Vice Chairman of the Hanoi Red Cross Society Nguyen Sy Truong said the emblem of the Red Cross has always been associated with the humanitarian activities of the Red Cross Society, noting that over the past 70 years, the symbol of the Red Cross has become recognisable and common with people in Vietnam.
However, he added, the symbol of the Red Cross has been misused by many organisations and individuals at health establishments, ambulances, drugstores, healthcare products, household appliances and traffic signs, among others.
Truong said that there have been cases when people have abused the Red Cross symbol to seek profit and carry out illegal acts which affect the humanitarian operations and prestige of the Red Cross Society.
The Vietnam Red Cross Society is a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, thus, the protection of the emblem of the Red Cross is the responsibility of each member and volunteer of the Vietnam Red Cross Society in order to protect the values of humanitarian work, Truong stated.
The emblem of the Red Cross was recognised by the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and the Law on Red Cross activities was adopted by the Vietnam's National Assembly in 2008.
On the same day, the Hanoi Steering Committee for Blood Donation held a ceremony to honour blood donors in 2016 in response to World Blood Donor Day (14 June).
