Continue to promote the core role of the Vietnam Red Cross Society in humanitarian activities
General Secretary and President To Lam made an important directive speech at the solemn session of the 12th National Congress of the Vietnam Red Cross Society.
Switching from temporary relief to proactive prevention
On the morning of July 28, in Hanoi, the 12th National Congress of the Vietnam Red Cross Society, term 2026 - 2031, took place with the participation of 500 official delegates, representing more than 5.6 million Red Cross officials, members, volunteers and youth nationwide.
The Congress held a ceremony to honor General Secretary and President To Lam as Honorary Chairman of the Vietnam Red Cross Society for the term 2026 - 2031.
Speaking to direct at the Congress, General Secretary and President To Lam affirmed that a strong Vietnam must also be a compassionate Vietnam; a modern society must know how to share; a developed country must respect and protect the dignity and safety of each person.
Therefore, humanitarian work cannot just stop at relief when natural disasters, epidemics, and misfortunes occur, but must become a part of the human development strategy, ensuring social security, risk management and improving community resilience; must shift from passive response to proactive prevention; from post-disaster relief to early warning, early action; from simple donation to supporting livelihoods, capacity recovery and opening up development opportunities; from individual programs to a humanitarian ecosystem connecting the State, society, businesses and people.
The best support not only helps people overcome immediate difficulties, but also helps them rise up and stabilize their lives for a long time.
Basically agreeing with the directions, goals, key targets and six action programs stated in the Political Report submitted to the Congress, the General Secretary and President said that in order to successfully implement the Resolution of the 12th Congress of the Association, the 12th Central Executive Committee of the Association and Association levels should focus on synchronously completing institutions and laws, improving the effectiveness of law enforcement organization related to vulnerable people. Promoting education and training, supporting livelihood development, creating sustainable jobs and promoting community integration for some vulnerable groups.
Switching from temporary relief to proactive prevention, readiness and improving community resilience. The Association needs to participate more deeply in risk management based on the community; build early warning systems, on-site response forces, first aid networks and safe community models...
General Secretary and President noted that after initial relief, the Association must continue to accompany people to truly stabilize their lives. Along with responding to natural disasters, it is necessary to better prepare for public health risks, accidents and mental health crises.
Each school, agency, factory and community needs more people equipped with first aid skills, because this is a practical capacity that can save lives in the first minutes of accidents and incidents.
All activities must be centered on people.
General Secretary and President To Lam requested to continue to promote the core role, bridge and coordination of the Association in humanitarian activities. All activities must take people as the center, stemming from practical needs and taking the changes in the lives of those who are helped as a measure; it is necessary to prioritize those who need help most, not to let anyone be forgotten because of distance, procedures or technological limitations.
The Association must proactively detect humanitarian gaps, avoid duplication, spreading and formalism. Relief must be quick and timely; support must have goals, monitor and evaluate results.
General Secretary and President clearly stated, strongly innovate humanitarian governance, mobilize and effectively use all social resources. The Association must put publicity, transparency, integrity and accountability at the central position.
All contributions must be received, managed, and allocated for the right purpose; contributors have the right to know where resources are used, to whom, and what results are brought about; beneficiaries have the right to respond to the appropriateness, fairness, and timeliness of support.
Associations at all levels need to develop criteria for evaluating results, strengthen inspection, auditing, social supervision and publicize clear and verifiable information. Promptly build a unified humanitarian database, connected appropriately with national databases and social security systems; apply big data, artificial intelligence, mapping technology and digital platforms to identify needs, limit duplication, coordinate resources, early warning, manage volunteers and assess impacts...
The General Secretary and President requested to build a strong, professional, and modern Association; promote the strength of officials, members, volunteers and expand international cooperation.
Each cadre, association member, and Red Cross volunteer must be a role model of compassion, integrity, responsibility and service spirit. Association levels need to consolidate their organizations in a streamlined, substantive, effective, and efficient direction; overcome administrativeization, formalism, and distance from grassroots levels.
The Ministry of Health, medical facilities, doctors and nurses continue to closely coordinate with the Vietnam Red Cross Society to widely spread the "Florence Nightingale Spirit" - the spirit of compassion, dedication, courage and tireless service to humanity; it is necessary to discover, nurture, nominate, and honor typical individuals in patient care, disease prevention and control, disaster response, and community health protection.
The General Secretary and President believes that the Vietnam Red Cross Society will continue to strongly innovate and successfully fulfill its noble mission; become a symbol of faith and sharing, so that everyone in distress knows that they are not alone, and everyone with compassion has a reliable address to act together, contributing to building a strong, prosperous, civilized, and happy Vietnamese Fatherland.
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