Equipo Nizkor - Law on the National Red Cross Society of Romania.

The Parliament of Romania adopts the present law.

Chapter 1 - General Provisions

Article 1 - The National Red Cross Society of Romania shall be an independent, non-governmental, apolitical and non-commercial corporate body. It shall engage in activities of a humanitarian nature as a voluntary aid organization auxiliary to the public authorities.

Article 2 - (1) The National Red Cross Society of Romania shall be organized and function as a separate and sole Red Cross society, both in times of war and in times of peace, on the basis of the law, the Geneva Convention of 1949, to which Romania is a signatory, and its own Statute.

(2) - The fundamental moral and legal principles on which the National Red Cross of Romania conducts its activities shall be those of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement: Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Voluntary Activity, Unity and Universality.

Article 3 - (1) The work of the National Red Cross Society of Romania shall be open to everybody, ant it work shall be conducted throughout the entire territory of the country.

(2) The National Red Cross Society of Romania shall be involved in activities of an international nature, organized in conformity with the relevant conventions, to which Romania is a party, and in other international actions of a humanitarian nature.

Article 4 - (1) The emblem of the National Red Cross Society of Romania, adopted at the time of its foundation on the 4th of July 1876, is displayed in the annexa which is part of the present law.

(2) The emblem of the National Red Cross Society of Romania shows a vermilion red cross displayed against a white ground, made up of five egual squares, and circumscribed by two concentric circles of the same colour. In between the two circles, against the white ground, the following heading is written in vermilion red capitals: THE NATIONAL RED CROSS SOCIETY *ROMANIA*

Article 5 - (1) The emblem may be used as an identification mark in times of peace by:

a) The National Red Cross Society of Romania at public meetings and in campaigns for collecting funds;

b) Other corporate bodies involved in activities specified in subsection a);

c) Means of transport:

d) First Aid centres, on condition they provide assistance only for free.

(2) Authorization for the use of this emblem in the situations mentioned in subsections b) c) and d) shall be issued by the National Red Cross Society of Romania.

(3) In times of armed conflict, the emblem shall be used as an identification mark solely by the National Red Cross of Romania.

Article 6 - (1) The emblem may be used as a protective sign in times of peace by the National Red Cross Society of Romania.

(2) In times of armed conflict, the emblem may be used as a protective sign by:

a) the health services of the armed forces

b) by the National Red Cross of Romania, only by its own personnel and for materials contributed to the official health services, subject to military regulations;

c) civilian hospitals, recognized as such by the state and authorized to use the emblem for the purposes of protection;

d) other voluntary aid societies authorized for this purpose, only by their own personnel and for materials contributed to the official sanitary services, subject to military regulations.

(3) Authorization for the use of the emblem as a protective sign in the event of armed conflict shall be given by the Government of Romania.

Article 7 - The National Red Cross Society of Romania shall function in its own premises and in those allocated for this purpose up to now, and in other premises made available to it by the local authorities or the municipality of Bucharest, as appropriate, for the conduct of its activities, and shall enjoy the right of protection as it is legally provided for in favour of all public institutions.

Article 8 - The National Red Cross Society of Romania, an institution of public benefit, shall have the right to request assistance from all public authorities and the latter have an obligation to provide it.

Article 9 - The head office of the National Red Cross Society of Romania shall be located in the city of Bucharest.

Chapter 2 - Object and Main Tasks of the National Red Cross Society of Romania

Article 10 - The National Red Cross Society of Romania shall act, in all circumstances, with the purpose to prevent and alleviate human suffering, with no discrimination whatsoever as to nationality, race, religion, age, sex, social condition, political or military affiliation.

