IWGIA's Statutes
The text of IWGIA's Statutes is reproduced below in full
General
1. The International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA) is a non-profit politically independent international human rights organisation. Place of registration is Denmark. The Head office is in Copenhagen. IWGIAs financial year follows the calendar year.
2. The aim of IWGIA is to defend and endorse the rights of indigenous peoples in concurrence with their own efforts and desires:
- by investigating and disseminating information about their present circumstances,
- by furthering international understanding, knowledge and involvement in the cause of indigenous peoples,
- by influencing political and economic powers nationally and internationally to:
- prevent physical and cultural oppression
- fight racism
- secure cultural, political, economic and social rights
- establish and secure indigenous peoples' traditional rights and support their struggle for self-determination,
- by arranging human rights projects and other forms of support to indigenous peoples and organisations with a view to strengthening their social, cultural and political circumstances.
3. The work of IWGIA should reflect the main lines of its policies and strategies by giving as far as possible equal attention to the local community and to the regional, national and international dimensions of the indigenous struggle for human rights.
4. IWGIA was founded in 1968 by anthropologist and other concerned individuals with an expertise on indigenous issues and dedicated to defend the rights of indigenous peoples. In the year 2000, IWGIA became a membership organisation, based on these principles.
5. Amendments to IWGIAs statutes can be made provided that they are submitted in writing to the International Board one month in advance of an international board meeting and if two thirds of the international board agree on them. The new statutes must be approved by the members in writing. The changes are adopted when a simple majority of the votes casted are in favour.
6. Dissolution of the organisation can only be effected provided that, given written warning of three months, two thirds of the Board are in agreement. Should this be the case the Board shall decide by simple majority how the organisation’s funds should be used. Funds should go to one or more organisations or individuals working on a non-commercial basis for the protection of indigenous peoples’ political, economic and social rights.
7. The present statutes came into force on May 27th 2000, and replace the statutes of May 28th 1994, which replace the statutes of December 1989, which replace the statutes of June 1st 1985, which replace statutes of February 20th, 1981 and March 10th, 1978, which replaced the rules and directives that had been in force since IWGIA started its activity following its constitution during the International Congress of Americanists in August, 1968.
Membership
8. IWGIA is a work group, the core of which is an active membership base. Members pay an annual membership fee, the size of which is stipulated every year by The Board. Membership follows the calendar year.
9. The members of IWGIA are committed to IWGIA’s principles. The members shall not be held personally liable for debts or liabilities incurred by IWGIA.
10. Applications for membership are addressed to The Board. The board may reject any application at its own discretion.
11. The international secretariat keeps the membership list.
12. A group of members of IWGIA can establish a local group or an interest group. The rights and responsibilities of these groups are decided upon by The Board. Such groups establish their own by-laws to be approved by the Board. The Board has established general guidelines for local groups.
13. The Board can decide to exclude members of the organisation and to dissolve local groups and interest groups. Members can be excluded and groups dissolved if they are deemed by the board to act in ways contrary to the principles or laws of the organisation, or do not pay the membership fee. A group that no longer accomplish the criteria for being a group for more than one year can be dissolved by The Board.
Governing structure
14. The International Board (The Board) is the highest governing body of the organisation.
15. The Chairperson’s signature binds IWGIA’s activities. In case of the Chairperson’s absence, the Vice-chairperson will take over the chairperson’s duties.
16. Once every year, all members are called for a general meeting, the Annual Forum. The Forum has consultative status as an advisory body to The Board.
17. The executive body of the organisation is the International Secretariat (the Secretariat) which is based in Copenhagen, Denmark.
The Board
18. The Board has a membership of seven. Six are elected by and among all members with more than one year's membership, and one Board member is elected by and among permanently or contractually employed persons in the Secretariat, who have worked there for at least one year. The executive director of the Secretariat is the secretary of The Board.
19. The Board decides upon all matters of principle. Among the functions of The Board are the tasks to supervise and decide upon editorial, legal and financial matters of IWGIA. Under no circumstances, except when provided by law, shall the members of The Board be held personally liable for debts or liabilities incurred by IWGIA. Members of The Board are also expected to utilise their position to provide specialised information and knowledge about their respective fields within indigenous affairs.
20. Decisions are usually made according to consensus and in cases of indecision a vote will be taken. Voting is made by simple majority (except in case of dissolution of the organisation) and in case of equal votes the Chairperson’s vote is decisive.
21. The Board constitutes itself. The Chair and Vice-chair make up the Executive. The Chair or the vice-chair cannot be occupied by the secretariat appointee.
22. The Board forms a quorum when more than half of the board is present.
23. The Board is called at least four times a year. One of the meetings takes place in connection with Annual Forum. In the interim periods between Board meetings, urgent matters are dealt with by the Executive.
24. The agenda of the Board meetings will include the following:
- Reports on current work of all Board members
- Future plans for IWGIA
- Indigenous Issues
- Report on the financial situation
- Date for the next board meeting
25. The Board approves the annual account and the annual budget.
26. The board elects an auditor general.
27. All personnel matters are handled by the Executive.
Election of the Board
28. Election to the Board by the members takes place in writing in November every year. The election is called by the Secretariat from the membership list. All persons who have been a member for at least one year prior to the election and have paid their annual fee when the election is called can vote. To be elected to the Board a person must have been a member for at least one year prior to the election
29. Candidates to the Board must be recommended by three members. The name of the candidate(s) including the signature of the candidate and three recommending members must reach the Secretariat in writing no later than two weeks before the election is called. Before that, notice of the election should be given to all members no later than four weeks before the election is called. Notice is announced via e-mail to members.
30. Board members are elected for three years. Election takes place on staggered terms so that two positions are up for election every year. Incumbent Board members can be re-elected. Board members are elected in their personal capacity and have no alternates.
31. In the case that a Board member leaves before his/her period expires or that he/she is absent from 3 consecutive Board meetings, the Board can decide to call for an extraordinary election or to increase the number of persons to be elected in the first ordinary election.
32. Each member has as many votes as the number of positions to be filled in the election. A voting member can only give one vote to one candidate.
33. The result of the election is announced by the Chair at the Board meeting and before the opening of the Forum. The Board constitutes itself.
The secretariat
34. IWGIA's daily work is coordinated by the Secretariat. The Secretariat works on a co-operative basis with ultimate responsibility and decision-making in the hands of the executive director. The administrator has the responsibility for keeping the accounts and drafting the budget. In all matters, the secretariat refers to the Board through the director.
35. The executive director and the administrator of the Secretariat are employed by the Board, who also nominates the deputy director. All other positions are nominated by the director upon consultations with the relevant staff members and the employment approved by the Executive.
36. The Secretariat is responsible for communication with and informing members and local groups.
May 2000/revised February 2004 - Signed by the board
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 Nicaragua
Photo: Mie Buus
 Ayoreo, Bolivia
Photo: Pablo Lasansky
 Wichí-Chorote-Toba, Argentina
Photo: Alejandro Parellada
 Aymara, Bolivia
Photo: Pablo Lasansky
 Ashaninka, Peru
Photo: Pablo Lasansky
 Venezuela
Photo: Pablo Lasansky
 Wichí, Argentina
Photo: Alejandro Parellada
 Aguaruna, Peru
Photo: Pablo Lasansky
 Venezuela
Photo: Pablo Lasansky
 Ayoreo, Bolivia
Photo: Pablo Lasansky
 Wichí-Chorote-Toba, Argentina
Photo: Alejandro Parellada |
