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CONSTITUTION OF THE
HABITAT INTERNATIONAL COALITION
(AS AMENDED BY THE 1997 HIC GENERAL ASSEMBLY)
NAME AND SEAT
Article 1
The name of the Association is Habitat International Coalition. The
Association is Registered in The Hague, The Netherlands.
OBJECTIVE
Article 2
The Association is dedicated to action for the recognition, defence,
and full implementation of the right of everyone to a secure place
in which to live in peace and dignity, in all countries. It acts as
an international pressure group in defence of the rights of the
homeless, the poor, and the inadequately housed. It promotes the
creation of awareness among the public in general about human
settlements problems as well as the exchange of information on these
problems and their solutions among its members, it functions as a
platform for the formulation of nongovernmental organisations'
policies and strategies in the field or human settlements. It acts
as their spokesperson in contacts with international organisations.
The Association aims to attain these objectives by means of the
mounting of campaigns, either in cooperation or not with other
nongovernmental and community-based organisations, and social
movements'
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the undertaking of
seminars and conferences; |
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the publication or
statements, reports, newsletters, and other study and
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information
materials; |
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the undertaking of
research and other projects; |
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the support of
networks and information exchanges among its members and
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other
nongovernmental and social organisations and movements;
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any other legal
means. |
The Association is
based on the principle of decentralisation of its activities to the
different regions and countries of the world. The Association is a
nonprofit-making organisation.
DURATION
Article 3
The Association has been established for an indefinite period.
MEMBERSHIP
Article 4
Members of the Association can be all non-governmental and
community-based organisations, social movements, professional
bodies, voluntary agencies, research and scientific and educational
institutions, an important part or whose activities is concerned
with one or more aspects of human settlements.
Members are those bodies referred to under paragraph I of this
Article which subscribe to and act in accordance with the objectives
of the Association as set out in Article 2 and have been accepted as
such by the Board. In cases of non-acceptance by the Board, the
General Assembly may nevertheless decide to accept the applicant.
Two types of member organisations exist:
Those regular members. which are those organisations of local,
national or international character which contribute a minimum
annual amount as determined by the Board and which collaborate with
the activities developed by the Association. Member organisations
have the right to vote and to propose their members for elected
positions.
The supporting members are those which, with the same rights and
obligations of the regular members, contribute additionally to the
finance of the Association as determined by the Board.
Article 5
Membership ends when the member ceases to exist; by termination by
the member. This can only take place at the end of the financial
year provided it is done in writing and notice of four weeks is
given; by termination or dismissal by the Association, This can only
occur when the member acts in defiance of the Constitution, the
by-laws or decisions of the Association, such as for example when
the member does not pay its yearly membership fee or is in arrears
of payment in spite of a reminder, or when the member does not
subscribe to or act in accordance with the objectives of the
Association as set out in Article 2. The termination or dismissal is
decided by the Board. which informs the member concerned as soon as
possible with reasons given. The member concerned may appeal to the
General Assembly within two months after receipt of the
notification. The decision of the General Assembly to terminate a
membership or dismiss a member has to be taken by a two thirds
majority of the votes cast.
FRIENDS OF HABITAT
INTERNATIONAL COALITION
Article 6
Friends of Habitat International Coalition are individuals who pay a
yearly contribution to the Association, the minimum amount or which
is decided upon by the Board. They can attend meetings of the
General Assembly but have no voting rights.
FINANCES
Article 7
The finances of the Association consist of the yearly contributions
by the Members and Friends of Habitat International Coalition,
testamentary dispositions, legacies, donations, and other
contributions.
THE BOARD
Article 8
The Board is composed or the following:
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The President of
the Association |
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One representative
from each approved region of the Association having 100 members
or less. Regions with more than 100 members may have two
representatives |
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One representative
from each of the approved Committees |
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Three delegates of
the Women and Shelter [Network] |
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Two invited
members from social movements, in addition to any other Board
members who may originate from social movements |
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One associated
Board member may be named by the Board. |
Article 9
All Board members are elected or appointed for a four-year term.
Board members shall not serve more than two consecutive terms.
Members of the Board are selected as follows:
The President is elected by the General Assembly from among the
members of the Association. The regional representatives are elected
through a democratic process established by each region by the
members of the Association located within the region. All members
located within the region are invited to participate in the election
process. The regional representatives are persons active in the
programmes of the Association. Each approved region elects one
representative to the Board and one alternate of different gender.
