Proposed Constitution and By - Laws Changes

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UK WILPF proposed amendments

A draft revised constitution and by-laws appear below.  Some sections have been moved to the by-laws and one to the constitution from the by-laws.  They will appear in [italics].  Proposed amendments will appear in [brackets].  Some paragraphs have been placed in a different order.

 In our committee considerations, some changes were rejected on cost or financial bases.  Where proposed amended language appears again it will be in [brackets]. 

In this draft I am only including the paragraphs where we are suggesting amendments or moving text from Constitution to By-laws and vice-versa.  I hope all the reordered paragraphs somehow also appear here so the final product will be clear.

 

We are proposing amending the Constitution so that the current IEC and Officers Committee will be renamed as follows: [International Board (IB)] [Executive Committee (EC)].  In the text below I will only show this the first time it appears or where it might be part of an additional amendment but it is our intention that this change appear thoughout the text.

 

I want to particularly draw everyone's attention to something that did not appear in earlier drafts to I will put it here as will as in the text below in its place:

 

[D. 4. a bis)(new b) Two candidates for President may stand for the position as a job share but they must declare their intention to do so and inform the Nominations Committee of their intention before the list of candidates' names is distributed to the Sections.]

 

[By-laws D. 2. after second sentence add 'in the event of a job share for President, only one of the two co-Presidents shall have expenses paid by international to a particular meeting.]

 

Please note that some amendments that appeared in earlier committee drafts do not appear here because they are not being proposed by the UK Section.

 

Martha Jean Baker, Convenor of Constitution Committee and on behalf of UK Section, 2007

 

WILPF Constitution and By-Laws

CONSTITUTION

B. Aims and Principles

1. The aims and principles of WILPF are:

 

(a)     To bring together women of different [political] beliefs and philosophies who are united in their determination to study, make known and help abolish the causes and legitimization of war.

(b)      

1. To work toward world peace
2. Total and universal disarmament
3. The abolition of violence and coercion in the settlement of conflict and their substitution in every case of negotiation and conciliation
4. The strengthening of the United Nations system
5. The continuous development and implementation of international law
6. Political and social [equality for all] and economic [justice]
7. Cooperation among all people
8. Environmentally sustainable development

 

 

2. Believing that under systems of exploitation these aims cannot be attained and a real and lasting peace and true freedom cannot exist, WILPF makes it its duty to further by non-violent means the social transformation that enables the inauguration of systems under which social and political equality and economic [justice] for all can be attained, without discrimination on the basis of sex, race, religion, or any other grounds whatsoever.

 

D. Organization

 The organs of WILPF shall be the International Congress, the [International Board (IB)], the National Sections, the [Executive Committee (EC)], and the International Secretariat.

 

 [c) Voting rights at Congress]

               i.   Each member of the [International Board] and each delegation elected by a National Section shall be entitled to one vote;

 

              ii.   A National Section represented by a single delegate shall have two votes;

 

            iii.   A National Section alternate may vote in the place of the delegate.

 

             iv.   Any other paid up member of WILPF may attend and participate in the International Congress but shall be non-voting.]

 

 

2.  The [International Board]

 

c.) The [International Board] shall be responsible for ensuring the means of financing the administration, programmes and all other activities of WILPF in accordance with the By-Laws.

d.) [The [International Board] shall have overall responsibility for establishing the necessary standing and working groups, and for determining the rules governing their constitution, mandates, operating modes, and dissolution.]

 

3. The National Sections

 

b.) A National Section shall be dissolved by the [International Board] if a simple majority of those attending a duly constituted meeting concludes that the National Section has less than ten members, or has violated this constitution or is in arrears for more than two years, or has acted in a manner prejudicial to the realization of the aims and principles of WILPF. [This decision may be appealed in accordance with the By-Laws].

 

 

4. The [Executive Committee (EC)]

 

a)     The President, Vice-Presidents, the Treasurer, and the Secretary General form the [Executive Committee (EC)].

b)     [Two Candidates for President may stand for the position as a job share but they must declare their intention to do so and inform the Nominations Committee of their intention before the list of candidates' names is distributed to the Sections.]

c)     [No more than two Vice-Presidents may come from the same region.]

 

 

E.      Adoption of this Constitution

 

[2. The By-Laws shall take effect upon approval by simple majority of the voting participants at an International Congress.]

 

 

F. Amendments to the Constitution and By-Laws

 

1. Amendments to this Constitution and/or its By-Laws may be proposed by a National Section or by the [International Board].  [At a duly constituted meeting, the IB may also delegate authority to propose amendments to the Constitutions Committee.]

 

BY-LAWS

 

D. International Congress

1. The responsibilities of the International Congress shall include, but not be limited to:

 

(a)     reviewing the activities of the past three years, setting the policies, and direction of WILPF, and adopting the programme and related budget for the next three years;

(b)     electing the President, Vice-Presidents, and treasurer of WILPF to serve until the next session of the International Congress;  [No individual may be elected to the same position for more than two consecutive terms.]

