FORUM OF YOUTH ASSOCIATIONS FOR INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

FAIR STATUTES

SECTION I

Name, Domicile, Structure and Definitions

name

Article 1

The Organisation shall be Known as "Forum of Youth Associations for International Relations", which name may be abbreviated to "FAIR".

domicile

Article 2

The Organisation has its domicile in Athens.

structure

Article 3

The Organisation consists of the demos. Two (2) elected representatives of each demos participate in the General Assembly. One (1) elected representative from each local branch participates in the Regional Council. The General Assembly elects the Executive Committee.

definitions

Article 4

Demos: The demos are constituent parts of the Organisation which function on a country’s level.

Host Demos: Host Demos is the Demos which organises the annual International Activity of the Organisation.

Applicant Demos: The applicant Organisation that wishes to become a full member of the Organisation as a Demos.

Observer: Local, national or international organisations which support the aims and activities of the Organisation.

General Assembly: The General Assembly is the supreme decision making body of the Organisation and the guardian of the vision as defined in this statute.

Executive Committee: The Executive Committee represents the Organisation globally and is the supreme executive body.

Regional Council: The Regional Council is the consultative body of the organisation.

Secretariat: The Secretariat is responsible for the maintenance of communication between the Organs and supervising the cohesion and continuity of the Organisation globally.

Electoral Committee: The Electoral Committee is responsible for guaranteeing the democratic function of the electoral process within the Organisation.

Audit Committee: The Audit Committee is responsible for the inspection of all financial actions of the Organisation.

SECTION II

Philosophy-Aims

Article 5

The Organisation is a Transnational Non-Governmental Youth Organisation which is politically independent, non profit-making, non partisan, and is run globally on a voluntary basis.

Article 6

The philosophy statement of the Organisation is:

VISION A peaceful world where the rule of justice will prevail over the rule of power

A free world where human rights and human dignity will be respected

A world of co-operation and mutual respect which will advance the human civilisation.

PURPOSE The creation of a global open circle of young people dealing with International Affairs. AIMS (A) The advancement of dialogue, mutual-understanding and co-operation among young people globally.

(B) The Organisation will take all measures to work on the vision of a Global Youth Organisation.

(C) The contribution to creating responsible and international minded citizens through the support of institutions of education and scientific research..

(D) The undertaking of initiatives on problems and issues which concern the international community, on the basis of respect of the inviolability of human rights as defined by the United Nations Charter and the principles of democracy and the rule of law. The encouragement of the concept of sustainable development on a global perspective.

(E) The advancing of the study of International Affairs through inter-disciplinary research and comparative analysis.

MEANS The Organisation will fulfil it’s Aims and Purposes via: the use of a consultative status in the United Nations Organisation and other international Organisations.

Publications, seminars, conferences, meetings and activities in accordance with article 6 paragraph (iii).

The use of information technologies.

SECTION III

Languages

official language

Article 7

The official language of the Organisation is English which shall be used in all official communications.

use of other languages

Article 8

The existence of an official language in the Organisation does not exclude the use of any other language in its events, provided that there will be an English translation. That translation is not necessary if the communication is non-international or if all parties involved agree thereon.

SECTION IV

Status of the Organisation

general

Article 9

The demos are constituent parts of the organisation and function on a country level. A demos may have an internal structure of local branches.

The organisation of a demos is its internal matter.

Creation of a Demos

express of interest

Article 10

For a demos of the Organisation to be created in a country in which the Organisation does not exist the following procedure must be followed:

(i) There must be at least one (1) Non-Governmental Organisation who will decide to run a branch of the Organisation in a country, and who will apply for that to the General Assembly.

(ii) The plan of the demos statute and a statement of intent must be submitted to the Executive Committee.

(iii) The application must be submitted to the Executive Committee two (2) months before the General Assembly meeting.

preconditions

Article 11

A. The statute of the demos must:

(i) endorse the "Philosophy and Aims" of this statute.

(ii) secure the democratic election of the organs of the demos.

B. The Demos must have been an applicant demos for at least ten (10) months.

the decision

Article 12

The decision whether the Organisation will permit the creation of a new demos will be taken by the General Assembly by an absolute majority of the votes cast, abstentions not counted. The General Assembly must explain in writing its decision to the applicant. If the answer is negative, the General Assembly must indicate what must be done so as to change its decision.

rights and obligations of a demos

Article 13

A) Each demos has the right to:

(i) send two (2) elected delegates to the General Assembly.

