Date: Sun, 30 Apr 95 19:56:06 BST From: Andy Quan International Lesbian and Gay Association Constitution July 1994 A. Foundation Document Having regard to the fundamental pride that lesbians/gay women and gay men take in their sexual orientation; Having regard to the legal and social discrimination against lesbians/gay women and gay men of all ages throughout the world; - Having regard to the failure of the nations of the world to guarantee to lesbians/gay women and gay men full civil and political rights; Having regard to the need for international solidarity in the face of universal oppression; Having regard to the need to create an organisation within which women of different political and personal choices (in terms of the separatism, feminism, homosexuality, and identity as lesbians and/or gay women) can work together. The International Lesbian and Gay Association was founded in Coventry, England, in August 1978. B. Constitution 1.Aim The aim of the ILGA is to work for the liberation of lesbians/gay women and gay men from legal, social, cultural, and economic discrimination through the means below. (i) To conduct political and information campaigns in pursuit of lesbian/gay rights; (ii) To maximise the effectiveness of lesbian/gay organisations by co-ordinating political actions on an international level; (iii) To promote the unity of lesbians/gay women and gay men throughout the world by the collection and distribution of information on lesbian/gay oppression and liberation ; (iv) To exchange information and to promote co-operation with other movements that support lesbian/gay liberation; (v) To encourage groups of lesbians/gay women and gay men to keep in contact with and support each other as much as is practically possible; (vi) To encourage the development of organisations of lesbians/gay women and gay men in parts of the world where these do not exist, and to support and help those in countries where the lesbian and gay movement is vulnerable, or faces especially severe oppression. 2. Membership Membership of the ILGA is divided into two (2) categories: (i) Full membership: being a lesbian and/or gay non-profit organisation: this category shall include a lesbian and/or gay group which forms part of a non-lesbian and/or non-gay organisation. (ii) Associate membership: being (a) any other organisation or association which supports the aims of ILGA; (b) any individual who supports the aims of ILGA. 3. Admission (i) An applicant for any category of membership of the lLGA must: (a) apply in writing to the Administrative Office; (b) affirm agreement with the aims of the ILGA and (c) if applying for Full or Associate Organisation membership provide a description of itself, its aims and the composition of its membership. (ii) A list of applicants, and their description, shall be circulated before, or at, each World Conference. If any objection is made to an applicant at a plenary session, the application shall be referred to a relevant workshop. If there is no objection, the applicant shall be admitted to membership. (iii) An applicant shall be admitted to membership by a simple majority, which is more than 50 % of those voting for and against. 4. Suspension and expulsion A member may be (a) suspended from membership for one or more years; or (b) expelled from the ILG A by a vote taken in accordance with Article 15, provided that notice of motion to suspend or expel shall have been given to it at least 6 weeks prior to the start of the World Conference. 5. Subscriptions Each member of the ILGA must pay an annual subscription to the Administrative Office at the time and rate fixed, for the time being, by the World Conference. 6. Secretariats Committee (i) The ILGA has some official organs of management and officials: - Six Regional Secretariats - The Women' s Secretariat - The Action Secretariat - The Financial Secretariat - A female and a male Secretary-General Only a full member may hold a Secretariat. (ii) The secretariats and the secretaries-general shall be responsible for executing the policies and managing the business of the ILGA as laid down by the World Conference between World Conferences and shall form the Secretariats Committee. (iii) The Secretariats Committee is the managing body of the ILGA between conferences. It is responsible for the tasks of the Administrative Group, employment matters and for securing that the secretariats fulfil their tasks. (iv) In addition to the Secretaries-General and representatives of the secretariats, the Co-Ordinator, members of the Administrative Group, the International Secretary of every Full Member, and such other persons as the Secretariats Committee shall invite may attend as observers. (v) The location, dates and agenda of meetings of the Secretariats Committee shall be published in the Bulletin not less than one month beforehand. (vi) In the event of a vote being necessary at