The representatives of the Committees are elected from among their
members. Each approved Committee elects one representative and one
alternate of different gender.
The delegates of the Women and Shelter Committee are appointed by
and from among its members.
The social movement members are designated by the Board from among
candidates by members of the Association in consultation with the
social organisations. Social movements invited to the Board include
primarily regional or national networks or alliances of
community-based or social organisations working for common
objectives. The representatives of the social movements are from
different regions and are of different genders. At least one of the
social movement representatives is a member of the Association.
An associated Board member may be named by the Board to complement
expertise, knowledge and areas of interest within the Board This
member may or may not be a member of the Association, but acts
within the Board in accordance with the objectives of the
Association.
The Board members are elected as representatives of their
organisations, but act in their own individual capacities to advance
the objectives of the Association.
The Regions and Committees must present for the consideration and
approval of the Board their respective procedures for the democratic
selection of their representatives. The representatives must also
demonstrate accountability for their actions to those who elected or
designated them.
The Board names from among its members a Vice-President, who is of
the opposite gender of the President.
The Board names from among its members a Treasurer.
Article 10
The Board manages the affairs or the Association in accordance with
the guidelines of the General Assembly. A quorum of the Board for
the transaction of business is constituted by 50% plus one Board
members. Notwithstanding vacancies the remaining members may act if
constituting a quorum. The Board meets at least once a year and more
often if it deems it necessary.
The Board may decide to give a mandate to one or more or its members
to represent the Association within the limits or that mandate. The
Board may appoint Committees to deal with a specific subject within
the objectives of the Association as stated in Article 2. Board
members may act as proxy for all matters placed before the Board,
subject to any restrictions placed in the letter appointing the
proxy. A Board member may act as proxy for no more than one other
member. A written authorisation must be presented to the President
or General Secretary prior to the time of voting.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Article 11
The Executive Committee will be formed by the President,
Vice-President, Treasurer, General Secretary, and three additional
Board members designated by the Board from amongst its members. The
members of the Executive Committee represent at least four regions
of the Association. Every effort is made to assure geneder balance
among the Executive Committee members. The Executive Committee is
responsible to ensure the follow-up of the principal decisions of
the Board and to orient important decision-making and provide
guidance to the General Secretary between meetings of the Board.
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Article 12
The General Assembly meets once a year. The Board submits to this
meeting its annual report and the annual financial statements for
approval, and renders account of its management during the past
year. Every year the General Assembly appoints auditors for the
verification of the financial statements referred to in the previous
paragraph. The financial statements are presented to the Board by
the Treasurer.
Article 13
In addition to the Annual General Assembly referred to in the
previous Article, meetings of the General Assembly are converted by
the Board whenever the Board deems it desirable. At the written
request of at least one-fifth of the membership, the Board is
obliged to convene a meeting of the General Assembly with notice of
not less than four and not more than six weeks. If this request is
not complied with within the following two weeks, the petitioners
may themselves convene the meeting. The members are convened in
writing to the General Assembly at least four weeks prior to the
date and eight weeks if the agenda contains a proposal to change the
Constitution or to dissolve the Association. The communication
contains the agenda of the meeting.
Article 14
Every member is entitled to one vote in the General Assembly. Every
member entitled to a vote can empower in writing someone else who is
entitled to a vote, to vote in his or her place.
All decisions, for which the law or this Constitution prescribes no
larger majority, are taken by an absolute majority of the votes
cast. In the event of a tie when a vote is taken on business, the
proposal is rejected. In the event or a tie when a vote is taken on
persons, a decision is taken by the drawing of lots. If in an
election between two or more persons no one obtains an absolute
majority a second ballot is taken between the two persons having
obtained most votes, if necessary after an immediate ballot.
Article 15
Meetings of the General Assembly, the Board and Executive Committee
are chaired by the President. In his or her absence or if he or she
considers it convenient, the meetings are chaired by the
Vice-President, or by a person nominated by the meeting. The Board
and Executive Committee may nominate a facilitator for their
meetings. The resolutions of the meetings of the General Assembly,
the Board, and the Executive Committee are recorded in minutes kept
by the General Secretary or a person designated by him or her. The
minutes are approved in the same or the next meeting of the body
concerned.