Article 11 - The main tasks of the National Red Cross Society of Romania shall be:

a) to act in times of armed conflict, and to prepare itself and act in times of peace, as an auxiliary to the public authorities in all the fields specified by the Geneva Convention in 1949 and for the benefit of all those affected by suffering, both civilians and military personnel;

b) to contribute to the improvement of health, to the prevention of diseases and to the alleviation of suffering through programmes of mutual aid for the benefit of the community;

c) to organise, at national or local level as appropriate, emergency services for the benefit of the victims of disasters, irrespective of the nature and the causes thereof;

d) to recruit, instruct and make available the personnel necessary for carrying out its mission;

e) to promote the involvement of children and young people in its specific activities;

f) to authorise the use of the emblem in times of peace, according to the law;

g) to organize and partake in international actions for the assistance of disaster victims, regardless of the causes and nature of disasters;

h) to make known to the general public, especially to children and youth, its activities as well as those of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and the Fundamental Principles of the Red Cross, the ideals of peace, respect and understanding between all men and all peoples;

i) to sign cooperation agreements and to organize programmes in common with other societies or associations involved in humanitarian activities, with ministries and other local or central governmental institutions, as a means of pursuing its humanitarian mission;

j) to be involved, on the basis of programmes initiated by the Ministry of Health, in the recruiting of volunteer blood donors, in fighting epidemics and in other activities.

Article 12 - The written press, the radio and the television shall popularise the humanitarian activities of the National Red Cross Society of Romania without charge.

Chapter 3 - Members, Organization and Assets

Article 13 - (1) The National Red Cross Society of Romania shall be open to all citizens, regardless of their nationality, race, sex, religion, profession, political or social affiliation.

(2) The nature of membership of the National Red Cross Society of Romania, together with the corresponding rights and obligations, shall be defined in the Statute and the regulations adopted by the General Assembly.

Article 14 - The National Red Cross Society of Romania shall be organised on the principle of territoriality, according to its Statute and regulations.

Article 15 - The assets of the National Red Cross Society of Romania shall consist of current and fixed assets originating in:

a) membership fees;

b) donations and legacies

c) sponsorship, contributions in cash and goods from any Romanian or foreign individuals or corporate bodies;

d) income from the organization of public meeting, tombolas, balls and other similar activities, as well as from specific commercial activities which are compatible with its objectives;

e) editing and sale of its own periodicals, publications and books related to its field of activity.

Article 16 - Payments for contributions as a member of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and for contributions to the financing of the International Committee of the Red Cross, as well as for securing the accomplishment of the tasks of the National Red Cross Society of Romania mentioned in art. 11, subsections a), d) , e), g) and h) shall be established annually in the State Budget Law.

Article 17.- (1) The current and fixed assets of the National Red Cross Society of Romania and materials it receives or it dispatches at home or abroad for the purposes of carrying out its humanitarian mission shall be exempted of any kind of duty or tax.

(2) Legal actions to enforce its rights of any kind shall be exempted of stamp duty.

Article 18 - In the event of natural and other disasters, and in times of armed conflict, the personnel of the National Red Cross Society of Romania, while on mission as serving delegates, shall be transported free of charge on any means of transport operated by state owned or independent commercial societies.

Article 19 - A "Red Cross of Romania Month" shall be organized annually, in May and September.

Article 20 - (1) All cultural institutions and sports organizations shall charge an additional tariff of Lei 200 at all cultural and sports activities organized during the months of May and September.

(2) The additional tariff shall be charged on the basis of a stamp issued by the National Red Cross Society of Romania and bearing its emblem, which stamp shall be applied on the tickets.

(3) The sums resulting from the sale of the stamps shall be deposited in the account of the National Red Cross Society of Romania.

Article 21 - Decree No. 561/1973 concerning the organization and functioning of the voluntary health units of the Red Cross Society of the Socialist Republic of Romania and Decree No. 281/1981 concerning the organization of the "Red Cross Week" in the Socialist Republic of Romania, as well as any provisions to the contrary, shall be repealed on the date on which the present law enters into force.

The present law was adopted by the House of Deputies on the 20th of December 1995, in compliance with the provisions of art. 74 par. (2) in the Constitution of Romania.

The President of the House of Deputies
Adrian Nastase

The present law was adopted by the Senate on the 20th of December 1995, in compliance with the provisions of art. 74 par.(2) in the Constitution of Romania.

The President of the Senate
univ. prof. dr. Oliviu Gherman

20Dec1995 - ROU

Law on the National Red Cross Society of Romania

Chapter 1 - General Provisions

Chapter 2 - Object and Main Tasks of the National Red Cross Society of Romania

Chapter 3 - Members, Organization and Assets

[Source: Monitorul Oficial, No. 303, p. 9-11, Bucharest, 30 December 1995. By way of: International Committee of the Red Cross.]

Legislation
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