the Secretariats Committee. each secretariat and back-up secretariat present shall have one vote. An issue shall be decided by simple majority and the vote of each secretariat shall be included in the minutes. In all other matters the Secretariats Committee shall determine its own procedures. (vii) The Secretariats Committee shall report on its meetings in the bulletin. (viii) The minutes of the meetings of the Secretariats Committee shall be available to members upon written request. (ix) The term of the Secretariats and the Secretaries-General is from the end of one World Conference to the end of the next World Conference. (x) The Secretariats Committee shall set up a set of rules of procedures for the work of the Secretariats Committee and the Administrative Office. 7. Regional Secretariats - (i) The ILGA will have regional secretariats. Regions may include: Africa, North America, Latin America, Asia/Pacific and Europe. (ii) Regional Secretariats will be elected by Regional Conferences in their region. If no such conference exists at a given moment, Regional Secretariats will be elected by the World Conference. (iii) It is the responsibility of Regional Secretariats to: (a) initiate and promote international initiatives, projects and actions relevant to their region in co-operation with the Action Secretariat; (b) collect information on matters of lesbian and/or gay oppression and liberation in their region; (c) ensure women' s participation in regional work, promote, initiate and co-ordinate women' s projects and actions within the region in co-operation with the Women' s Secretariat and the Action Secretariat; (d) to promote ILGA membership in the region; (e) communicate regarding (a) and (b) with the Administrative Office to ensure dissemination of information to all ILGA members and others. (f) cooperate with groups responsible for organizing regional conferences and assist with the preparation of the contents of regional conferences; (g) ensure that the needs and concerns of their region are considered at World Conferences. 8. Women's Secretariat It is the responsibility of the Women's Secretariat to: (i) collect and coordinate lesbian information/visibility worldwide in close cooperation with the Regional Secretariats and the Administrative Group; (ii) initiate articles worldwide on lesbian issue for the ILGA bulletin including the Lesbian Bulletin; (iii) work for lesbian equality within and outside ILGA; (iv) attend relevant international conferences within and outside ILGA to give and collect information and build bridges between lesbians; (v) cooperate with other international lesbian and other women' s organisations: (vi) ensure that lesbian interests are represented in the planning committees for ILGA World Conferences: (vii) coordinate and arrange lesbian caucuses and workshops in cooperation with the group planning for a World Conference: (viii) carry out tasks allocated to it by lLGA world conferences. 9. Action secretariat It is the responsibility of the Action Secretariat to: (i) co-ordinate political actions of the ILGA; (ii) provide information on actions to the Administrative Group for inclusion in the Bulletin. lO. Financial Secretariat It is the responsibility of the Financial Secretariat to orchestrate funding projects by the membership and the Secretariats Committee including: (i) to seek out core funding and project funding; (ii) to develop promotional materials for merchandising. 11. Secretaries-General - (i) There shall be two Secretaries-General, one woman and one man, elected annually at the World Conference. (ii) No person may serve as a Secretary-General for more than four consecutive years. (iii) The Secretaries-General shall be responsible and report to the World Conference while it is in session, and to the Secretariats Committee at all other times. (iv) The Secretaries-General shall perform such functions as are allocated to them by the World Conference and the Secretariats Committee. 12. Administration (i) The ILGA has a central Administrative Office. This will be run by an Administrative Group appointed by the Secretariats Committee. The appointment will be renewed every three years. (ii) The Administrative Group acts on behalf of and under the control and instruction of the Secretariats Committee in the fields mentioned in subsection (v). The Administrative Group may be relieved of its responsibilities by the Secretariats Committee after a vote of no confidence. (iii) A Co-ordinator will be responsible for co-ordinating the Administrative Office. The co-ordinator will report to the Secretariats Committee. (iv) (a) The co-ordinator will be appointed by the Secretariats Committee following a proposal from the Administrative Group; (b) The Co-ordinator shall attend the World Conferences, and regional conferences when possible, and meetings of the Secretariats Committee. The Co-ordinator will