The Saeima¹ has adopted and
the President has proclaimed the following law:

Law on Latvian Red Cross

Section 1. (1) The purpose of the Law is to promote social welfare and compliance with international humanitarian law by supporting the cooperation of the association Latvian Red Cross (hereinafter - the Latvian Red Cross) with State and local government authorities, the involvement of the public in the work of the organisation in question and by ensuring the use of the Red Cross emblem.

(2) This Law prescribes the legal status of the Latvian Red Cross, the basic tasks of operation, the basis for the use of the Red Cross emblem and the name 'Red Cross'.

Section 2. (1) The Latvian Red Cross is an association registered in the Register of Associations and Foundations in compliance with the requirements of the Associations and Foundations Law.

(2) The Latvian Red Cross acts throughout the territory of Latvia as a voluntary assistant to State authorities and local governments in the field of humanitarian activity, providing assistance in cases of disasters, including armed conflicts.

Section 3. The Latvian Red Cross is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The International Committee of the Red Cross, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and the national societies of the Red Cross and Red Crescent have joined the movement.

Section 4. The operation of the Latvian Red Cross shall be governed by the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 (hereinafter - the Geneva Conventions) and the Additional Protocols to these Conventions of 8 June 1977 and 8 December 2005 (hereinafter - the Additional Protocols), the Associations and Foundations Law, this Law, and other laws and regulations.

Section 5. The Latvian Red Cross has the following basic tasks of operation:

1) to provide assistance to the victims of armed conflicts;

2) to be prepared to respond to emergency situations by providing assistance to victims, to train inhabitants in the provision of first aid;

3) to perform humanitarian work for the benefit of society;

4) in co-operation with the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to perform the search for missing persons, the identification of the burial sites of persons who have died in armed conflicts, communication with persons who are in the area of armed conflicts, and to facilitate family reunification;

5) to promote international humanitarian law and the Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross Movement;

6) to promote and encourage the movement of voluntary blood donors, to grant the title of an Honorary Donor to the donors who have donated blood multiple times. The criteria for granting the title of the Honorary Donor and the procedures for granting an Honorary Donor certificate shall be determined by the Cabinet.

Section 6. The Red Cross emblem as well as the name 'Red Cross' shall be used in accordance with the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols, this Law, and other laws and regulations.

Section 7. The Red Cross emblem has two functions:

1) protective;

2) indicative.

Section 8. The Red Cross emblem shall be used as a protective sign by:

1) the Latvian Red Cross;

2) the National Armed Forces to designate the medical personnel and soldiers involved in the search for the injured and ill persons and victims, their collection and transport or provision of other assistance thereto, chaplains, medical units, their equipment and places of location, and land, water, and air vehicles;

3) medical treatment institutions, medical practitioners, and other persons who, in the event of an armed conflict, provide medical assistance, and also on the vehicles which, in the event of an armed conflict, carry the injured and ill persons and victims;

4) other persons involved in providing assistance to the injured and ill persons and victims.

Section 9. In the case of an armed conflict, medical practitioners and other persons providing medical assistance, soldiers of the National Armed Forces who are involved in the search for the injured and ill persons and victims, their collection and transport or provision of other assistance thereto, chaplains as well as members of the Latvian Red Cross and other persons involved in providing assistance to the injured and ill persons and victims shall carry armbands and use identification cards with the Red Cross emblem. The procedures for the making and issuing of armbands and identification cards shall be determined by the Cabinet.

Section 10. The Latvian Red Cross shall use the indicative emblem of the Red Cross and the name 'Red Cross':

1) in order to promote knowledge of the International Red Cross Movement and international humanitarian law;

2) in carrying out economic activities and collecting donations for ensuring the operation of the Latvian Red Cross;

3) in order to mark charitable consignments:

a) in cases of disasters, including armed conflicts;

b) for needy and low-income persons;

4) on the appreciation certificates and awards issued by the Latvian Red Cross.

Section 11. The Latvian Red Cross is entitled to issue a written permit to other persons to use the Red Cross emblem for purposes which comply with the basic tasks of operation of the Red Cross and the Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and promote the operation of the Latvian Red Cross.

Section 12. For offences against the use of the Red Cross emblem and the name 'Red Cross', a person shall be held liable under the law.

The Law has been adopted by the Saeima on 8 April 2009.

President V. Zatlers

Rīga, 29 April 2009

¹The Parliament of the Republic of Latvia

Translation © 2022 Valsts valodas centrs (State Language Centre)