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The Constitution of the Federation was signed and entered into force at Luxembourg on 2 August 1946.
The Founding Members were the United Nations Associations of the following countries:
Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, France, Hungary, Iraq, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, South Africa, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States of America.
The Rules of Procedure were adopted by the 12th Plenary Assembly, held on 2/8 September 1957, Geneva. From 1983 onwards, they are known as By-Laws.
5th Plenary Assembly, 6/12 September 1950, Geneva
11th Plenary Assembly, 2/8 September 1956, Geneva
15th Plenary Assembly, 5/10 September 1960, Warsaw
17th Plenary Assembly, 30 April/5 May 1962, Monrovia
21st Plenary Assembly, 22/27 April 1968, Geneva
22nd Plenary Assembly, 7/13 September 1969, Nicosia
24th Plenary Assembly, 13/18 August 1973, Geneva
25th Plenary Assembly, 1/6 October 1975, Moscow
27th Plenary Assembly, 8/13 October 1979, Barcelona
29th Plenary Assembly, 3/8 October 1983, Geneva
32nd Plenary Assembly, 9/14 October 1989. Moscow
33rd Plenary Assembly, 18/23 November 1991, Barcelona
37th Plenary Assembly, 8/11 May 2003, Barcelona
38th Plenary Assembly, 6/10 November 2006, Buenos Aires
24th Plenary Assembly, 13/18 August 1973, Geneva
25th Plenary Assembly, 1/6 October 1975, Moscow
26th Plenary Assembly, 26 September/1 October 1977, Geneva
27th Plenary Assembly, 8/13 October 1979, Barcelona
29th Plenary Assembly, 3/8 October 1983, Geneva
32nd Plenary Assembly, 9/14 October 1989, Moscow
37th Plenary Assembly, 8/11 May 2003, Barcelona
38th Plenary Assembly, 6/10 November 2006, Buenos Aires
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WHEREAS THE PEOPLES OF THE UNITED NATIONS, THROUGH THEIR GOVERNMENTS, HAVE DECLARED THAT THEY ARE DETERMINED
to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our life time have brought untold sorrow to all peoples, and
to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small, and
to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained, and
to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,
And to these ends
to practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbors, and
to unite our strength to maintain international peace and security, and
to ensure, by the acceptance of principles and the institution of methods, that armed force shall not be used, save in the common interest, and
to employ international machinery for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples,
And whereas their Governments, to accomplish these aims, have agreed to the Charter of the United Nations and thereby have established the international organization known as the United Nations,
WE, THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED NATIONS ASSOCIATIONS IN OUR RESPECTIVE COUNTRIES,
Believing that since wars begin in the minds of people, it is in the minds of people that the defenses of peace must be constructed, and
Believing that the peace must be founded, if it is not to fail, upon the intellectual and moral solidarity of all peoples,
Have resolved to combine our efforts to form an association of the peoples and, having agreed to the present Constitution, do hereby establish an international organization to be known as the WORLD FEDERATION OF UNITED NATIONS ASSOCIATIONS.
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Objectives
Article 1
The objectives of the World Federation of United Nations Associations are:
(a) To be a peoples' movement for the United Nations;
(b) To co-ordinate and further the activities of its Members and to promote the establishment of new United Nations Associations;
(c) To co-operate, where appropriate, with other organizations whose objects include the support of the United Nations and its development;
(d) To promote tolerance, understanding, solidarity and co-operation among men, women and children throughout the world without distinction as to race, sex, language, religion or political orientation;
(e) To contribute to the removal of obstacles to peace, to work for justice, security and disarmament, and to promote the development of peaceful co-existence and co-operation among nations;
(f) To strive for the recognition of and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms throughout the world and for the recognition of the responsibilities and duties which those rights involve for individuals, groups and States;
(g) To promote economic development, enhancement of social progress and better standards of life;
(h) To promote research, information and education about the goals of the Charter of the United Nations and the work of the United Nations system.
