A Basic Guide for Romanian Red Cross Staff and Volunteers in Branches Providing Basic Restoring Family Links Services
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Branch Guide A basic guide for Romanian Red Cross staff and volunteers in branches providing basic Restoring Family Links services Romanian Red Cross Central Siege 29, Biserica Amzei Str., sector 1, Bucharest, 010393 Phone: +4 021.317.6006 Fax: +4 021.312.84.52 e-mail: [email protected] www.crucearosie.ro 1 Contents 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 3 1.1 Restoring Family Links ............................................................................................................ 3 1.2 Romanian Red Cross tracing service ...................................................................................... 3 1.3 The purpose of the guide ........................................................................................................ 4 2. The Tracing Process .................................................................................................................. 4 3. Tracing enquiries ........................................................................................................................ 5 3.1 Dealing with tracing enquiries originating in Branches ............................................................. 5 3.1.1 Step 1 – Introduction and initial assessment .............................................................................. 6 3.1.2 Step 2 – Case acceptance by branches...................................................................................... 7 3.1.3 Step 3 – Tracing Form completion ............................................................................................... 7 3.1.4 Step 4 – Central Siege review and acceptance ......................................................................... 8 3.1.5 Step 5 – Outcomes ......................................................................................................................... 9 3.2 Dealing with tracing enquiries originating abroad and coming from Central Siege ................... 9 3.2.1 Step 1 – Central Siege receives tracing requests .................................................................... 10 3.2.2 Step 2 – Central Siege contacts Branches ............................................................................... 11 3.2.3 Step 3 – Branches prepare for field visit ................................................................................... 11 3.2.4 Step 4 – Branches conducts visit ............................................................................................... 11 3.2.5 Step 5 – Branches inform Central Siege of outcome .............................................................. 13 4. Trace the Face .......................................................................................................................... 13 5. Red Cross Messages ................................................................................................................ 17 4.1 Dealing with Red Cross Messages enquiries originating in branches .................................... 17 4.1.1 Eligibility criteria ............................................................................................................................ 17 4.1.2 Red Cross Message forms .......................................................................................................... 17 4.2 Dealing with Red Cross Messages originating abroad .......................................................... 19 4.2.1 Procedures for delivery of a Red Cross Message ................................................................... 19 5. Data Management ..................................................................................................................... 19 2 1. Introduction 1.1 Restoring Family Links The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (the Movement) was established more than 150 years ago, in 1859. Since the Movement first took shape, helping people who have become separated from their loved ones, or who are without news of them, has been one of the Movement’s main activities and is today a mandatory service for all National Societies. This work is referred to as Restoring Family Links (RFL). Within the Movement, these activities are carried out by the Family Links Network. The Family Links Network is composed of all Restoring Family Links services of National Societies in the various countries and the Central Tracing Agency of the ICRC (Geneva, Switzerland). The Central Tracing Agency supports and coordinates the work of the Family Links Network. The Family Links Network can help families that are separated internationally by war, disaster, migration and other humanitarian emergencies, by: > Locating missing family members > Restoring family communications > Providing war-time documentation of internment and/or documentation on the fate of missing family members The Network works as a global network that applies the same principles and working methods in every country and cooperates across borders. This allows the Network to help separated families all over the world in a way unparalleled by any other humanitarian organisations. 1.2 Romanian Red Cross tracing service The Romanian Red Cross, as a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, provides these services to families separated by armed conflict, disaster, migration or by other causes which require a humanitarian response. Although the Romanian Red Cross already offered Restoring Family Links services to prisoners of war during the World Wars, it is only between 1961 and 1962 that it officially established a tracing department. Its main activities in the first two decades were related to Grave/Crematorium search enquiries related to the World Wars. From the 1990s onwards, however, the service expanded and today encompasses the following RFL services, namely: Restoring Family Links Services Description Tracing > Tracing is a means to locate family members separated internationally as a result of war, natural disaster or migration. Used when enquirer does not know the location or can no longer contact the sought person. > Tracing can also include Health and Welfare enquiries which are dealt with on an exceptional basis for vulnerable individuals who have, until recently, had regular contact with the enquirer but communication has suddenly stopped for unclear reasons. > Trace the Face (See Chapter 5) is a passive online tracing tool where migrants can either looking at pictures of those looking for their 3 families or upload their own. Red Cross Messages (RCM) > Red Cross Messages are a means to send written messages between separated family members. Used when the enquirer knows the location of their family member but no other means of communication are available. Often used by families in refugee camps, by prisoners of war and other detainees. Attestation of Detention > Attestations of Detention are a means by which former detainees, including prisoners of war and political detainees, who were visited by the ICRC, to document their detention. Tracing and Red Cross Message enquiries are coordinated at the Central Siege and managed with the support of the Romanian Red Cross branches, as outlined in this guide. Attestations of Detention are handled solely by the Central Siege and not included in this guide. 1.3 The purpose of the guide The purpose of this guide is to bring together in one document the basic information and instructions needed by Romanian Red Cross branch staff and volunteers to respond to Tracing and Red Cross Message enquiries originating either in branches or overseas. Additionally, the guide offers basic information on the ICRC online tracing tool, Trace the Face, for branch staff/volunteers to provide this to service users or signpost people to the webpage. This guide should be used as a reference by all staff and volunteers: > assisting an individual separated from his/her family by conflict, natural disaster, migration or other humanitarian circumstances; > receiving requests from Romanian Red Cross Central Siege to look for individuals in their respective counties. 2. The Tracing Process Enquiries originating in Romania Enquirer Branch Central Siege National Society ICRC ITS1 Sought Person 4 Enquiries originating overseas Enquirer National Society ICRC delegation ITS Central Siege National Institutions Branch Sought Person 3. Tracing enquiries What is the purpose of the tracing service? Tracing services are provided to re-establish communication between family members separated internationally by war, natural disaster, migration or other humanitarian situations. The purpose can be to reconnect family members who had been in regular contact with each other before such an emergency situation separated them or to determine or document the fate of a loved one. What can branches do? Branches can: a) work with individuals to initiate tracing enquiries to locate a family member overseas (See Section 2.1) b) receive requests via Central Siege (CS) to help locate family members in their local area on behalf of a family member overseas (See Section 2.2) 3.1 Dealing with tracing enquiries originating in Branches 5 3.1.1 Step 1 – Introduction and initial assessment When an individual approaches a Romanian Red Cross branch by telephone, written correspondence or in person asking help to trace a relative, branch staff/volunteers need to explain what the service is (Check Chapter 1 Introduction) and assess whether the enquirer is able to avail of the tracing service.