Henry Dunant Medal 2021 / 2022
The Henry Dunant Medal is the highest distinction that the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement can bestow on an individual member to reward outstanding services and acts of great devotion, mainly of international significance, to the cause of the Red Cross and Red Crescent. In October 2021, the Standing Commission decided to award the medal to seven individuals for their outstanding achievements, including two posthumously:
- Mohammed Al Maadheed of the Qatar Red Crescent Society
- Philippe Gaillard of the ICRC
- Tadateru Konoe of the Japanese Red Cross
- Ligia Leroux de Ramirez of the Dominican Red Cross (1937 – 2020, posthumously)
- Christine Lightbourne of the Bahamas Red Cross
- Manuel Salazar Alvarez of the Costa Rican Red Cross
- Ivan Usichenko of the Ukrainian Red Cross (1938 – 2021, posthumously)
The Standing Commission warmly congratulates the award recipients, their families and the organizations under which they have worked so wholeheartedly to help accomplish the Movement’s humanitarian mission. It thanks all the nominating Societies and their co-sponsors for submitting many nominations of high quality and diverse profiles. At the Council of Delegates on 22 June 2022, the Henry Dunant Medal was awarded to the recipients or their representatives during an emotional ceremony.
Mohammed Al Maadheed
Former president of the Qatar Red Crescent Society
Mohammed Al Maadheed receiving the award from Hilal Al-Sayer. – phtoto by: © Eric Roset
Leading the Qatar Red Crescent Society first as secretary general in 2000, then as president for 12 years from 2008 to 2020, Prof. Mohammed Al Maadheed, a physician by training, strove enthusiastically to strengthen the operational and institutional capacities of many National Societies with fewer resources. This was accomplished through cooperation programmes and regional partnerships. During his tenure as president of the Qatar Red Crescent Society, Prof. Al Maadheed worked with various components of the Movement, other organisations, the private sector and governmental bodies throughout the world to build disaster-response ability, devise rehabilitation plans, and promote International Humanitarian Law. Earning international recognition, Prof. Al Maadheed was elected vice-president of the International Federation in 2009 and chaired the Board Priorities Oversight Group.
A thought leader with an open mind and a big heart, Prof. Al Maadheed has been hailed as a visionary humanitarian worker. Despite having stepped down as president of the Qatar Red Crescent Society in 2019, Prof. Al Maadheed continues to promote humanitarian diplomacy through his medical research focusing on the health of vulnerable migrant workers, and through publication of books and opinion pieces.
For his unwavering commitment and service to the Movement, the Standing Commission has unanimously agreed to award the Henry Dunant Medal – the Movement’s highest distinction – to Mohammed Al Maadheed.
Philippe Gaillard
Former ICRC Delegate
Citation available in French here
Philippe Gaillard receiving the award from Peter Maurer. – photo by:© Eric Roset
Mr. Philippe Gaillard joined the ICRC in 1982 as a tracing agency delegate in Iraq at the age of 25. Halfway through his long and exemplary career with the ICRC, Philippe Gaillard was appointed head of the organization’s Rwanda delegation shortly before the ethnic genocide that ripped the country apart.
Mr. Gaillard took the extremely courageous decision to keep the ICRC operational in Rwanda – by contrast with most international organizations that left the country at early sight of the massacres. Working with the Rwandan Red Cross, the ICRC continued taking injured people to hospital, setting up makeshift field hospitals and helping the population as best it could.
Mr. Gaillard risked his own life to report to the outside world on the ongoing events. Many times, he crossed the frontlines on his own to negotiate passage for the injured to be taken for medical care. Although Mr Gaillard himself used to say that he was only able to ‘bring a drop of humanity into an ocean of blood’, it was estimated that the ICRC under his leadership saved nearly 80,000 lives.
The personal courage and unfailing devotion to humanitarian action led Mr. Gaillard to write a chapter, often untold, that showed the bright side of humanity in one of the darkest episodes in human history.
