Statutes

I. NAME AND AIMS

1. The International Union of Socialist Youth – IUSY – is the union, allied with the “most important international, regional and local socialist organizations in the international labour movement around the world, which brings together democratic socialist youth and student organizations in their fight for democracy and human rights, based on the democratic socialist ideas of freedom, equality, solidarity and social justice.

2. IUSY aims to realize the democratic socialist ideas, such as those expressed in IUSY’s Declaration of Principles. In this respect, the primary task of IUSY is to build ever-stronger solidarity among all young democratic socialists in the world, thus making cooperation, common mobilization and success for democratic socialism possible.

IUSY serves young people through its member organizations by:

Gathering members to share understanding and learning in order to develop policies and popular and successful actions that support our aims. Representing the global democratic socialist youth movement to international associations and inter-governmental bodies, on the basis of IUSY’s Declaration of Principles and decisions taken by IUSY bodies. Organizing joint activities and information exchanges to promote and develop the political and social work of member organizations.

3. IUSY promotes gender equality. As a feminist organization IUSY wants to ensure the participation of women in all its activities. A minimum of 50% of IUSY representatives shall be women and we also aim for this to be the case in each of our member organizations. To reach this goal, all IUSY bodies and all IUSY member organizations are taking measures to support and encourage women. A minimum quota of 50% women is therefore applied to ensure fair representation of women in all activities and in all decision-making bodies. Delegations not meeting the requirement for female representation will lose half their votes and risk losing any financial support that would normally be available, except in extraordinary circumstances, which are agreed by the Control Commission (e.g. a participant being unable to enter a country due to visa issues).” Gender quotas do not apply to delegations with one delegate.

If a delegation has an uneven number of delegates then the gender quota applies to one less than the number of delegates (e.g. the quota would only apply to two delegates in a delegation of three – the member organization could decide the gender of the third delegate).

II. MEMBERSHIP

1. Every youth and student organization that fulfils the following requirements is a full member of IUSY: Accepts IUSY’s Declaration of Principles and the Statutes. Undertakes to cooperate to achieve the aims mentioned under I. Covers the age group between fourteen (14) and thirty-five (35) years, fully or mainly, with all or the majority of their members. Only persons in this age range can participate as delegates or representatives in IUSY activities. Is accepted as a full member of IUSY in the way mentioned in these Statutes.

2. Every youth and student organization that fulfills the conditions for full membership and is accepted as an observer member in the way mentioned in these Statutes is an observer member.

3. Every national, regional or international youth or student organization, which wishes to cooperate with IUSY, is associate member, when accepted as an associate member in the way mentioned in these Statutes.

4. Full members and observer members of IUSY can only have a status in another international organization with the agreement of the Congress or the Council. The organizations are themselves responsible for communicating their status in other international organizations to the Congress or the Council.

5. “Member Organizations (full, observer and also associate members) have to choose their main regional committee in case their member organization belongs to more than one regional or subregional committees. The choice can be changed with officially informing the Secretary General, but the decision will have in force only after the closure of the next Congress The Congress decides upon membership. The Presidium prepares the proposals according to the Rules of application approved by the Congress and published. Applications for membership must be sent to the secretariat. To adopt a full or observer or associate member a 2/3 majority must vote in favour, not counting abstentions. The Council meeting is entitled to accept members with a unanimous vote, not counting abstentions. The next Congress must ratify such decisions without any of the concerned organizations voting on the decision. Applications not accepted by the Council can be submitted to the Congress for consideration. If a member organization split into one or more organizations, the IUSY Presidium can, by a unanimous decision, suspend the membership right of the organization(s) until the next Council or Congress and/or propose by a majority decision a change of status. In these cases the Council or the Congress decides upon the further status of the organization. If the Council makes the decision it is subject to the same ratification by the next Congress using the same process set out for new members.

6. Full members have the right to speak and vote in meetings of the Congress, the Council, regional committees and working groups. Observer and associate members have the right to speak in those meetings. Each member organization has the duty to pay the membership fee assigned to it by the Congress.

