LAWS OF THE REPUBLIC OF VANUATU
CONSOLIDATED EDITION 2006

Commencement: 18 October 1982

CHAPTER 151
VANUATU RED CROSS SOCIETY

Act 23 of 1982

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

1.	Interpretation
2.	Establishment of the Society
3.	General objects
4.	Recognition as a voluntary aid society
5.	Independence of the Society
6. General assembly and managing committee
7. General assembly's powers to draw up statutes
8.	Vesting of assets and liabilities, substitution of contracts and saving of appointments

SCHEDULE

VANUATU RED CROSS SOCIETY

To provide for the establishment and operation of the Vanuatu Red Cross Society.

1. Interpretation

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires –

"Committee" means the Committee of the Red Cross Society that was in operation before the coming into force of this Act;

"statutes" means the statutes made under section 7;

"Scheduled Conventions" means the conventions specified in the Schedule;

"Society" means the Vanuatu Red Cross Society.

2. Establishment of the Society

(1) There shall be established a body known as the Vanuatu Red Cross Society which shall be the sole national Red Cross Society in the Republic of Vanuatu.

(2) The Society shall be a body corporate, having perpetual succession and a common seal, with power to sue and be sued, purchase, acquire, hold, manage and dispose of movable and immovable property, and to enter into any such contracts as it may consider to be necessary or expedient for the purpose of performing its functions or achieving its objects under this Act.

3. General objects

(1) The objects of the Society shall be –

(a) to furnish volunteer aid to the sick and wounded in time of war and to non-belligerents and to prisoners of war and civilian sufferers from the effects of war;

(b) in the case of catastrophes or public disasters, to provide the victims thereof with relief;

(c) in time of peace or war to carry on and assist in work for the improvement of health, the prevention of diseases and the mitigation of suffering in the Republic of Vanuatu and throughout the world;

(d)	to promote the Junior Red Cross movement among the youth of all races; and

(e) to propagate the ideals and the humanitarian principles of the Red Cross with a view to developing a feeling of solidarity and mutual understanding among all men and nations.

(2) In carrying out the objects referred to in subsection (1), the Society shall not make any adverse distinction founded on sex, race, nationality, religion or faith, political opinions or any other similar criteria and shall act in accordance with the spirit and principles of the Scheduled Conventions.

4. Recognition as a voluntary aid society

The Government of Vanuatu shall recognise the Society as a voluntary aid society auxiliary to the public authorities both for the purpose of the Scheduled Conventions and otherwise, and its right in accordance with the Scheduled Conventions to use the heraldic emblem of a red cross on a white ground, formed by reversing the Swiss Federal colours and the designation "Red Cross".

5. Independence of the Society

The independent and voluntary nature of the Society shall at all times be respected in accordance with the resolution relative to National Red Cross Societies adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 19 November 1946.

6. General assembly and managing committee

(1) The governing body of the Society shall be a general assembly constituted in accordance with its statutes made under this Act. There shall also be a managing committee with such powers and duties as may be prescribed by the statutes.

(2) The first members of the general assembly shall be those persons who, immediately before the coming into force of this Act, are the members of the Committee.

7. General assembly's powers to draw up statutes

(1) The general assembly shall as soon as possible after the coming into force of this Act frame and establish a constitution in the form of statutes for the management of the affairs of the Society and the accomplishment of its objects. Such statutes shall provide, inter alia –

(a) that membership of the Society shall not be withheld from any citizen of the Republic of Vanuatu on the grounds of race, class, sex, religion or faith or political opinions;

(b) that all members and associates of the Society shall have representation on the general assembly.

(2)	The statutes may from time to time be altered, added to or replaced by the general assembly and new statutes may from time to time be made in like manner.

(3) The statutes shall not require to be published in the Gazette.

8. Vesting of assets and liabilities, substitution of contracts and saving of appointments

(1) Immediately on the coming into force of this Act the assets and liabilities of the Committee shall vest in the Society without further authority and without the necessity for further acts except the making of such entries as may be required in any registers kept in accordance with any laws.

(2) Entries under subsection (1) shall be made by the appropriate registrar on receipt of a direction in writing made by the Minister.

(3) All contracts and agreements subsisting before the coming into force of this Act to which the Committee is a party shall have effect against or in favour of the Society as if it and not the Committee is a party thereto.

(4) Officers of the Committee shall hold corresponding appointments in the Society until other provision is made in accordance with the statutes and life associates and associates of the committee shall become corresponding life members and subscribing members of the Society subject to any provision contained in the statutes.

SCHEDULE

(section 1)

1. Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded and Sick in Armed Forces in the Field, of 12 August 1949.

2. Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Wounded, Sick and Shipwrecked Members of the Armed Forces at Sea, of 12 August 1949.

3. Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War, of 12 August 1949.

4. Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Times of War, of 12 August 1949.