For his act of bravery, his unwavering commitment and service to the Movement, the Standing Commission has unanimously agreed to award the Henry Dunant Medal – the Movement’s highest distinction – to Philippe Gaillard.
Tadateru Konoe
Former president of the Japanese Red Cross, former president of the International Federation
Tadateru Konoe
Mr. Tadateru Konoe has dedicated over five decades, his entire professional life, to advancing the Red Cross / Red Crescent’s humanitarian work. He joined the Japanese Red Cross at the age of 25. A succession of posts alternating between the Japanese Red Cross and the IFRC, often involving field operations, proved highly instrumental in shaping Mr. Konoe’s vision of the Movement’s work.
In 2005 Mr. Konoe became president of the Japanese Red Cross and was subsequently twice elected president of the IFRC in 2009 and 2013. Leading the Japanese Red Cross, Mr. Konoe reformed his National Society to adapt to societal changes to better meet the challenges ahead. He also led the Japanese Red Cross to successfully deliver urgent and effective assistance in many emergency situations in a period when Japan was hit by many disasters, including the mega earthquake and subsequent tsunami and nuclear plant accident in Fukushima in 2011.
During his tenure as IFRC president, he has done much to enhancing cooperation within the Movement; to strengthening National Society capacity building and resilience, and to improving governance by addressing integrity and accountability. His relentless efforts in support of the Movement’s advocacy for the elimination of nuclear weapons was widely recognized.
Emanating natural grace, the very personification of dignity, humility, dedication and compassion, Mr. Konoe embodies a quiet and honest enthusiasm for the Movement’s values and ideals.
For his unwavering commitment and service to the Movement, the Standing Commission has unanimously agreed to award the Henry Dunant Medal – the Movement’s highest distinction – to Tadateru Konoe.
Ligia Leroux de Ramirez (1937 – 2020)
Former president of the Dominican Red Cross
Citation available in Spanish here
Ligia Leroux de Ramirez (1937 – 2020)
Mrs Ligia Leroux De Ramirez held a doctorate in pharmaceutical and chemical science. After a successful career in academic and public service, Dr Leroux was appointed in 2020 president of the Dominican Red Cross, a position she held with dedication until her passing in 2020 while in office, directing her National Society to combat the Covid 19 pandemic. It was a heart-breaking loss for her family, her National Society and the Movement.
During her presidency, Dr Leroux pushed through a number of programmes to develop her National Society by expanding and deepening its local activities, as well as by strengthening cooperation with other National Societies in the region and beyond.
Increasingly active in the Movement, Dr Leroux was twice elected in 2009 and then in 2013 to the IFRC Governing Board. She was elected President of CORI (Inter-American Regional Committee of the Red Cross) in 2017, and worked tirelessly to enhance the cohesiveness and unity of the National Societies in the region, with the aim to better serve the vulnerable communities.
A natural and intuitive leader of great personal warmth, a leading woman activist for social progress and justice, a dedicated mentor to younger generations, Dr Leroux’s inspiring actions had pushed boundaries in many domains.
For her unwavering commitment and service to the Movement, the Standing Commission has unanimously agreed to posthumously award the Henry Dunant Medal – the Movement’s highest distinction – to Ligia Leroux de Ramirez.
Posthumous medal to Ligia Leroux received by her daughter.
– photo by: © Eric Roset
Christine Lightbourne
Volunteer in the Bahamas Red Cross
Christine Lightbourne receiving the award from Fine Tu’itupou-Arnold. – photo by: © Eric Roset
A life-long volunteer in the Bahamas Red Cross’s Abaco branch, Ms. Christine Lightbourne joined the local branch at the age of 8 and remains an engaged volunteer to date. Having completed early on a variety of volunteer training programmes, Ms. Lightbourne chose to focus on shelter protection in Abaco Islands, because Abaco’s geographical location means that it almost unescapably finds itself in the path of any hurricane in the area.