7. A member organization’s right to vote is automatically suspended, if all outstanding membership fees have not been received by the opening of the Congress or Council. Failure to fulfil membership duties leads to the suspension of membership by the Council and exclusion from IUSY by the Congress if a solution is not reached in advance.

8. A IUSY member organization, full or observer member is automatically disaffiliated if it is not paying its membership fees for a period of three years without any claim to the IUSY Control Commission.

9. The IUSY Control Commission has the responsibility to constantly evaluate that all member organizations follow what has been stated in these Statutes under II Membership and must raise possible concerns to the Presidium, Council and Congress.

10. Membership can be suspended by: A decision of the Presidium by a 2/3 majority (abstentions not counted). The Presidium decision must be ratified at the up-coming Council and/or Congress. A decision of the Council by a 2/3 majority (abstentions not counted). A decision of the Congress by simple majority (abstentions not counted). A decision by the statutorily empowered body of the member organization concerned, which has been communicated to the Secretary General in writing.

11. Membership can be excluded by: A member organization can be expelled and have its IUSY membership revoked by a decision of the Congress by a 2/3 majority (abstentions not counted).

III. IUSY BODIES

The Bodies of IUSY are:

1. The World Congress

2. The World Council

3. The Presidium

4. The Regional Committees

5. The Working Groups and Thematic Networks

6. The Secretary General

7. The Control Commission

8. The Arbitrating Body

IV. IUSY CONGRESS

1. The Congress is the supreme body of IUSY. It determines policies and ensures their implementation within the framework of the Declaration of Principles and these Statutes, which it can change. It controls the work of other IUSY bodies. And discusses the financial report.

2. The Congress convenes once every 2 years, takes place in the first half of the year, and must be convoked by the Presidium at three months in advance. The Presidium proposes an agenda for the Congress. An Extraordinary Congress can be convoked when the Presidium or 1/3 of all full member organizations propose to do so.

3. The delegation of a full member organization has the right to 4 delegates and two votes, provided that its delegation fulfills the gender quota. The Presidium may apply a higher participation fee for additional delegates from the same organization, which are allowed as long as the gender balance is respected.

4. The right to participate as observers in the Congress belongs to: The Presidium The Control Commission Representatives from observer member organisations, the maximum number being determined by the Presidium Representatives from associate member organisations, the maximum number being determined by the Presidium

5. The Congress elects the President, the Vice Presidents, and the Secretary General. The Presidium is responsible to the Congress for its activities.

6. The Congress elects the Chair and the members of the Control Commission.

7. The Congress sets the minimum membership fee of each member organization (full, observer and associate). The fee can only be changed by a Congress decision.

V. WORLD COUNCIL

1. The Council determines the policy of IUSY between the Congresses and ensures its implementation within the framework of the Declaration of Principles and these Statutes. It controls the activities of the Presidium. And discusses the financial report.

2. The Council assembles the year between years of a Congress and is convoked by the Presidium three months in advance.

3. Full member organizations have the right to send two delegates.

4. The right to participate as observers in the Council belongs to: The Presidium The Control Commission Representatives from observer member organizations, the maximum number being determined by the Presidium Representatives from associate member organizations, the maximum number being determined by the Presidium

5. The voting rights of the Congress apply.

VI. PRESIDIUM

1. Between the Council and the Congress the highest decision taking body is the Presidium, which is responsible for leading the work of IUSY.

