The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies plans to adopt a charter to guarantee the rights of volunteers and establish mission guidelines as demand for their services grow globally, sources familiar with the matter said Thursday.
The organization hopes to incorporate lessons learned from the Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami of 2011 in the "Charter for Volunteers," expected to be adopted at its November general assembly in Turkey. If enacted, it would be the world's first guidelines for volunteer activities set by an international organization, they said.
The draft charter says volunteers are to "alleviate human suffering," "protect life and health" and "never discriminate." It also calls for "promoting a culture of nonviolence and peace."