MISUSE OF THE SIGN

Despite relatively clear regulations, there have been noticed many cases of mistaken use or misuse of the red cross sign: the sign is used for marking the buildings and persons who do not have the right to it; the sign is put on the roof of the buildings which cannot be marked by the red cross sign protection, etc.There is especially an extremely large number of vehicles marked by the Red Cross sign, and which do not belong to the Red Cross organizatons. Besides this, most of these vehicles are marked with the stickers on which there is the sign only, without the name of the organization.

Obviously, the regulations prescribing that besides the sign for marking of the vehicle there has to be the full name of the organization of Red Cross are not respected. Avoiding of the name of the organization besides the red cross sign makes it difficult, or even impossible to control and record the vehicles which are marked.

This also directs towards the fact that the obligation to take off the red cross sign form the vehicle owned by the others when they stop being used for the needs of Red Cross, is not respected.

It should especialy be pointed out that all organizations of Red Cross are obliged to, besides the record and control of using of the sign when they issue it, follow on their territory if

all the users ( even outside the Red Cross organization) use the sign and to inform the authorized institutions about the cases of inappropriate using of the sign.

Taking all this into account, it is necessary that all organizations once again and thoroughly study the regulations about using of the sign and to ensure the right and complete using of the mentioned regulations in the Red Cross organizations.

It is also necessary that all organizations follow the application of the mentioned regulations on their territories and to point out the inappropriate use to the authorized institutions.

Only by the right using can the confidence into the red cross sign be saved, especialy if it concernes it use as a protection mark. Each inappropriate use undermines that confidence and can have fatal consequences, especialy in case of the armed clashes.