(ii) to be informed of and take part to the events and activities of the Organisation and the major events and activities of the other Demos.

B) Each demos has the obligation to:

(i) secure the principles, purpose and aims of the Organisation.

(ii) pay the fees.

(iii) allow members of other Demos to participate in its major events and activities.

host-demos function

Article 14

The Host-Demos is the demos hosting the annual International Activity of the Organisation. It also hosts the annual meetings of the organs of the Organisation.

duration-election

Article 15

All the demos are organised in alphabetical order (cycle). The host-demos is specified on the rolling basis of the cycle. If a demos does not become a host-demos, when its time has come, that demos goes to the end of the alphabetical order of the cycle and the next demos becomes host-demos.

tasks

Article 16

The Host-Demos main tasks are:

(a) The organisation of the annual International Activity.

(b) The preparation and the execution of the annual meeting of the organs of the Organisation.

The obligation to inform the Executive Committee of its actions and activities. termination of a demos

Article 17

A demos shall automatically and immediately cease to have this status if it:

resigns, or
dissolves itself, or

is expelled in accordance with article 18, or

(iv) stops fulfilling the preconditions of a demos as applied by articles 6 and 11.

expelling of a demos

Article 18

A demos can be expelled from the Organisation on a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote by the whole body of the General Assembly, if the demos has either:

(i) violated this Statute or the interests of the Organisation, or

(ii) caused considerable harm to the Organisation, or

(iii) ceased to support the purpose, the aims or the activities of the Organisation or satisfy the preconditions that this Statute foresees for the status of a demos.

applicant demos

Article 19

For a demos to be admitted as a member of the Organisation it has to have been an applicant demos for at least ten (10) months.

rights and obligations of an applicant demos

Article 20

A) Each applicant demos has the right to:

send two (2) delegates to the General Assembly without the right to vote.
be informed of and take part in the events and activities of the Organisation.

Each applicant demos has the obligation to secure the principles, purpose and aims of the Organisation.

observers

Article 21

Local, national or international organisations which support the aims and activities of the Organisation may become Observers of the Organisation provided that the following conditions are met:

The interested organisation must apply in writing to the General Assembly stating that it shares the vision as stated in article 6 paragraph (i).
The interested organisation must fill in the application form for observership of the Organisation.
The interested organisation must submit its statute to the General Assembly and must respect the same values as stated in article 6 paragraph (iii) section (D)
The organs of the interested organisations must be elected in a democratic and free manner.

rights and obligations of observers

Article 22

Each Observer has the right to:

send one (1) delegate to the General Assembly without the right to vote.
be informed of and take part in the events and activities of the organisation.

Each Observer has the obligation to inform the General Assembly of activities and events under its auspices.

end of observership

Article 23

An observer shall automatically and immediately cease to have this status if it:

resigns, or

dissolves itself, or

is expelled in accordance with article 24, or

stops fulfilling the preconditions of obervership in accordance with article 21.

expelling an observer

Article 24

An Observer can be expelled from the Organisation on a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote by the whole body of the General Assembly, if the Observer has either:

violated this Statute or the interests of the Organisation, or
caused considerable harm to the Organisation,
ceased to support the purpose and the aims of the Organisation or satisfy the preconditions that this Statute foresees for the status of observer.

SECTION V

Organs

Part A: General

Article 25

The organs and the institutions of the organisation are:

Executive Committee,
General Assembly,
Regional Council,
Secretariat,
Electoral Committee and
Audit Committee.

B) The General Assembly may appoint specific persons or create organs to carry out certain parts of the tasks which are under its responsibility.

Part B: The Executive Committee

general

Article 26

The Executive Committee represents the Organisation globally and is the supreme executive body.

Article 27

The Executive Committee can authorise one or more persons to represent the Organisation by means of a limited power of attorney.
The Executive Committee can appoint any person to carry out specific tasks which are under its responsibility. composition

Article 28

The Executive Committee consists of five (5) equal members. The Executive Committee is composed by the secretary general, the treasurer and three other members. Not more than two (2) Executive Committee members may have the same nationality or come from the same Demos.

secretary general

Article 29

The Executive Committee must appoint one (1) of its members as secretary general. The secretary general is always a member of the Executive Committee, appointed by the consensus of the Executive Committee. The secretary general shall be responsible for undertaking the legal representation of the Organisation if requested by local, national or international agencies, governments or associations.

the treasurer

Article 30

The Executive Committee must appoint one (1) of its members as treasurer. The treasurer is always a member of the Executive Committee, appointed by the consensus of the Executive Committee.