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Article 2
(a) United Nations Associations which accept the objectives set out in Article 1 of this Constitution and which are legally established in States Members of the United Nations are eligible for admission as Member Associations, hereinafter referred to as Members.
(b) Not more than one United Nations Association from any State shall be admitted as a Member.
(c) International - including regional - organizations, non-governmental organizations, entities accorded Observer Status by the United Nations and non-governmental organizations in Consultative Relations with ECOSOC can be admitted as International Associates, provided they accept the objectives, the aims and the constitution of the Federation. The Executive Committee may grant consultative status with the Federation to such International Associates.
(d) Individuals committed to the ideals, aims and objectives of the United Nations and who are prepared to support the Federation's programs may be admitted as Individual Associates. Should such individuals be nationals of countries in which the Federation has a Member, the Member concerned must approve the admission of an individual.
(e) All other categories of Non-Voting Associates may be admitted by the Executive Committee through procedures proposed by the Secretary-General and approved by the Executive Committee.
Article 3
(a) Any request for admission as a Member or International or Individual Associates shall be submitted to the Secretary-General, not less than four weeks before the session of the Plenary Assembly which considers the request.
(b) The Secretary-General shall submit applications to the Executive Committee, which shall present a report on each application to the Plenary Assembly.
(c) Members or International or Individual Associates shall be admitted by the Plenary Assembly on the vote of a simple majority of those present and voting.
(d) If applications for admission are received for any category of affiliates more than twelve months before an ordinary session of the Plenary Assembly, the Executive Committee may admit them provided it does so with a two-thirds majority of those present and voting and subject to confirmation by the next ordinary session of the Plenary Assembly.
(e) All applications for admission as Members of the Federation shall be accompanied by:
1. a copy of the constitution of the applicant United Nations Association;
2. a certificate from the competent legal authorities confirming that the establishment of the United Nations Association is in conformity with their laws;
3. a declaration signed by the President and the Secretary-General of the United Nations Association that it will co-operate with the Federation and pay its dues to the Federation regularly;
4. an advance payment for the year of admission of half of one year's dues calculated according to Article 37(c) of this Constitution.
(f) The application for affiliation by International Associates and Individual Associates shall be left to the discretion of the Executive Committee and any decision to admit such Associates shall be taken by two thirds majority of those present and voting, subject to confirmation by the next ordinary session of the Plenary Assembly. In the case of Individual Associates who are nationals of a State in which the Federation has a Member, the Member concerned must approve the admission.
Article 4
(a) Any Member which desires to resign must notify its intention in writing to the Secretary-General not later than 30 September. Should such a Member fail to observe this formality, its membership will continue for the ensuing year.
(b) Any Member may, on the recommendation of the Executive Committee, be expelled by the Plenary Assembly by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting, provided that the proposal for expulsion appears on the agenda. In particular, the Executive Committee must draw the attention of the Plenary Assembly to any failure on the part of any Member to comply with the requirements of Article 2 of this Constitution. The cessation of membership for financial reasons is governed by Article 38 of this Constitution.
Article 5
(a) Each Member shall co-operate with other Members in pursuing the objectives of the Federation.
(b) Each Member shall endeavor to participate in activities conducted under the auspices of the Federation.
(c) Each Member shall forward to the Secretary-General a report on its activities since the previous session of the Plenary Assembly, as well as keep him/her regularly informed of its work.
(d) Individual, Collective and International Associates shall endeavor to participate in activities conducted under the auspices of the Federation and shall maintain communication with the Secretary-General.
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Article 6
The organs of the Federation shall be the Plenary Assembly, the Executive Committee and the Secretariat
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Article 7
(a) The Plenary Assembly shall consist of the delegations appointed by Members, by the World Federation of United Nations Associations - youth (hereinafter referred to as WFUNA-youth, by the representatives of International Associates and of Individual Associates, each in their capacity set forth in this constitution.