attend any ILGA meeting in the capacity of Co-ordinator alone and will not have the right to execute any vote at such meetings. (v) On behalf of the Secretariats Committee it is the responsibility of the Administrative Group to: (a) in co-operation with the secretariats and information pools produce and distribute to all Members an Information Bulletin; maintain and provide information about the ILGA, its Members and activities; collect information on matters of lesbian and/or gay oppression and liberation; supervise the functioning of the Information Pools. (b) circulate an agenda and other relevant documents to the Secretariats one month prior to meetings, and circulate the minutes no more than two weeks after receipt of them. (c) co-ordinate ILGA business, prepare the contents of the World Conference. produce pre-conference papers and conference reports for the World Conference, press releases, publications, etc: the Administrative Group shall advise groups responsible for organising World and Regional Conferences, but shall not be responsible for their organisation. (d) receive Members' subscriptions and process applications for membership; (e) keep accurate accounts of capital, income and expenditure; (f) present to the World Conference - a detailed report of the ILGA's finances for the previous financial years audited by a suitably experienced individual who is independent of the Administrative Office; - an estimate of the ILGA's finances for the current year; - a list of those members who have paid their current subscriptions, and those who have not; (g) remind each member when its annual subscription is due; (h) manage voting procedures at World Conference; (i) deal with those employment matters as delegated by the Secretariats Committee. 13. Fullmembers It is the responsibility of each full member to: (i) furnish the Administrative Office with accurate information about its membership, organisation, and activities; (ii) inform the Secretariats of matters requiring support from other members; (iii) respond to requests for support from other members or from the Secretariats; (iv) appoint an International Secretary to be a liaison officer with the Secretariats, Information Pools and other members; (v) respond to requests from Secretariats for information in general and specifically for the production of papers; (vi) submit a copy of relevant correspondence concerning the production of papers and support of other members and a copy of any publication to the Secretariats. 14. World Conference (i) The World Conference is the sovereign body of the ILGA. (ii) There shall be an World Conference of the ILGA at least every second year. Its location shall be decided upon at an World Conference. (iii) The World Conference shall be open to the following persons: (a) delegates of full members; (b) representatives of associate member organisations or associations; (c) individual associate members; (d) such other persons as the host organisation and the Secretariats Committee permit. (iv) The delegates and representatives of Member Organisations shall present themselves at the start of the World Conference and shall provide evidence of accreditation if requested . (v) The Secretariats Committee shall prepare a draft agenda and shall circulate it to members not less than eight (8) weeks before the conference. (vi) The organisation of the World Conference shall be the responsibility of the host organisation and the Secretariats Committee. (vii) The World Conference shall be managed by a chairing pool selected at a pre-conference meeting consisting of the delegates of each full member, and affirmed at the first plenary session. Membership of the chairing pool should reflect a balance of gender, race and region. (viii) The World Conference will be conducted in accordance with standing rules which shall govern: (a) approval of chairing pool and agenda; (b) amendments to standing rules; (c) accreditation of proxy votes; (d) workshops; (e) reports and recommendations; (f) suspension of standing rules; (g) any other matters pertaining to the conduct of the World Conference. (ix) Each World Conference shall approve the appointment of Secretaries-General, Secretariats and Back- up secretariats by a vote in accordance with Article 15. 