Proposal for
Constitution of the
European Deafblind Union (EDBU)
Article I: Name,
status, proper law and definition.
1.1 Name.
The name of the organisation shall be the European Deafblind
Union (EDBU).
1.2 Status.
The EDBU is a non-governmental and non-profit-making
organisation. It operates under
international law and shall be legally registered in one of the member
countries, preferably the one where the headquarter is situated.
1.3
Definition.
Deafblindness is a unique disability caused by a combination
of significant auditory and visual impairments. It causes obstacles in communication with the surroundings and
prevents normal participation in society.
Article II: Aims and
functions.
2.1
The basic aim and function of the EDBU is to work for
equality and full participation in society by deafblind people. In order that
this may be achieved, the highest priority must be given to assisting and
supervising the establishment of independent national organisations of
deafblind people in all European countries where such organisations do not
exist. It is recognised that although
some countries have formed such organisations, most countries have not and some
may not be in a position to do so in the foreseeable future. In the meantime, associations of deafblind
people, affiliated to organisations of the blind or the deaf, should be
accepted as fully fledged members of the EDBU, always provided that such associations
have a leadership with a majority of deafblind people, elected at regular
intervals by the deafblind of the country concerned. See also Article III, section 1.
Proposal from Interim
Board for Constitution of the EDBU, August 10, 2003
The EDBU is a European forum to exchange knowledge and
experience in the field of deafblindness and to work to increase European
solidarity among deafblind people’s organisations.
Further aims of the EDBU are:
-
to be the
international representative of deafblind people in Europe,
-
to organise
conferences, seminars and workshops where deafblind people can exchange
experiences and views for the benefit of the deafblind person as well as for
the EDBU,
-
to work for
the social inclusion of deafblind persons,
-
in pursuance
of these objectives and principles, to co-operate with international
organisations which are active in the fields of deafness and blindness and
general disability,
-
to promote
activities and act to benefit deafblind persons without discrimination for
reasons of politics, religion, economy, sex or race,
-
to seek full
recognition of deafblind people in all aspects of society in accordance with
the UN Standard Rules for Persons with Disabilities,
-
to raise
awareness of deafblindness as a unique disability.
-
to combat
problems concerning communication, information, orientation and mobility of the
deafblind.
-
to undertake
any task necessary to achieve or further any of these objectives.
Article III:
Membership.
3.1
National
organisations of the Deafblind, see also Article II, section 1.
In the context of this Constitution, a national organisation
of deafblind people is an organisation that has a governing body (Executive
Committee) with a majority of deafblind people, elected by the membership at
regular intervals.
3.2
National
members.
National members represent the deafblind population of their
country. Each national member elects
one National representative, who must
be deafblind.
National members have the right to participate in all EDBU
activities.
Proposal from Interim Board for
Constitution of the EDBU, August 10, 2003
National members have the right to speak, to make proposals
and to vote in the general assembly.
3.3
Associate
members.
Groups or institutions of deafblind persons may apply for
associate membership in the EDBU.
Associate members will receive all information material from EDBU. Representatives from Associate members,
participating in EDBU activities, shall be deafblind persons. Associate members have the right to
participate as observers in EDBU general assemblies, but may not nominate
candidates for any elected position within the EDBU.
Article IV: Rights
and obligations of members.
4.1
National members of the EDBU shall, subject to this
Constitution and By-laws, have the right to be represented in all activities
established by EDBU, to vote at political sessions and at General Assemblies
where they are present, and to nominate persons for committees of the EDBU.
4.2
Associate members have the right to participate as observers
in all activities of the EDBU apart from board meetings.
4.3
All members of the EDBU shall pay the annual membership fee
to the EDBU during the first 90 days of the current fiscal year and any levies
within 90 days of their imposition.
4.4
The rights of a member shall only be valid if the annual
membership fee and any outstanding levies have been paid and received in
accordance with article 4.3.
4.5
Any person or organisation, having obtained membership of
EDBU, operating under the authority of the EDBU or under a contract with the
EDBU, is bound by the provisions of the EDBU Constitution and By-laws and shall
abide by the decisions of the EDBU organs.
Proposal from
Interim Board for Constitution of the EDBU, August 10, 2003
Article V: Admission, suspension and expulsion of
members.
5.1
Any admission or expulsion shall be decided by the General
Assembly on the basis of recommendations by the Executive Committee.
5.2
A suspension may be decided by the Executive Committee,
which may lift the suspension when reasons for the suspension no longer exist.
5.3
A member may be suspended or expelled if it has violated the
Constitution or By-laws of the EDBU.
5.4
A member under suspension loses all rights and privileges of
membership.
5.5
A member under suspension may appeal to the General Assembly
which will decide whether the suspension shall be upheld.
Article VI: Structure.
The EDBU shall consist of:
6.1
The General
Assembly.
6.1.1
The General Assembly shall meet at least once every four
years. An extraordinary General Assembly may be convened either by the
Executive Committee or if requested by at least ten of the national members.
6.1.2
Each member has one vote.