(b) Each Member, as well as WFUNA-youth, shall be represented in the Assembly by no more than five delegates and five alternates.
(c) Each International Associate shall be represented by no more than two representatives.
(d) Individual Associates, Officers and Honorary Presidents of the Federation, as well as the members of the Executive Committee, shall have the right to attend the Plenary Assembly.
Article 8
(a) The Plenary Assembly shall be the supreme organ of the Federation, responsible for pursuing and achieving its objectives as defined in this Constitution.
(b) The Plenary Assembly shall elaborate and adopt the policy as well as the programme of activities of the Federation. It shall have the authority to decide on all questions which any Member or the Executive Committee may submit to it in accordance with the procedures set out in this Constitution.
(c) The Plenary Assembly shall decide on the admission of new Members and on the termination of membership in accordance with Articles 3, 4 and 38(d) of this Constitution.
(d) The Plenary Assembly shall consider the general report submitted by the Secretary-General.
(e) The Plenary Assembly shall approve the report of the Treasurer on the financial status of the Federation as well as the audited accounts; adopt the budget of the Federation; and determine the dues of the Members.
(f) The Plenary Assembly shall discuss the questions resulting from the items included in its agenda; receive reports from its Commissions; and adopt policy resolutions and decisions on internal matters.
(g) The Plenary Assembly shall elect the President, the Vice-Presidents, the members of the Executive Committee, the Treasurer and the Secretary-General of the Federation.
(h) The Plenary Assembly may, upon the recommendation of the Executive Committee, confer the title of Honorary President of the Federation.
(i) The Plenary Assembly shall receive any appeal by a Member against any decision of the Executive Committee. Except for an appeal concerning the agenda of the Plenary Assembly, an appeal concerning any other decision taken by the Executive Committee since the last session of the Plenary Assembly shall be heard in the first instance by the Executive Committee which shall forward such appeal, together with its comments, to the Plenary Assembly. In each case, the Plenary Assembly shall have the authority to decide upon the appeal only after having heard the Member which originated it.
Article 9
Subject to this Constitution, the Plenary Assembly may adopt By-Laws of the Federation.
Article 10
(a) The Plenary Assembly shall meet in ordinary session at least once every three years.
(b) The Plenary Assembly shall decide upon the time and place of meeting for its next session. Should it not exercise this power, the Executive Committee and the Secretary-General, in consultation with the President, shall take the decision.
Article 11
(a) An extraordinary session of the Plenary Assembly shall be convened by the Secretary-General:
1. if a decision to this effect is taken by two-thirds of the members of the Executive Committee; or
2. at the written request of two-thirds of the Members of the Federation.
(b) Unless the Executive Committee decides upon another place, an extraordinary session shall be held at the Headquarters of the Federation.
(c) An extraordinary session shall deal only with the item or items for which it is convened.
Article 12
The Secretary-General shall give notice as follows of each session of the Plenary Assembly:
(a) Notice of an ordinary session shall be given at least eight weeks in advance.
(b) Notice of an extraordinary session shall be given at least four weeks in advance. The notice shall state the purpose for which the session is convened.
Article 13
The quorum of the Plenary Assembly shall consist of two fifths of the Members qualified to vote.
Article 14
(a) The Plenary Assembly shall adopt the report of the Credentials Committee.
(b) The Plenary Assembly shall, upon the recommendation of the Executive Committee, adopt its agenda.
(c) The Plenary Assembly may establish Commissions.
(d) The Plenary Assembly shall appoint the Elections Committee.
(e) The meetings of the Plenary Assembly shall be open to the public unless the Plenary Assembly otherwise decides.
(f) Detailed provisions governing the proceedings shall be regulated by the By-Laws of the Federation.
Article 15
(a) Only Members and WFUNA-youth shall have the right to vote, and each Member and WFUNA-youth shall have one vote at the Plenary Assembly.
