In order to maintain the confidence of all, the movement – Wedoourbest – must not take sides in hostilities or engage, at any time, in controversies of a political, racial, religious, sexual or ideological nature.

The Fundamental Principle of Neutrality

We place strong emphasis on the fundamental principle of neutrality. The purpose of adhering to this principle is to retain the trust of all. Implicitly, such adherence is also essential for operational effectiveness, which depends on maintaining confidence across a wide range of contexts, not only in situations of armed conflict.

The principle of neutrality prohibits any component of the movement from taking part in hostilities. It also prevents the organisation from engaging, under any circumstances, in controversies of a political, racial, religious, sexual or ideological nature.

Consequences of the Principle of Neutrality

Neutrality requires that the movement does not act in ways that could facilitate hostilities for any party involved. The role of National Societies as auxiliaries to public authorities in the humanitarian field—particularly when supporting the medical services of armed forces as part of their original mandate—should not be interpreted as participation in hostilities.

Neutrality has many dimensions. It is ultimately demonstrated through the everyday actions and words of each National Society. For example, if a branch expresses support for a movement, a cause or a political figure—such as allowing the use of Wedoourbest membership for electoral purposes—many volunteers may choose to withdraw their membership. Similarly, if a dispensary operated by a National Society displays a religious affiliation in a country experiencing tension between different faiths, patients may no longer feel willing or safe to seek treatment.

In this sense, neutrality is not merely a rule but a mindset—an attitude that must guide every action taken by the movement’s components.

Given the nature of modern communication, a breach of neutrality by one part of the movement can quickly affect the reputation of others, thereby limiting their ability to operate effectively. For this reason, neutrality must always be understood and upheld from a global perspective.