Proposal from Interim
Board for Constitution of the EDBU, August 10, 2003
6.1.3
The General Assembly shall:
a.
Act as the
supreme governing body of the EDBU and decide on any matter relevant to the
EDBU.
b.
Determine the
policy and the fundamental guidelines for the development of the rights and
obligations of deafblind persons in the societies of Europe.
c.
Elect the
President, the Vice-President, the Secretary General, the Treasurer, and two
further persons to the Executive Committee.
d.
Consider and
approve By-laws for the EDBU.
e.
Consider and
approve the rules and procedure for the election of the Office Bearers.
f.
Consider
motions from full members and standing committees. The following rules shall
apply to such motions:
-
they shall be submitted in writing no less than three months
before the General Assembly.
-
all motions for the General Assembly shall first be considered by
the Executive Committee which may give the General Assembly
the opportunity of considering motions not meeting the three
months requirement.
-
motions, together with any amendments, recommendations or
observations shall be dispatched by the Executive Committee to
the members together with the agenda of the General Assembly
no less than six weeks before the Assembly is due to meet.
-
motions shall be decided by a simple majority of voting delegates
present at the Assembly.
-
a motion, not fulfilling the requirements mentioned above, may,
by the President or the person chairing the meeting at the time,
be ruled to be an emergency resolution to be discussed and
voted on by the General Assembly. If this ruling is challenged, the
matter shall be put to a vote. At the discretion of the President or
the person chairing the meeting at the time, one delegate shall be
allowed to speak for and one against the ruling being upheld.
g. Adopt a four
year action plan.
h. Consider,
approve and admit national members in EDBU.
i. Consider and
approve the annual membership fee of the national
members and associate members.
j. Decide any change in the country of location of the EDBU secretariat.
k. Elect auditors.
Proposal from Interim Board for Constitution of the EDBU, August 10, 2003
6.2
The Executive
Committee.
6.2.1
The Executive Committee shall consist of the President, the
Vice-President, the Secretary General, the Treasurer, and two further persons
elected by the General Assembly, and the editor of the EDBU newsletter. The six
office-bearers elected by the General Assembly shall appoint the editor of the
EDBU newsletter who will have the right to speak and make proposals, but not
the right to vote in the Executive Committee.
6.2.2
Members of the Executive Committee shall hold office for a
period of four years and may be re-elected.
6.2.3
The Executive Committee shall hold at least one meeting per
year.
6.2.4.
The Executive Committee shall:
a. Initiate activities and implement policies as fixed by the General Assembly.
b. Establish its own rules of procedure and propose by-laws to be considered by the General Assembly, ref. 6.1.3.d.
c. Consider and
approve the budget of the EDBU.
d. Determine and dispatch to the members the agenda and other documents relevant for the General Assembly no later than six weeks prior to the meeting.
e. Submit four-year reports to the General Assembly, taking into account the resolutions and decisions of the Assembly.
f. Conduct the affairs of the EDBU between meetings of the General Assembly, including filling vacancies in the Executive Committee.
g. Be responsible for the relations with relevant international organisations.
h. Decide the number and conditions of employment of the staff of the Secretariat.
6.2.5
The Executive Committee shall establish such ad hoc
committees as it may deem necessary for the carrying out of its duties.
Proposal from Interim Board for
Constitution of the EDBU, Augst 2003
6.3
The
secretariat.
6.3.1
The EDBU shall have a Secretariat. The General Assembly may
decide which country/organisation shall host the Secretariat.
6.3.2
If the General Assembly has not made a decision regarding
6.3.1, the secretariat shall be hosted in accordance with a decision taken by
the President under his/her supervision.
Article VII: Elections and voting at General Assemblies.
7.1
A General Assembly shall have a quorum when at least one
third, 1/3, of the members entitled to vote are present.
7.2
All decisions, including the admission of members, shall be
determined by a simple majority of votes of delegates present and voting,
except in the case of expulsions and constitutional amendments where a two-
thirds, 2/3, majority of votes shall be required.
7.3
Elections shall be conducted by secret ballot. All other
voting shall be by show of hands unless a secret ballot is demanded by a simple
majority.
7.4
Voting by proxy shall not be permitted.
Article VIII: Finances.
8.1
The funds of the EDBU shall consist of:
8.1.1
Annual membership fees from members and any levies on
members.
8.1.2
Contributions, grants or other income that may be received
for the use of the EDBU.
Proposal from Interim Board for
Constitution of the EDBU, August 2003
8.2
The fiscal year shall be the calendar year.
8.3
The Executive Committee shall conduct annual audits of the accounts of the EDBU.
Article IX: Language.
The English language shall be the official language of the
EDBU.
10.1
Dissolution of EDBU happens if no meetings of the General
Assembly have taken place during a period of nine (9) consecutive years or
after no meetings of the Executive Committee have taken place during a period
of five (5) consecutive years.
10.2
A resolution containing the dissolution of EDBU must be
circulated to all members at least twelve (12) months before the General
Assembly at which it is to be discussed. For such a resolution to be carried a
two-thirds majority of all votes cast is required.