The treasurer is responsible for:

The management of the budget,
The accountability during the annual General Assembly meeting of the management of the expenses in balance with the income. accountability

Article 31

The Executive Committee and its individual members shall be accountable to the General Assembly for its actions and activities.

tasks

Article 32

The Executive Committee’s main tasks are:

The international representation of the Organisation.
The responsibility for the day to day running and administration of the Organisation.
The supervision of the activities of the Host-Demos.
The proposal of the yearly budget.
The proposal of the amount of the demos fee and any other special fee.
The examination of the fulfilment of preconditions of new applications for the admission of a new demos and the submission of the report to the General Assembly.
The informing of the General Assembly and Regional Council about its activities, reports and actions.
The implementation of the decisions of the General Assembly, the promotion and supervision of the activities of the Organisation and the promotion of its aims and efficiency.
The running of the Secretariat and of the Treasury of the Organisation. election

Article 33

The Executive Committee will be elected by the General Assembly during the yearly International Activity of the Organisation for one year (12 months), starting officially after the end of the previous Executive Committee term of office. In order for a member of the General Assembly to be elected to the Executive Committee, absolute majority of votes cast is needed in the first round and simple majority in the second round, abstentions not counted. Nominations must be sent to the Secretariat three (3) months before the elections. If not enough nominations are received by that date, late nominations can be made up to and including the day before the elections. Candidates age must be over 18 and under 34 years of age. Executive Committee member shall not take the same function for more than two (2) consecutive terms.

meetings

Article 34

Members of the Executive Committee must meet at least once a year during the annual International Activity of the Organisation. This article will become invalid when the Organisation is in position to host its Executive Committee members to its domicile.

decision process

Article 35

Unless this Statute specifies the contrary, decisions by the Executive Committee shall be determined by an absolute majority of the votes cast, abstentions not counted.

resignation

Article 36

Resignations are submitted in writing to the attention of the Executive Committee and General Assembly bodies.

dismissal

Article 37

An Executive Committee member may be dismissed by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the vote cast at the General Assembly, if:

he/she does not satisfactorily perform his/her tasks or/and
he/she violates this Statute or the interest of the Organisation. The proposal of dismissal must be submitted to the Secretariat by at least two (2) of the Executive Committee, or three (3) of the General Assembly, or three (3) of the Regional Council members.

Part C: General Assembly

general

Article 38

The General Assembly is the decision-making body of the Organisation, whose decisions are binding on the Executive Committee and the Host-Demos.

composition

Article 39

The General Assembly consists of two (2) elected representatives of each demos.

quorum

Article 40

The General Assembly in plenary session requires the presence of an absolute majority of all the demos. A demos may be considered as present if at least one (1) of its representatives attends the General Assembly meeting.

tasks

Article 41

The General Assembly's main tasks are:

The election of the Executive Committee.
The supervision of the activities of the Executive Committee.
The approval of the proposition for the replacement of a member of the Executive Committee.
The examination and approval of the annual budget administration and of the following year’s budget.
The planing of the annual programme of activities of the organisation.
The setting of the demos fee and any other special fee. election

Article 42

The members of the General Assembly will be elected by the Demos at least one (1) month prior to the yearly International Activity of the Organisation for an annual term (12 months). In order for a candidate to be elected to the General Assembly his/her election must be concluded by an orderly democratic fashion in accordance with the principles of the Demos and this Statute. Candidates age must be over 18 and under 34 years of age.

meetings

Article 43

The members of the General Assembly must meet at least once a year during the annual International Activity of the Organisation.

The General Assembly can also hold meetings other than the pre-scheduled upon request of at least one-third (1/3) of its members.

decision process

Article 44

Unless this Statute specifies the contrary, decisions by the General Assembly shall be determined by an absolute majority of the votes cast, abstentions not counted. Each Demos has one vote.

guests and observers

Article 45

The General Assembly may invite guests to attend its meetings.

The observers and guests have the right to participate in the General Assembly meetings.
They have the right to participate in the discussion.
They don' t have the right to vote. right to make proposals to the General Assembly.

Article 46

All Demos and all organs of the Organisation have the right to make proposals to the General Assembly.

resignation

Article 47

If a member of the General Assembly resigns before the end of his/her term of office the demos which he/she represents, replaces him/her.