15. Decision making - (i) Decisions at the World Conference may only be taken in Plenary Sessions. (ii) The women in the ILGA have autonomy to take decisions on topics specifically relevant to lesbians/gay women. (iii) Full members are entitled to two (2) votes. However, if no women delegates from a full member of mixed gender are to attend conference, the women of that organisation may nominate an individual participant or full member of the Women's Secretariat to exercise their vote by proxy. Such nomination shall be made in writing. If no such nomination is received, then that organisation shall have only one (1) vote at World Conference. (iv) The following shall be able to exercise votes at the World Conference: (a) delegates of full members which have paid their current subscription; (b) others nominated in advance in writing, in accordance with the standing rules, to exercise the proxy vote of an absent full member which has paid its current subscription; (c) the Women' s Secretariat if nominated in accordance with paragraph (iii) above. (v) The maximum number of votes which may be held is as follows: (a) delegates may hold two (2) votes and up to four (4) proxy votes; (b) others may hold up to four (4) proxy votes; (c) the Women' s Secretariat may hold up to ten (lO) proxy votes. (vi) Wherever possible, decisions shall be taken by consensus. If a plenary session does not reach a consensus on a specific issue, the chair shall decide whether to put the issue to a vote in accordance with standing rules. If there is a vote, the vote shall be won only by a majority of 80 % of the votes cast for and against, subject to paragraph (vii) below. Abstentions shall not be regarded as a vote for or against. Loss of a vote will not prevent an issue from being raised at a workshop or at any subsequent World Conference. (vii) Full members which vote against a decision made at World Conference have the right to demand that their opposition be recorded in the minutes of the World Conference. (viii) If there is more than one candidate for any of the central administrative organs, the appointment shall be voted upon at the World Conference using the following procedure: (a) If there are two candidates the election will be decided by a simple majority of those voting for one or the other. (b) If there are more than two candidates there will be two rounds of voting. At the close of the first round the two candidates with the highest number of votes will stand in a second round in which the election will be decided by a simple majority of those voting for and against. (ix) Voting on the location of the World Conference shall be decided at the World Conference using the same voting procedure as in paragraph (viii) above. I6. Regional Conferences Members in geographical regions may hold regional Conferences. Regional Conferences may: (i) on behalf of their own region, initiate protest actions, publish press releases and conference statements, and take such other actions as they consider appropriate, provided that these actions and statements are in accordance with the policies of the ILGA as laid down at World Conferences. Any statements should be made in the name of the Regional Con ference; (ii) make proposals on policy to the ILGA' s World Conference; (iii) decide on the date and location of conferences for their region; (iv) determine their own conference procedures and voting rules. Until agreement on these procedures and rules is reached, those set out in this Constitution shall apply. (v) The delineation of regions shall be determined at the World Conference. (vi) Regional Conferences can set up other organs besides regional secretariats and delegate tasks to them. These other organs will not be members of the Secretariats Committee. (vii) A Regional Conference can recognize a group of countries in its region as a sub-region. This sub-region can have its own conferences an delegate tasks to organs. The rules for regional conferences will apply. 17. Use of the ILGA name The ILGA name may be used (i) when World Conference is in session. At all other times Member Organisations should use their own name, adding if they wish: " A member of the International Lesbian and Gay Association". (ii) when a Regional Conference is in session, but making specific mention of the region (e.g. "the Asian region of ILGA); (iii) with the consent of the Secretariats Committee in accordance with the policies of the ILGA as laid down by the World Conference. 18. Amendments to Constitution Amendments to the Constitution must have been mailed to member Organisations at least eight (8) weeks before World Conference. Transitional arrangements (17 July 1993 as amended 3 July 1994) 1. Articles 6 (ii), (iii) and (iv), 8, 9, lO, 11, 12, 13 and 16 shall come into force immediately . 2. Article 6 (i) with the exception of the phrase "Six regional secretariats" but including the words "a back-up Action Secretariat, a back-up Financial Secretariat and a back-up Women's Secretariat" shall come into force immediately. 3. Article 6 (i) and Article 7 shall only come into force after an implementation resolution has been adopted by a simple majority of votes cast by full members at a World Conference. The World Conference shall consider the views of the Regionalisation Working Party before Yoting upon such a resolution. 4. The words "a Back-up Action Secretariat, a back-up Financial Secretariat and a back-up Women's Secretariat" shall be deleted upon the adoption of the resolution described above.