The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Pasay City Chapter will take the lead in this year’s commemoration of the International Humanitarian Law (IHL) day with the theme “Geneva Conventions: Compassion Amidst Armed Conflict”, which aims to increase awareness on the basic principles of IHL and promote its observance in times of armed conflict.
 
The IHL is a set of rules which place restrictions on the use of weapons and methods of warfare. It protects people who are not, or no longer, participating in hostilities.
 
One of the events for this year’s celebration is the Run for Humanity where a hundreds to thousands of PRC supporters from the youth sector, 143 volunteers, local government units, NGOs and the general public will gather to participate in the said run.
 
“The IHL Day is observed every August 12 of each year. It is a time to review of what needs to be done to revive humanitarian law and the world’s faith in its long-lasting values. Every year, we are organizing a Walk for Humanity to raise public awareness on IHL. But this year, through the efforts of Red Cross Pasay City Chapter, we are conducting a Run for Humanity,” said PRC Chairman Richard Gordon.
 
The commemoration of the IHL day goes as simple as conducting IHL forum participated by various agencies until the Red Cross Zamboanga City Chapter in 2004 conducted a “Walk for Humanity” to commemorate the said event.
 
It was then realized that the Walk for Humanity conducted in Zamboanga produced high impact on public awareness on IHL.
 
In National Capital Region (NCR), the said Walk for Humanity was adopted by Red Cross Quezon City Chapter in 2007 enjoining various agencies, including Red Cross 143 and youth volunteers to join the walk. Around 15,000 participants joined the said walk.
 
It has then become a tradition yearly to conduct a Walk for Humanity in NCR and also in other Red Cross chapters nationwide.
 
In 2008 Walk for Humanity, hosted by Manila Chapter, the number of participants who joined the walk remarkably doubled from the previous year which totaled to 28,000 participants.
 
Just last year, around 37,000 volunteers and supporters of the PRC joined the Walk for Humanity in Marikina Sport Complex. This event was hosted and organized by the Red Cross Rizal Chapter.

This year, to further encourage  the public to be one with the PRC in commemorating the IHL Day, the Red Cross Pasay City chapter will conduct “Run for Humanity” on August 15, 2010.

The run will start at 5:00 am in President Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard in Pasay City. Registration runs from July 5 to August 5, 2010.  Interested participants may register at the PRC National Headquarters and PRC chapters in Pasay, Manila, Rizal, Quezon City, Las Pinas, Valenzuela, Caloocan, Malabon and Navotas.

Participants may register for 3k, 5k or 10k run and registration fees are Php 250, Php 300 and Php 350 respectively.

“As we commemorate the IHL Day, let this be a chance for us not only to honor the heroism of Henry Dunant during the Battle of Solferino but also an opportunity to raise funds and to look for passionate Red Cross volunteers and members,” said PRC Secretary General Gwendolyn Pang.

“Let this celebration rejuvenate our mission as Red Crossers to alleviate human suffering not only in times of war but also during disasters and calamities where our services are highlighted,” Pang added.