(c)     [Appointing convenors of Standing Committees and working groups;]

(d)     receiving reports from Convenors of Committees, Elected [Executive Committee], National Sections, Secretary General, Project Coordinators, and others;

(e)     admitting new National Sections and associate members;

(f)       deciding on amendments to the Constitution and By-Laws.

(g)     [A scheduled session of the International Congress may be cancelled or postponed by the Officers' group subject to the agreement of a 2/3 majority of the IEC at a duly constituted meeting or by voting via post and/or electronic mail.]

 

2. Travel expenses of the delegates and alternates to the International Congress shall be borne by the National Section they represent. The Elected [Executive Committee] and the Secretary General shall have their expenses paid out of the international budget to the extent that the funds are available.  [In the event of a job share for President, only one of the two co-Presidents shall have expenses paid by International to any particular meeting.] National Sections shall also be responsible for the travel expenses to the International Congress of members of the [International Board] elected by them.

3. WILPF shall maintain a Travel Fund to assist members in special circumstances to attend the International Congress. The Fund shall be administered by the [Executive Committee], in accordance with guidelines established by the [International Board].

4. The International Congress [Congress shall be convened every three years but no longer than 42 months since the last one to allow for North/South differences and other considerations.  In the case of an 'Extraordinary Session' being convened, the next regularly schedule Congress shall be in the third year after the 'Extraordinary Session.' Congress shall meet] at a date and place determined by the [International Board].

[5.Extraordinary sessions of the International Congress may be called on request of a National Section, subject to the agreement of a two-thirds majority of the [International Board] voting at a duly constituted meeting.]

[6.  The IB shall decide whether an extraordinary IB meeting should be called to execute all or some of the Congress responsibilities, or whether these responsibilities should be excecuted via other procedures (e.g. video conferences, e-mail voting), or whether the execution of such responsibilities should be postponed until a session of  the International Congress can be held.]

 

[6. Quorum for Congress shall consist of 40% of the sections being represented and at least three of the elected members of the (Executive Committee)]

 

 

E. [International Board]

1. The [International Board] shall have the authority to make all necessary decisions between sessions of the International Congress and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the [International Board] shall:

(a)     on the recommendation of the Elected [Executive Committee], appoint the Secretary General and approve the [Convenors] of the Standing Committees [and working groups, each of whom may serve only two consecutive terms], Project Coordinators, and Ad Hoc Committees, and appoint the Representatives of the International Secretariat;

(b)     act on reports received from the Elected [Executive  Committee], National Sections, the Secretary General, Convenors of Standing Committees, Project Coordinators, and the Financial Auditor;

(c)     adopt the yearly WILPF programme and budget within the framework established by the International Congress;

(d)     ensure that funds are available to finance the activities of WILPF, set fees, and arrange for the conduct of an independent, annual audit of WILPF's financial statements;

(e)     designate the location of the International Secretariat from which the Secretary General shall operate;

(f)       set out additional duties of the Secretary General;

(g)     in the event that the President is unable to act, replace her from among the Vice-Presidents. In the event that any other [member of the Executive  Committee] is unable to act, appoint a replacement for her;

(h)     appoint new Standing Committees [and working groups];

(i)       [Committee and working group Conveners who are not otherwise IB members will be IB members but without access to financial aid from International and be invited to attend all IB meeting and to Congress.  If a Convener is unable to attend an IB or Congress another member of the committee may be delegated to speak for the Committee or working group.]

(j)       define the roles and assignments of the Elected [Executive  Committee];

(k)     set the agenda for the International Congress;

(l)       [The [International Board] shall meet at least once every 18 months.] 

(m)   [Meetings using alternate means like video link, 'Skype' or other new technology can be considered as they develop if necessary for reasons of budget or other reasons of environment or expediency as long as all sections will have access to the relevant technology.]

 

2. Thirty percent of the members of the [International Board], including two [members of the elected Executive Committee], shall constitute a quorum.

 

3. The Nomination Committee shall:

(a)     Solicit by letter from each National Section six months before any sitting of the International Congress nominations for the [positions] of President, Vice-Presidents, and Treasurer. Such nominations shall be made in writing and be received by the Nomination Committee no later than four months before the sitting of the International Congress;

(b)     [After receiving nominations from the Sections the Nomination Committee may submit additional names as it feels appropriate, e.g. for regional balance or to provide important skills;]

(c)     Obtain from each nominee a written declaration stating her willingness to stand for the [position];

(d)     At least two months before the sitting of the Congress, the convener shall circulate a list of nominations to all National Sections, members of the [International Board], and to all the nominees;

(e)     Prepare the ballots containing the names of all eligible nominees for elections by the International Congress;

(f)       Report in writing to the International Congress.

