21 May – Independence Day of the Red Cross of the Republic of North Macedonia
The years passed by and the Red Cross became more and more proficient to fulfill the humanitarian tasks and objective to provide and support to those in need. The work of the Red Cross is done in compliance with the fundamental principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality.
After Macedonia gained its independence, the Macedonian Red Cross also became an independent national society on May 21, 1992. The Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia passed the Law on the Red Cross of Macedonia in 1994. In this period Macedonian Red Cross implements numerous activities. The organization is particularly active in this period in area of provision of care to refugees from former Yugoslavia as a result of the conflicts in the region.
After gaining the independence the Government of the Republic of Macedonia ratified the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and the Additional Protocols of 1977 on 25 August 1993. Macedonian Red Cross was recognized by ICRC on 1.11.1995. It became the 169th full-fledged member of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies on 27.11.1995.