2000: Since January 2000 the Swedish RC has had two decision-making levels (previously three) and the composition of the General Assembly has changed June 2002: Last General Assembly

Mission:
The Swedish Red Cross has a clear mission statement, adopted by the Central Board in June 1999, which refers to its five key areas: protecting life, promoting human dignity and human rights, protecting health and people, developing social security and developing the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement. 

Constituency:
The Swedish Red Cross has 1,500 local branches throughout the country, supported by 100-150 paid advisory officers that are close to local committees. The committees are supported by staff at ten new regional offices, co-ordinated from headquarters, which acts as back up for the local level.

Organisation/planning:
In June 1999, the Swedish RC General Assembly adopted a plan aimed at securing “Vision, Mission, Methods and Organisation for the year 2005”. This followed consultation throughout the society, focussing on improving the organizational structure and working methods, so as to use resources more efficiently and promote greater democracy.
With the implementation of the new structure in 2000, the society has sought to integrate national and international activities. From now on Swedish RC work at home and abroad will focus on five core areas, which correspond to those of the International Federation.

Leadership:
The General Assembly now consists of 370 representatives elected at the local level (previously there were 74 representatives from district level). Representatives are elected a year before the next General Assembly in order to participate in consultations with Headquarters on issues related to improving transparency and democracy within the Swedish RC. The participating representatives will follow up at the local committee level.

The Central Board is composed of 11 members, the President, and two members of the Youth Red Cross who do not have voting rights. The Central Board is the highest decision-making body after the General Assembly, which meets every third year. This board is responsible for defining the strategy and activities of the volunteers, while paid staff is responsible for management. The Executive Committee meets eight times a year.

All branches have local boards.

Co-operation councils will be set up in each community, to contribute to the development of activities at branch level and create a stronger Red Cross identity at the grass roots level.

Challenge:
Social security benefits: In October 2000, unemployment reached 4%, (up from 1.7% in 1990). The social security system seems to have succeeded in softening the effects of higher unemployment rates (Sweden devotes 34.8% of its GDP to social security, the highest in the EU). Ageing population: The number of elderly has increased, the most significant growth being among those aged 85 and over. 18% of the population are aged over 65.

Paid staff:
 530 paid employees, 150 of them at headquarters (65% women).

Volunteers:
40,000 are volunteers involved in activities carried out by branches. Red Cross Youth has almost 3,500 members, many of whom are active as volunteers. Swedish RC recognises that it needs to become more professional in recruiting new volunteers. There is a need for all volunteers to be able to exercise professional skills.

Members:
305,000 paid-up members.

Domestic Activities

Asylum Seekers, Refugees and Migrants
Voluntary repatriation support for refugees planning to return home.

Support to asylum seekers,Dissemination of the Fundamental Principles, International Humanitarian Law and human rights,Advocacy of policy issues regarding human rights for asylum seekers and refugees; contacts with authorities and political figures, Participation and consultation in committees for official and parliamentary reports, public statements and communications.

Civil Protection
Total defence: The Swedish RC recruits and trains men and women for the voluntary defence programme, financed by the government. There are currently 5,000 medical orderlies, half of them women.Mobile emergency units: Mobile emergency units (MEU) are deployed in the event of a major accident to give first aid and prepare victims for evacuation to hospital. Each MEU consists of a doctor, three nurses, four volunteer orderlies and 2 volunteer drivers. Municipality-based preparedness project: The programme focuses on psychosocial support for traumatised persons. National Information Bureau: In case of war, the Swedish RC has the responsibility assigned by the government for setting up the National Information Bureau.Dissemination of IHL & RC principles

First Aid
First aid training: The Swedish RC trains approx. 1%of the Swedish population in First aid and CPR. First aid teams: 100 First aid teams carry out preparedness activities and respond to emergencies.Health prevention and promotion

Health is an integrated part of most national programmes. One specific project is the Noah’s Ark Foundation, a care centre where volunteers offer support to HIV/AIDS sufferers and their families.

Social Services
Visiting services: Volunteers visit lonely and isolated people, mostly the elderly, at home. Visits are also made to detention centres and prisons, and to patients in hospitals and other institutions. Carers’ support: Professionals are trained to lead support groups for carers; together with volunteers they organise various activities to lighten the carers’ load. Telephone help line: Specially trained volunteers answer calls from people needing advice and support.Psychological first aid: The Swedish RC offers training for trainers and volunteers in psychological first aid.Various other activities are carried out, including campaigns against violence. The Swedish RC also has approximately 250 second-hand shops that not only provide needed items cheaply but also provide an informal environment for people who feel like socialising.

Tracing
Tracing and reuniting families separated in emergencies.Youth
The Swedish Red Cross Youth mostly works with activities against racism and xenophobia. They also work with girls groups in a gender aspect. Help line and twinning projects are other important activities.
International Activites: Humanitarian AidWater and sanitation
International Activites: Development ActivitiesCapacity building of National Societies worldwideCommunity-based health
Personnel:
 
Amount spent on international work:
23,26 million EUR spent on international work (2002)
Delegates:
72 field delegate missions (2002)

Membership in RCRC networks:
Climate Change Center;Cooperation in response to Human trafficking; 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; 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:8.975 million
GPD per capita:€ 25,300
Life expectancy:79.9 years
Infant mortality:3.4 ‰
Accession to the EU:1995