Chapter I

Goals, tasks and activity of the Red Cross Society of Georgia

Article 1

This law determines the legal status of the Red Cross Society of Georgia, its functions, goals and tasks, and the legal basis of its financial and property relationship with the state.

Article 2

The Red Cross Society of Georgia is a voluntary, humanitarian, non-governmental, independent public union.
The Red Cross Society of Georgia is a legal person.

Article 3

The Red Cross Society of Georgia is an inalienable part of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and its activity is based on the fundamental principles of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. These principles are:

1. Humanity
2. Impartiality 
3. Neutrality
4. Independence
5. Voluntarism
6. Unity
7. Universality

Article 4

The Red Cross Society of Georgia conducts its work according to the Georgian Constitution, the Geneva Conventions of August 12, 1949 (hereafter the Geneva Conventions), their additional protocols of June 8, 1977 (hereafter the additional protocols), the Law of Georgia about the Public Unions of Citizens, the present law, other legislative acts and its own statute.

Article 5

Only one organization of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies may exist in Georgia. This organization is the Red Cross Society of Georgia, which conducts its activity on the entire territory of Georgia.

Article 6

The Red Cross Society of Georgia:

• Participates in measures to solve the social problems existing in the country; implements different assistance programmes directed at those persons who are in need of help because of their social and material conditions;
• Within the framework of its competence implements different state orders of social character;
• Leads the voluntary blood donors' campaign and assists society in providing blood;
• Assists the medical-sanitary services of healthcare and military structures and other relevant bodies during armed conflicts and natural disasters in providing help to the victims
• Coordinates the assistance of different international programmes during the massive disasters;
• Creates professional operative-rescue services for providing assistance to the victims of natural disasters, catastrophes, epidemics and armed conflicts
• Participates in educating the population and particularly the youth in providing first medical aid;
• Prepares professional and amateur drivers of different transportation means and representatives of other professional groups within the framework of the first aid programme;
• Participates in search operations organized by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and for that creates a special search service;
• Carries out other functions envisaged in the Geneva Conventions, its additional protocols, this law and the statue of the Red Cross Society of Georgia.

Chapter II

Legal bases of the financial and property relationship between the Red Cross Society of Georgia and the state

Article 7

The Red Cross Society of Georgia owns and disposes of any movable and immoveable property while serving its goals, tasks and functions according to the Georgian legislation.

Article 8

Major income sources of the Red Cross Society of Georgia are:

1. Membership fee;
2. Grants, presents and donations;
3. Income received from the industrial activity conducted for achieving statutory goals and tasks;
4. Income received from paid services.

Article 9

The Red Cross Society of Georgia may be allocated finances from central and local government budgets for implementing concrete programmes and social orders.

Chapter III

Conclusive Provisions

Article 10

This law will enter into force upon its publishing.

President of Georgia
Eduard Shevardnadze

Tbilisi,
October 16, 1997
N942-IS