Seychelles represented at Red Cross general assembly |18 November 2013

Seychelles is being represented at the general assembly of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) being held in Sidney, Australia.

The President of the Red Cross Society of Seychelles (RCSS) Barbara Carolus André, RCSS secretary general Colette Servina and youth delegate Nichole Philoé form part of the Seychelles delegation at the November 12-19 meeting.

Earlier last week Tadateru Konoé was re-elected as president of the IFRC for a second four-year term by delegates of National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies currently attending the meeting in Sidney.

The International Movement of the Red Cross and Red Crescent meets every two years to evaluate progress, address pressing humanitarian challenges and establish goals and priorities for the future.

For more than 20 years, Tadateru Konoé has successfully carried out the Movement’s mission through previous posts held in the organisation, and for the past four years, he’s done an outstanding job at implementing the IFRC development agenda. This re-election is a reflection of National Societies’ and the board members’ trust in his work, his leadership and commitment to the Red Cross/Red Crescent mandate.

As president of the IFRC, Mr Konoé sees his main achievements as making National Societies' voices better heard at international levels, enhancing humanitarian diplomacy and increasing resource mobilisation. In the future, he plans to continue building strong National Societies and bringing the IFRC secretariat closer to them, maximising the Movement’s coordination activities and strengthening governance.

"My first term of presidency was also an important learning period for me," said Mr Konoé. "The IFRC is working to build more resilient National Societies and strengthen capacities used to respond to emerging problems. I am honoured to continue serving in this role the cause of the world’s largest humanitarian organisation."

Before becoming IFRC president in 2009, Mr Konoé has been president of the Japanese Red Cross Society since 2005 and served as vice-president before for 14 years. He has been involved with over 30 Red Cross/Red Crescent relief missions around the world and has dedicated his professional career to domestic and international Red Cross/Red Crescent activities.

While the general assembly is unfolding, the IFRC is actively involved in responding to the mega-disaster in Philippines where increasing life-saving capacities are being deployed to assist affected communities.