La Cruz Roja debate nuevo emblema

François Bugnion, director de legislación internacional del organismo, revela el nuevo símbolo.

Countries who have signed the Geneva Conventions are meeting in Geneva today to discuss a third sign for the International Red Cross. Some countries want a new sign with no religious links.

This report from Imogen Foulkes:

The only emblems recognised under the Geneva Conventions are the red cross and the red crescent. On the battlefield or in disaster zones the thinking goes: these two clearly symbolise neutral humanitarian relief and should not be compromised by lots of other emblems.

But Israel rejects the cross and the crescent, it's Magen David Adom Society uses the unrecognised red star of David. That means the society is not a full member of the Red Cross movement. America has been withholding its subscriptions to the International Red Cross in protest at the exclusion. Arab states meanwhile, will not accept the star of David as a neutral symbol in a war zone.

The only solution is a third emblem, a red diamond on a white background, it has no cultural or religious significance. After intense negotiations, Israel says it will use the diamond outside its internationally recognised borders. But the new emblem still has to be approved. Although a majority of countries are in favour, some Arab states are apparently not convinced that Israel needs to be accommodated in this way. The debate in Geneva may be heated.

emblems
emblemas o logotipos

the Geneva conventions
la convención de Ginebra

On the battlefield or in disaster zones the thinking goes
en zonas de conflicto o donde ha ocurrido un desastre natural se cree o se confía que

clearly symbolise neutral humanitarian relief
representan claramente ayuda humanitaria neutra

compromised
poner en riesgo

unrecognised
no reconocido

withholding its subscriptions to the International Red Cross
ha retenido los aportes recibidos para la Cruz Roja Internacional

it has no cultural or religious significance
no tiene ningún significado cultural o religioso

to be accommodated
su recomendación o sugerencia aceptada

The debate in Geneva may be heated
El debate en Ginebra puede que sea intenso o acalorado.

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