2. The Presidium is composed of 11 members and 9 substitute members, who meet the age requirements set out in the statutes (14-35) at their election. The eleven members of the Presidium include the President, the Vice Presidents and the Secretary General. No substitute member is elected for the President and for the Secretary General. The Presidium must have at least one members from each regional committee. No regional committee can have more than 5 members and 5 substitute members.Presidium members “and substitute members” have to be members of a full member organization of IUSY. If the full member organization to which the Presidium member or substitute member belongs has changed its status in IUSY, if the Presidium member or substitute member ceases to be a member of his/her organization, or if s/he resigns, the Council elects a new member or substitute member. The members and substitute members of the Presidium are elected by the Congress for the period between the Congresses. These members will not be elected for more than two periods in the same position and for more than three periods in total. Even if a Presidium member is elected by the Council or the Secretary General is elected by the Presidium with Council ratification, the period is also counted as one period, regardless of the length of the mentioned mandate. Any member organization which presents at the World Congress a candidate for a Vice President position has to nominate a Presidium member and also a substitute member. Member organizations from the same region can nominate jointly a member and a substitute member who are belonging to the different member organizations. The member and their substitute are running mates and their election is not separable at the World Congress. Candidatures must be presented together with a letter of motivation, that will be made public, to the IUSY Secretariat at least one month before the Congress. The Chair of the Control Commission, the IUSY Working Group Coordinators, the President of YES and the President of the Youth Trade Unions are invited to the Presidium meetings as observers with the right to speak.

3. Six members of the Presidium, present or substituted, constitute a quorum. A member of the Presidium who identifies as a woman or outside of the gender binary may only be substituted by another person who identifies as a woman or outside of the gender binary. The President has the casting vote

4. When a Presidium member informs the Secretary General on their unavailability to attend a meeting of the Presidium, their elected substitute member is allowed to substitute them

5. The member of the Presidium who is not present or substituted on three consecutive meetings of the Presidium, loses their mandate with immediate effect, unless the member has sought leave from the Presidium to be absent from that meeting and the same is granted. A reason for asking for leave from the Presidium meeting must be presented by the Presidium member. If leave is granted by passing a motion of the Presidium, that Presidium member shall be considered excused at that Presidium meeting for the purposes of this attendance criteria.

6. In general and also in IUSY bodies, members of the Presidium represent IUSY, not their IUSY member organisations, except in circumstances where IUSY Presidium members are the only representatives from their Member Organisation. In the case that a IUSY Presidium member (except the President, Secretary General, or anyone on an Arbitrary Body) is the only person present from their Member Organisation, the Presidium member shall be entitled to represent their Member Organisation with the condition that they must acknowledge whether they are acting as a Presidium member or as their Member Organisation when speaking. Presidium members are only required to pay the IUSY participation fee.

7. The Presidium, during its first meeting after the World Congress, defines each Vice President’s portfolio and role, among which is Regional Committees Coordination, and informs the member organizations of the distribution of responsibilities.

8. The Secretary General will execute the decisions made by the Congress, the Council, and the Presidium. The Secretary General manages the work of the Secretariat.

9. If the Secretary General resigns, the Presidium elects a new Secretary General to be ratified by the next Council.

10. The Secretary General will work out a political, organizational and financial report which is to be presented to the Presidium for approval. The report shall then be presented to the Council and to the Congress.

11. On important matters the Secretary General consults the President, the Vice Presidents and the Chair of the Control Commission.

12. The Presidium in its entirety is responsible to the Congress for the finances of IUSY. The financial report has to be discussed by the World Congress and World Council. The sources of finance are membership fees; incomes from activities and publications; donations, inheritance and other allocations; and grants from national, regional and international institutions. The finances of IUSY must be presented to a qualified external auditor on an annual basis.

13. IUSY is represented through its President and its Secretary General or another, specifically appointed, Presidium member. On financial matters it is exclusively the Secretary General and the President together or the Secretary General and another person who, through a decision of the IUSY Presidium, has been given the responsibility in financial matters who have signatory power. The authority to sign is only valid in the framework of the decisions made by the IUSY bodies.

14. The member organizations will be informed about the long-term plans for IUSY through an action plan that presents planning of activities, political initiatives and strategic priorities. The action plan should also inform which Presidium members – individually or collectively – bear the responsibility for such preparations on behalf of the Presidium.

