Statutes in German

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Statuten des Vereins Komitee von Nichtregierungsorganisationen für die Rechtsstellung von Frauen

Statutes in English 

       Aims

1. The aims of the Committee are to:

   a) Advocate for women’s rights, convene meetings, and act as a forum for the exchange of information among non-governmental organizations
   represented at the United Nations in Vienna;
   b) Assure strong and persistent engagement and promote solidarity on gender equality, human rights, climate justice and peace, and other matters
   related to the status of women;
   c) Facilitate liaison with UN Women and participation in the sessions of the Commission on the Status of Women, and related UN processes and agencies in Vienna and elsewhere.

   Membership

2. Membership of the Committee is open to:

   a) NGOs having Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations, in Category General, Special and the
   Roster, by action of the Council, which have a permanent representative accredited to the United Nations in Vienna;
   b) NGOs placed on the Roster by action of the Secretary-General, which have a permanent representative accredited to the United
   Nations in Vienna;
   c) NGOs placed on the Roster by virtue of their consultative status with specialised agencies or other United Nations bodies, which have a
   permanent representative accredited to the United Nations in Vienna;
   d) Admission to the Committee requires an application being submitted to the Chair and approved by the Board;
   e) The full membership dues are to be paid on an annual basis. If a member is in arrears of payment, the Treasurer shall send a written
   reminder. If a member is in arrears of payment for more than two years, the membership ceases automatically.

   Structure

3. The Committee consists of:
   a) The Member Organisations
   b) The Board
   c) The Officers
   d) The Auditors
   

   Work of the Committee

4. The Committee shall meet regularly, in person or virtually, at least three times during the year. The Committee shall determine the date and place of
   meetings. The Board may convene the Committee sooner, or may postpone convening the Committee. However, at the request of one-third of the
   member organisations of the Committee, the Board shall convene the Committee within two weeks of the time such a request is received.
5. The Committee shall review its activities since the previous meeting, review the state of liaison between UN Women and other relevant UN bodies dealing with matters concerning women and NGOs, and maintain close contact with other NGO groupings, especially the NGO Committee on the Status of Women New York and the NGO Committee on the Status of Women Geneva.
6. The Committee shall include a Younger Generation Working Group and support their activities.
7. The Committee shall elect the Board and its Officers from among the representatives of member organisations.
8. The Committee shall decide on the amount of membership dues and approve the budget of the Committee.
9. Observers at the Committee may be invited by the Board from:
   a) NGOs in consultative status with ECOSOC which are not member
   organisations of the Committee;
   b) National associations and international NGOs not having consultative
   status with ECOSOC, but having expertise in the field of the status of
   women;
   c) Representatives of the UN system;
   d) Representatives of Governments.
10. The Committee may establish Sub-Committees or Ad Hoc Committees at the request of five or more member organisations. When a decision has been taken to establish a Sub- or Ad Hoc Committee, the Board shall notify the member organisations and invite them to an initial meeting.
    

    Board

11. The Board of the Committee shall consist of the Chair, the First Vice-Chair, the Second Vice-Chair, the Secretary, the Deputy Secretary, the Treasurer
    and the Deputy Treasurer and a maximum of four other members, and the Chairs of Sub- or Ad Hoc Committees.
    11.1 The Board shall draw up the agenda of the Committee meetings and submit proposals to the Committee for adoption by consensus.
    11.2 The Board shall propose the disbursement of funds to the Committee for its decision.
    11.3 Only one person per organisation shall be eligible for membership on the Board.
    

    Officers

12. The following shall be Officers of the Committee:
    a) Chair
    b) First Vice-Chair
    c) Second Vice-Chair
    d) Secretary
    e) Deputy Secretary
    f) Treasurer
    g) Deputy Treasurer
13. The Chair shall convene and preside over meetings and maintain communications with other NGO Committees, competent groups interested
    in the status of women, and representatives of the UN system. He/she shall represent the Committee as and when required.
14. The First or Second Vice-Chair shall, in the absence of the Chair, act on her/his behalf.
15. The Secretary shall keep minutes of the meetings of the Committee, a record of membership and records of attendance at meetings. The Secretary
    shall arrange for distribution of the Minutes of each meeting and other written material to the member organisations and to such persons or organisations as the Committee may decide.
16. The Deputy Secretary shall, in the absence of the Secretary, act on her/his behalf.
17. The Treasurer shall receive the membership dues and other contributions and be responsible for all disbursements and the maintenance of accounts. In the absence of the Treasurer, the Deputy Treasurer, shall act on her/his behalf.
    

    Conduct of Meetings

18. Decisions shall be normally by consensus except at the request of any member on specific questions. A quorum shall consist of at least one-third of
    the member organisations.
19. When it is necessary to vote, each member organisation in good standing shall have one vote. Voting may be in person, online, absentee (by email), or by written proxy.
    

    Matters of Substance

20. Any statement of the Committee on matters of substance must be signed by each member organisation with the approval of their headquarters. Such matters shall include in particular recommendations or statements of positions to be adopted in the name of the Committee.
    

    Elections

21. A Nominating Sub-Committee shall invite nominations for election to the Board. Members of the Nominating Sub-Committee cannot stand for
    election. The Nominating Sub-Committee shall prepare a list of candidates who have been nominated. The report of the Nominating Sub-Committee
    shall be circulated to all member organisations of the Committee at least four weeks in advance of the election date. Nominations may also be made from the floor.
22. The Officers of the Committee and the other board members shall be elected for a term of two years and no person shall hold the same office for
    more than two consecutive terms.
23. Two auditors shall be appointed for a period of two years from among those members who are not members of the Board. They can be reappointed once.
24. The election of the Board Members of the Committee shall be by a majority of member organisations with fully paid memberships, voting in
    person, online, absentee (by email), or by written proxy.
    

    Amendments

25. A proposal to amend these Statutes may be made by a member organisation. Only the Committee can decide upon such a proposal.

26. Proposed amendments shall be notified to the Chair and circulated to all member organisations of the Committee at least four weeks before its next
    meeting. In order to take effect, proposed amendments must be ratified by a two-thirds majority of the Committee members in good standing, voting in person, online, absentee (by email), or by written proxy.

As amended and adopted, December 16, 2021