GENERAL SECRETARY
Article 16
The General Secretary is in charge or the day-to-day business of the
Association. He/she is responsible for his/her activities to the
Board. He/she represents the Association in legal and other matters.
He/she originates from among the Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the
Caribbean, Francophone Africa or Anglophone Africa regions. The
Secretariat or the Association is located in one of these regions.
The Board is responsible for the appointment and dismissal of the
General Secretary. The General Secretary, who is an employee of the
Association, is designated fore period of four years. This period
may be extended at the discretion of the Board. The Board is
responsible to evaluate and decide as to the convenience and moment
to change the seat of the Secretariat to another country.
FOCAL POINTS AND
REFERENCE CENTRES
Article 17
The activities carried out in each of the approved regions are
promoted, facilitated, managed and coordinated by members of the
Association designated as Focal Points. The regional Focal Points
may assist with the general activities of the Association and/or the
activities of one or more Committees and Working Groups. The Focal
Points may be assisted in the coordination and implementation of
specific activities by thematic Reference Centres linked to the
Committees or Working Groups. The Focal Points and Reference Centres
coordinate among themselves, and operate in accordance with
mechanisms that each region establishes in coordination with the
Board, the Committees, and the Working Groups.
NATIONAL COALITIONS
Article 18
The Association encourages the formation or national coalitions,
that link their community, local, and national activities to the
international activity of the Association. The national coalitions
may include members of the Association and others, and adopt the
form or organisation which they determine most convenient. The
national coalitions do not constitute chapters of the Association,
nor use the name of Habitat International Coalition (HIC) within
their title, nor otherwise form part of the formal structure of the
Association.
COMMITTEES
Article 19
The Committees are made up of those members of the Association
interested in participating in programmes of strategic action
focused on specific themes. The establishment of a Committee is
approved by the Board following demonstration by a Working Group
that it works within an area of strategic importance for the
Association, that it has at least four active member organisations
in each of at least 50% of existing regions, has established and
follows a set of Terms of Reference and a Plan of Action approved by
the Board, and has been working as a Working Group with demonstrable
results for at least three years. The approval by the Board of new
Committees is subject to considerations regarding their suitability
in relation to the strategic objectives, plan of action, and
operating policies of the Association. Each Committee is coordinated
by a convenor designated by its members.
WORKING GROUPS
Article 20
The Working Groups are established at the initiative of those
members of the Association interested in participating in activities
focused on specific themes, either to support of the established
Committees or to explore new areas of interest for the Association.
Working Groups may seek recognition from the Board following
demonstration by the Working Group that it works within an area of
strategic importance for the Association, that it incorporates at
least eight active member organisations, and has established and
follows a set of Terms of Reference and a Plan or Action approved by
the Board. The Working Groups may solicit their establishment as
Committees when the criteria established in Article 19 are
fulfilled. Each Working Group is coordinated by a convenor
designated by its members.
REVISION OF THE
CONSTITUTION
Article 21
A revision of the Constitution can only take place by a decision of
the General Assembly the convocation of which states that a revision
of the Constitution is proposed. Those who convene the General
Assembly, in which a revision of the Constitution is proposed, have
to attach to the Convocation a verbatim copy of the proposal. In
addition, the proposal has to be open to public inspection at the
Secretariat of the Association. A revision of the Constitution can
only be decided upon by the General Assembly by a majority of
two-thirds of the votes cast.
DISSOLUTION AND
LIQUIDATION
Article 23
The procedure referred to in Article 21 also applies to a decision
of the General Assembly to dissolve the Association. Following any
decision under the preceding paragraph, the General Assembly decides
on the disposal of the balance of funds and assets and much as
possible in conformity with the objectives of the Association.
Unless the General Assembly decides otherwise, the Board shall carry
out the liquidation.
BY-LAWS
The General Assembly
may decide upon one or more by-laws in which matters are regulated
[that] are not, or are not exhaustively provided for in this
Constitution. A by-law may not contain Articles incompatible with
the laws of the country where the seat of the Association is located
or with this Constitution. The rules contained in Article 21,
paragraphs 1 and 2 similarly applicable to decisions of the General
Assembly to adopt or to revise a by-law.
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