(b) Only Members which have fully settled their dues as of 31 December of the year preceding a session of the Plenary Assembly can exercise their right to vote at that session.
Article 16
(a) The resolutions on matters in the field of international relations and amendments thereto shall require a two-thirds majority of those present and voting.
(b) The decisions on internal matters shall be taken by a simple majority of the vote of those present and voting, except as otherwise provided in this Constitution.
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Article 17
(a) The Executive Committee shall consist of eighteen individuals, each from a different Member and in addition one representative of WFUNA-youth. Following a system of rotation nine of them whose term of office has ended shall cease to be members of the Executive Committee and elections shall be held to fill the vacancies thus created. The other nine shall continue as members of the Executive till the end of the next Plenary Assembly.
(b) The President, the Treasurer and the Secretary-General shall participate ex officio in the work of the Executive Committee. Honorary Presidents and Vice- Presidents may attend the sessions of the Executive Committee.
Article 18
(a) Every member of the Executive Committee shall act in his/her personal capacity.
(b) Each candidate for election to the Executive Committee must be nominated by the delegation to the Plenary Assembly of the Member to which the candidate belongs and seconded by another delegation to the Plenary Assembly.
(c) In electing members the Executive Committee, the Plenary Assembly shall give due regard to the qualifications of the nominees, their availability and to equitable geographical distribution.
(d) Only Members with voting rights can nominate and second such candidatures.
(e) Candidates for election to the Executive Committee cannot be from a Member from which the President and the Vice-Presidents are elected.
(f) The term of office of the members of the Executive Committee shall be from the end of the session of the Plenary Assembly at which they are elected to the end of the second following session of the Plenary Assembly. They are eligible for immediate re-election for one additional term. This does not prevent candidatures for election to the Executive Committee being from the Member to which the "retiring" Executive Committee member belonged. Nor does it prevent the "retiring" member of the Committee seeking election at the following session of the Plenary Assembly.
(g) Members of the Executive Committee may resign by submitting a written instrument of resignation to the Chairperson of the Executive Committee. The term of office of a member of the Executive Committee shall expire automatically with the termination of membership of his/her United Nations Association in the Federation. The term of office of a member of the Executive Committee shall expire by decision of the Executive Committee after consideration of the written advice of his/her United Nations Association and oral or written presentation of the views of the member concerned.
(h) Members of the Executive Committee may be removed from office by the Plenary Assembly. Such action shall be proposed in writing by at least five Members and shall require a vote of two-thirds of those present and voting. The vote shall be taken by secret ballot and the secrecy of the ballot shall not be waived.
(i) In the event that a member of the Executive Committee resigns, is removed or is otherwise unable to continue to serve until the end of his/her term, the Executive Committee may co-opt, for the unexpired term, a person from the same area, after consultation with the United Nations Association of which the former member of the Executive Committee was a member. If the co-opted member is not from the same United Nations Association, his/her United Nations Association shall be consulted. The co-opted member shall serve until his/her successor takes office at the end of the next session of the Plenary Assembly.
Article 19
The Executive Committee shall be responsible to the Plenary Assembly for promoting the purposes of the Federation, and in particular for:
(a) 1. implementing the resolutions and decisions of the Plenary Assembly;
2. giving guidance and advice to the Secretary-General on any matters related to the activities of the Federation;
3. supervising the work of the Secretariat;
4. considering applications for membership in accordance with Article 3 of this Constitution;
5. preparing the agenda for the Plenary Assembly as well as making recommendations with respect to the work of the Plenary Assembly;
6. approving the agenda of the Regional Conferences of Member United Nations Associations held under the auspices of the Federation;
(b) giving guidance on matters related to the finances of the Federation; assisting in fundraising activities; controlling the administration and finances of the Federation, including the opening and operation of bank accounts and the designation of signers of cheques and contracts; appointing Deputy Treasurers; appointing members of the Finance Committee;
(c) adopting regulations related to the functioning of the Federation;
(d) performing other functions devolved upon it by this Constitution;
(e) acting with Plenary authority in the interval between Plenary Assemblies, except to the extent that such actions would be inconsistent with this Constitution or binding decisions of the Plenary Assembly.