Part D: Regional Council

general

Article 48

The Regional Council is a consultative organ of the Organisation. Its main purpose is to make proposals and to provide the General Assembly with information on regional problems and issues.

composition

Article 49

The Regional Council consists of one (1) elected member from each local branch. The creation of a new demos or a local branch automatically entails new seats in the Regional Council.

tasks

Article 50

The Regional Council’s main tasks are:

The consultation of the Executive Committee and of the General Assembly.
The planning of bilateral and multilateral activities in accordance to the Principles and Aims of this Statute. meetings

Article 51

The Regional Council can hold meetings upon request of at least one-third (1/3) of its local branches.

process of recommendation

Article 52

Unless this Statute specifies the contrary, proposals by the Regional Council shall be determined when a motion is supported by one-fifth (1/5) of the members present in the Regional Council session.

guests and observers

Article 53

The Regional Council may invite guests to attend its meetings.

The observers and guests have the right to participate in the Regional Council meetings.
They have the right to participate in the discussion.
They don' t have the right to vote. resignation

Article 54

If a member of the Regional Council resigns before the end of his/her term of office the local branch he/she represents, replaces him/her.

Part E: Secretariat

general

Article 55

The Secretariat is situated in the domicile of the Organisation.

function

Article 56

The tasks of the Secretariat are undertaken by the Executive Committee unless the Executive Committee appoints the tasks of the Secretariat to authorised persons.

tasks

Article 57

The Secretariat's main tasks are:

to secure efficient communication among the organs and the Demos of the Organisation.
to secure and certify the continuity and cohesion of the Organisation globally.

Part F: Electoral Committee

general

Article 58

The Electoral Committee shall oversee the electoral processes concluded by the Executive Committee, the General Assembly and the Regional Council, during the annual International Activity.

function

Article 59

The Electoral Committee is responsible for guaranteeing the democratic function as this Statute foresees. It shall compose of three (3) members, selected by the Host-Demos during the annual International Activity, who shall be members of that Demos.

tasks

Article 60

The Electoral Committee’s main task are:

to organise the electoral processes during the International Activities,
to guarantee the democratic performance during the elections and account the votes without prejudice or external influences,
to enforce a count and a re-count of the vote,
to submit the final result of the electoral process with a consensus of its members, and
to repeat the electoral procedure whenever the Statute foresees it as necessary.

Part G: Audit Committee

general

Article 61

The Audit Committee shall oversee the inspection of the financial actions of the Organisation.

function

Article 62

The Audit Committee will examine the financial actions concluded by the Executive Committee, through the treasurer, in order to guarantee the credible economic management of the Organisation. It shall compose of three (3) members and three (3) alternate members, selected during the annual International Activity, who shall be members of the demos. A member of the Audit Committee cannot be a member of the Executive Committee.

tasks

Article 63

The Audit Committee’s main tasks are:

to make assessments on the credibility and justification of any financial activity of the Organisation it deems necessary.
to study all documentation of the Executive Committee, General Assembly or Regional Council that may assist it in its inspection.
to prepare the Audit Report which shall be submitted during the annual International Activity to the General Assembly making clear whether it finds any financial action of the Organisation inappropriate and suggesting a course of action for the General Assembly to follow.

SECTION VI

Finance

funding

Article 64

The activities of the organisation are to be funded by annual membership fees, special activity fees, donations and sponsorships (by individuals and public or private sector, local, national or international organisations whether in financial support or in kind). Funds tied to conditions contrary to the aims and principles of the Organisation or otherwise not in the interest of the Organisation, must not be accepted.

Article 65

All funds raised for the benefit of, or payable to the Organisation shall be paid to the Organisation’s international account and be properly and accurately accounted for by the Executive Committee. The Demos are financially independent from the Organisation and vice versa.

responsibility

Article 66

The responsibility for the budget control is carried by the Executive Committee as a whole.

SECTION VII

Amendments of the Statute

changing the Statute

Article 67

Amendments to this Statute may be made if supported by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of votes cast at the General Assembly and provided that the amendments proposed were received by the Demos in advance of the General Assembly meeting.

the coming into force of amendments

Article 68

Any amendment of this Statute comes into force at the end of the General Assembly meeting during which it was voted, unless the General Assembly decides otherwise.

SECTION VIII

dissolution

Article 69

The Organisation may be dissolved only by a General Assembly decision taken with a four-fifth (4/5) majority.

liquidation

Article 70

The General Assembly will upon a decision to dissolve the Organisation elect two (2) liquidators who will decide on the destination of the property of the Organisation, if any. That destination must serve the Vision of the Organisation.