For over three decades, Ms. Lightbourne has unfailingly demonstrated commitment to serving the vulnerable in hurricane-rescue operations and disaster mitigation measures, which she has headed in her branch. Often being among the first on the spot and the last to leave, Ms. Lightbourne’s capacity and determination have been well known. Her dedication was best demonstrated when her island was devasted by Hurricane Dorian. During the response, she was informed of her own house’ collapse, but she stayed on right until the end to direct the operations.
A warm and optimistic person who radiates positive energy, Ms. Lightbourne inspires a spirit of resilience in communities. Consistently placing other people’s safety above her own in life-threatening situations, Ms. Lightbourne has set an example of selfless dedication, galvanizing many younger people to follow in her footsteps.
For her unwavering commitment and service to the Movement, the Standing Commission has unanimously agreed to award the Henry Dunant Medal – the Movement’s highest distinction – to Christine Lightbourne.
Manuel Salazar Alvarez
Veteran member of the Costa Rican Red Cross
Citation available in Spanish here
Manuel Salazar Alvarez receiving the award from Mercedes Babé. – photo by: © Eric Roset
Mr. Manuel Salazar Alvarez joined the Costa Rican Red Cross at the age of 20. He was an early pioneer in training first-aiders and promoting that work in his National Society and subsequently throughout Central America. His efforts culminated in the establishment of the Regional Committee of First Aiders in Central America in 1996.
Mr. Salazar has personally taken part in numerous high-risk rescue operations in connection with both natural disasters and armed conflict, where he invariably demonstrated his skills, courage, and determination in saving lives and protecting fellow first aiders. One well known example is his leadership in 1971 during the dramatic Nicaraguan plane highjack by an armed group that deviated to Costa Rica’s Juan Santamaria airport. Mr. Salazar Alvarez led his first aid team to help the evacuated hostages, despite the armed group’s threats to imminently explode the plane.
During his life-long service, Mr Salazar Alvarez has had many outstanding achievements to his credit in a number of areas to improve the service and development of his National Society, especially his pivotal role in promoting international humanitarian law in Costa Rica and beyond.
Throughout his 60 years of service, Mr Salazar Alvarez has been resolutely committed to the protection of humanity, consistently putting the interest of others above his own, making him a stellar example for generations after generations.
For his unwavering commitment and service to the Movement, the Standing Commission has unanimously agreed to award the Henry Dunant Medal – the Movement’s highest distinction – to Manuel Salazar Alvarez.
Ivan Usichenko (1938 – 2021)
Former president of the Ukrainian Red Cross
Ivan Usichenko (1938 – 2021)
Dr. Ivan Usichenko, a trained medical doctor, became president of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society in 1986. After stepping down in 2018, he remained its Honorary President until his passing in 2021, a very sad loss for his family, his National Society and the Movement.
In 1986, Some months into his presidency, Dr. Usichenko headed the medical effort and humanitarian assistance in the wake of the devastating Chernobyl nuclear disaster. His exceptional performance and leadership in that crisis as well as in running the rehabilitation programme in the aftermath of the unprecedented disaster won him broad international recognition.
Dr. Usichenko strove enthusiastically to develop the Ukrainian Red Cross in many areas, and to integrate it into the Movement, making it the first of the former USSR countries to become a member of the IFRC. During his country’s civil unrest in 2013, the Crimea crisis and the eruption of armed conflict in Eastern Ukraine in 2014, Dr. Usichenko ensured that the Ukrainian Red Cross played a major, well-recognized and neutral role in the midst of the conflict. Dr Usichenko was widely hailed for relentlessly taking the initiative and showing unfailing commitment to defending the Movement’s Fundamental Principles even in perilous situations.
An esteemed and beloved figure in the Movement, with moral authority, Dr. Usichenko was passionate about humanitarian action, and succeeded in galvanizing people of all walks of life to the Movement’s mission, leaving behind a rich and inspiring legacy.
For his unwavering commitment and service to the Movement, the Standing Commission has unanimously agreed to posthumously award the Henry Dunant Medal – the Movement’s highest distinction – to Ivan Usichenko.
Posthumous medal to Ivan Usichenko received by his son.
– photo by: © Eric Roset