LAWS OF SOLOMON ISLANDS

[1996 EDITION]

CHAPTER 167

SOLOMON ISLANDS RED CROSS SOCIETY

AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE SOLOMON ISLANDS RED CROSS SOCIETY AND TO PROVIDE FOR MATTERS CONNECTED THEREWITH

[1st May 1987]

4 of 1983

Short title

1. This Act may be cited as the Solomon Islands Red Cross Society Act.

Interpretation

2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires—

"Branch" means the Solomon Islands Branch of the British Red Cross Society functioning as such before the commencement of this Act;

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

"Society" means the Solomon Islands Red Cross Society established under section 3;

"statutes" means the statutes made under section 9.

Establishment of Society

3.—(1) There is hereby established a society to be known as the Solomon Islands Red Cross Society which shall be the sole national Red Cross Society in Solomon Islands.

(2) Upon the establishment of the Society under subsection (1)—

(a) all the assets and liabilities of the Branch shall be transferred to and be vested in the Society by virtue of this section and without further assurance, and the Society shall have all the powers necessary to take possession of, recover and deal with, such assets and discharge such liabilities;

(b) all deeds, bonds, instruments and contracts subsisting immediately before the day on which this Act comes into operation, and to which the Branch is a party shall be of as full force and effect against or in favour of the Society and enforceable as fully and effectually as if, instead of the Branch, the Society had been a party thereto;

(c) officers of the Branch shall hold corresponding appointments in the Society until other provisions are made in accordance with the statutes made under this Act, and Life Associates and Associates of the Branch shall become corresponding Life Members and Subscribing Members of the Society, but subject to any provision contained in the statutes.

Incorporation

4. The Society shall be a body corporate under the name of the Solomon Islands Red Cross Society, 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 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.

General objects

5.—(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 a catastrophe or public disaster to provide the victims thereof with relief;

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

(d) to promote the Junior Red Cross movement among 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 pursuing 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.

Recognition as a voluntary aid society

6. The Society is hereby recognised by the Government as a voluntary aid society auxiliary to the public authorities both for the purpose of the Scheduled Conventions and otherwise, and shall have the right in conformity 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 words "Red Cross".

Independence of Society

7. 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 the 19th November 1946.

Council of Society

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

(2) The first members of the Council shall be those persons who, immediately before the coming into operation of this Act, are the members of the Committee of the Branch.

Council's powers to draw up statutes

9.—(1) The Council shall as soon as possible after the coming into operation of this Act frame 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 Solomon Islands 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 Council.

(2) Statutes made under this section may from time to time be altered, added to or repealed by the Council and new statutes may be made from time to time in like manner.

SCHEDULE

1. Geneva Convention for the amelioration of the conditions of the wounded and sick of armed forces in the field, of the 12th August 1949.

2. Geneva Convention for the amelioration of the conditions of the wounded, sick and shipwrecked members of armed forces at sea, of the 12th August 1949.

3. Geneva Convention relative to the treatment of prisoners of war, of the 12th August 1949.

4. Geneva Convention relative to the protection of civilian persons in time of war, of the 12th August 1949, as set out in the Schedules to the Geneva Conventions Act 1957 (5 & 6 Eliz. 2C.52) of the United Kingdom.

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(No Subsidiary Legislation.)