VII. REGIONAL COMMITTIES

1. The Regional committees are the African committee, the American committee, the Asian-Pacific committee, the European committee and the Mediterranean committee. In addition there are two sub-committees to the European Committee – Balkan Roundtable and Black Sea Area Cooperation meeting. The Congress may establish other regional committees.

2. One Vice President from the respective region, appointed by the Presidium, coordinates the Regional committees.

3. Regional Coordinators ensure permanent coordination of their work with the IUSY Presidium.

4. Concerning the voting rights, the rules of the Congress and the Council apply.

VIII. WORKING GROUPS AND THEMATIC NETWORKS

1. The Permanent Working groups are the Feminist Working Group and the Queer Working Group. The Congress may establish other working groups.

2. The Working groups develop IUSY policies and activities in their particular fields and decide upon their working methods, within the framework of decisions by the Presidium.

3. The Coordinators of Working Groups are appointed by the Presidium.

4. Thematic Networks are established by the Presidium. Vice-Presidents are in charge of the Thematic Networks in connection with their portfolio

IX. CONTROL COMMISSION

1. The Control Commission is made up of five members, including the Chair, elected by the Congress. These members will not be members of the Presidium.

2. The Control Commission has to control the execution of the decisions of the statutory bodies and the Secretary General.

3. The Control Commission is to be consulted on financial matters and agreements. Further more the Control Commission has to make sure the financial reporting is done properly throughout the fiscal year. Moreover the Control Commission will check that the work of the auditor is done properly and within the financial regulations applied in the country where the IUSY Secretariat is situated.

4. The Control Commission gives recommendations on membership applications to the Presidium and on membership suspensions and exclusions to the Presidium, Council and Congress.

5. The members of the Control Commission have to be members of a full member organization of IUSY. Should a member of the Control Commission cease to belong to a full member organization during his/her time of office, or if a member of the Control Commission resigns, the Council elects a new member.

6. The Control Commission must meet at least twice a year.

7. Between the Congresses the Control Commission is the only body that can interpret the Statutes.

8. The CC must present a financial report to the World Council and the World Congress that describes the financial situation of the organization. The financial report has to be discussed by the World Congress and World Council.

9. The CC must present a financial report to the Presidium meetings that describes the financial situation, including the membership fees and a balance and result report, of the organization.

X. ARBITRARY BODY

1. In all cases of conflict arising within IUSY the Arbitrating Body decides. The Arbitrating Body is made up of five people: two representatives of each part in conflict and a chairperson who is elected by the IUSY Presidium by simple majority. The Arbitrating Body decides on the basis of a simple majority. Should the Presidium itself be part in conflict, the Control Commission elects the chairperson by simple majority. Its decisions are final.

XI. DISSOLUTION

1. Dissolution of IUSY can only be decided by a specially convened Congress, by a 2/3 majority (abstentions not counted). After fulfilment of all liabilities any existing assets have to be transferred to another youth organization whose aims and principles are similar to those of IUSY. Detailed decisions for the execution must be taken by the above-mentioned, specially convened Congress.

XII. GENERAL

1. In any case not specified by the present Statutes, all decisions requiring voting are taken by simple majority of all present, valid and non-abstaining votes.

2. In any election, the candidates with most votes are elected, respecting the statutory quota. All votes must be cast for the number of persons of each gender that are to be elected.

3. For all sessions of the Congress, Council, Presidium, Control Commission, an official report must be made.

4. All proposals regarding the Declaration of Principles and Statutes must reach the Secretary General not less than two months in advance of the Congress (one month in the event of an extraordinary Congress). If an urgent question arises later, it can be put on the agenda by a decision of the Congress.

5. The bodies of IUSY make their own rules and procedures, which must operate within these statutes.

6. Staff is appointed by the Presidium on the proposal of the Secretary General. Job descriptions must exist.

7. Changes to these Statutes will be taken by a 2/3 majority (abstentions not counted). These Statutes are in force right after the closure of the Congress with no retroactive effect on any other decisions taken by the mentioned Congress.