Article 20
Subject to this Constitution and to the By-Laws of the Federation, the Executive Committee may adopt its own rules of procedure.
Article 21
The Executive Committee shall be convened in ordinary session immediately before and immediately after an ordinary session of the Plenary Assembly and at such other time as the Executive Committee shall decide.
Article 22
(a) An extraordinary session of the Executive Committee shall be convened by the Secretary-General:
1. at the request of the Chairperson of the Executive Committee in consultation with the President; or
2. at the written request of five members of the Executive Committee.
(b) Unless the Chairperson and the Secretary-General decide upon another place, an extraordinary session shall be held at the Headquarters of the Federation.
(c) An extraordinary session shall deal only with the item or items for which it is convened.
Article 23
The Secretary-General shall give notice as follows of each session of the Executive Committee to all persons entitled to attend it under Article 17(a) and (b) of this Constitution:
(a) Notice of an ordinary session shall be given at least four weeks in advance and shall be accompanied by the provisional agenda.
(b) Notice of an extraordinary session shall be given, if possible, at least two weeks in advance. The notice shall state the purpose for which the session is convened.
Article 24
The quorum of the Executive Committee shall consist of nine of its voting members.
Article 25
(a) The Executive Committee shall elect from among its members a Chairperson and two Vice-Chairpersons. They shall be eligible for re-election for one additional term of office. Insofar as the responsibilities of these Officers are not set forth in this Constitution, they shall be defined by the Executive Committee.
(b) The Chairperson of the Executive Committee, or in his/her absence another member appointed by the Executive Committee, shall be the spokesperson of the Executive Committee in the Plenary Assembly.
(c) The Executive Committee may, when appropriate, establish ad hoc working groups.
(d) The meetings of the Executive Committee shall be private unless otherwise specified by the Executive Committee.
Article 26
(a) Each member of the Executive Committee the President and the representative of WFUNA-youth shall have one vote in the Executive Committee.
(b) The Executive Committee shall work on the basis of consensus. In case this proved impossible decisions shall be taken by a simple majority of the vote of those present and voting.
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Article 27
(a) The Secretariat shall consist of the Secretary-General and such other staff as required.
(b) The Secretary-General shall have authority to appoint the staff of the Secretariat with due regard to competence and geographical distribution.
(c) Any appointment of a Deputy Secretary-General by the Secretary-General must be submitted to the Executive Committee for approval.
(d) Upon the recommendation of the Secretary-General, the Executive Committee may establish Regional and Functional Offices of the Federation.
1. The Heads of such Offices shall be appointed by the Secretary-General for fixed terms; as staff members of the Secretariat, they shall be subject to the Rules and Regulations thereof.
2. The responsibilities of the Regional Offices shall be to co-ordinate the activities of the United Nations Associations of their region and to carry out such other functions as the Secretary-General may assign.
3. The responsibilities of the Functional Offices shall be to maintain a field liaison with the United Nations system and to carry out such other functions as the Secretary-General may assign.
Article 28
(a) Members of the Secretariat, including the Deputy Secretaries-General, shall serve under the authority of the Secretary-General and in accordance with regulations approved by the Executive Committee.
(b) The Secretary-General shall at sessions of the Plenary Assembly and of the Executive Committee be the sole spokesperson for the Secretariat.
(c) In the performance of their duties the Secretary-General and the staff shall not seek nor receive instructions from any Member or from any other authority external to the Federation. They shall refrain from any action which might reflect on their position as international officials responsible only to the Federation.
(d) Each Member, each Associate, Officers of the Federation, Honorary Presidents and members of the Executive Committee undertake to respect the exclusively international character of the responsibilities of the Secretary-General and the staff and not to seek to influence them in the discharge of their responsibilities.
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