International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement Prince of Asturias Award for International Cooperation 2012

At its meeting in Oviedo, the Jury for the 2012 Prince of Asturias Award for International Cooperation, composed of Mr Pedro Alonso Fernández, Mr Enrique Barón Crespo, Mr José María Bergareche Busquet, Ms Eugenia Bieto Caubet, Ms Silvia Escobar Moreno, Mr Jorge de Esteban Alonso, Enrique Fernández-Miranda y Lozana, Duke of Fernández-Miranda, Ms Isabel Gómez-Acebo y Duque de Estrada, Ms Gloria Fernández-Lomana García, Mr Ricardo Martí Fluxá, Mr José María Martín Patino, Mr Jaime Montalvo Correa, Mr Luis Javier Navarro Vigil, Mr Francisco Pinto Balsemão, Ms Marta Reynal-Querol, Mr Rafael Sánchez-Barriga Fernández, Mr Luis Sánchez-Merlo Ruiz, chaired by Mr Gustavo Suárez Pertierra and with Ms Alicia Castro Masaveu acting as secretary, has decided to bestow the 2012 Prince of Asturias Award for International Cooperation on the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, considered one of the world’s largest humanitarian networks, whose mission is to prevent and alleviate human suffering, protect life and health and ensure respect for the dignity of the people, especially in times of armed conflict and in situations of crisis and need.

The Red Cross and Red Crescent are present in 187 countries in which over a hundred million volunteers work in collaboration. Its basic principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality have guided all its actions since its creation in 1863.

The Jury has prized its performance in armed conflicts such as those of Syria, Libya and Somalia and in the natural disasters which have beset Haiti, Indonesia and Japan.

The Red Cross and Red Crescent and their volunteers save lives, protect livelihoods, provide support for recovery after disaster and crisis, enable people to lead a safe and healthy life and promote social inclusion and a culture of nonviolence and peace.

Oviedo, 13th June 2012