 

J. Election Committee

 

3. It shall:

(a)     Arrange a meeting during the International Congress in which the candidates introduce themselves to the International Congress participants;

(b)     Select a slate of six from the list of nominees, one for each of the six international [positions], after discussion with each;

(c)     Report to the International Congress on its work and on the slate, giving the reasons for the choices recommended;

(d)     In [the] case that voting became necessary, ensure proper control of the electoral process by distributing ballots only to the voting members of the International Congress in exchange for their voting cards, and by tallying the votes and reporting the results to the Congress.

 

4. Election Procedure

1. Upon unanimous adoption of the Election Committee's report by the International Congress, the candidates recommended for the [position] shall be considered elected.

 

2. For those offices for [whom] the Election Committee has not made a selection, or in the event that the report is not adopted unanimously, elections by secret ballot shall be held for each [position] for which more than one candidate is nominated.

[3. In the case of a secret ballot, if one candidate is nominated for President and Vice-President and the candidate wins both she will deemed to have been elected president and the candidate with the next number of votes will be elected as Vice-President.]

 

O. Amendments

[1. Proposed amendments must be in writing and sent to the International Secretariat at least one hundred and twenty days before the opening date of the International Congress.

 

2. The Secretary General shall circulate such proposals received to all National Sections within the next sixty days.]

 

Proposal from the Dutch section concerning the By Laws of the constitution

 

We propose to make it possible to convene a congress at least every four year. We propose this in order to have a congress in 2015 when WILPF exists 100 year. From now on we should have a congress in 2011 and 2015.

 

Complications: The officers should then have to be elected for four years and the adoption of the programme and the review of the programme also every four years. (by the way: the YWCA has congresses every four year).

 

Advantage: It will cut expenses of WILPF international and the sections.

 

Changes proposed: BY-LAWS

B. 3.f change three in four

D. 1.a change three in four (2x)

D.4 Change every three years but no longer than 42 months since the last one to allow for NORTH/South differences and other considerations in at least every four  

 

Or if there is a strong preference for three years but also a wish to make exceptions:

 

B. 3.f

D. 1.a change of the past three years in from the last congress and for the next three years in till the next congress.

D.4 Change 42 months since the last one to allow for NORTH/South differences in 48 months.

Motion on Proposed Amendment to WILPF Constitution paragraph D 2 b, from WILPF Sweden

According to the WILPF Constitution paragraph C 2 b "The International Congress shall be convened every three years at a date and place determined by the International Executive Committee". With reference to WILPF economy as well as timing (see below), a change is called for.

 

Economy

By the International Treasurer's report to the WILPF IEC 2006, it stands clear that WILPF: s financial situation is far from stable. Arranging an International Congress is a very costly project that further breaks into WILPF' s limited budget.

 

Timing

Being the year of WILPF: s 100^th anniversary, 2015 should be a Congress year. If continuing the practice of organizing Congresses in a 3-year cycle, this will not work out.

 

Suggestion

Based on this, WILPF Sweden proposes the WILPF International Congress to be arranged every four (4) years. After the Congress in Bolivia 2007, 2011 would be the next Congress year, with 2015 following. IEC meetings should be held according to previous practice in the years between Congress.

 

 

Referring to WILPF Constitution paragraph G 2, WILPF Sweden hereby propose above amendment to the WILPF Constitution to be voted on at the International Congress 2007.

Norway

 

On behalf of WILPF Norway I hereby submit our proposals for changes in the Constitution and Bylaws to be considered at Congress 2007. The basis for our proposals is the report from the Constitution Committee.

 

B. Aims and Principles

We support the proposed changes in the report.

 

C. Membership

We propose the cancellation of associate membership. It is not in use presently, and has potentially complicated consequences - see the detailed regulations in the By-Laws pertaining to this.

 

D. Organisation

We  propose to reword 1(c) i, Voting  rights at Congress:  insert "of" between "and each", or change "delegation" to "delegate", in order to avoid possible misunderstandings or ambivalence stemming from the proposed formulation.

 

We propose to reword 4 (b) as follows: "The regional distribution of the EC members should reflect the global character of WILPF ".

We prefer this limitation to be formulated in a positive way and apply to all members of the EC, not only to the Vice-Presidents.

 

We support the rest of the proposed changes in D.

 

E. Adoption of this Constitution (add: and By-Laws")

We support the proposed changes.

 

By-Laws.

 

B 3 membership

We support the proposal to cancel  associate membership.

 

D. International Congress

We support the Swedish  proposal to have a Congress every 4th year.

We support the rest of the proposed changes concerning Congress.

 

Addition:

We support the UK proposal  to allow two candidates for co-presidents but do not see the need for including in the By-Laws the proposed financial limitations. Financial realities may result in such limitations, but the decision should be left to the EC or the IB.

 

Greetings and good luck! Mari Holmboe Ruge, co-chair WILPF Norway