IUSY STATUTES

Approved by the 2026 Congress
Istanbul, Turkey

CHAPTER I: NAME AND AIMS

1. The International Union of Socialist Youth – IUSY – is the largest youth union and network around the world, allied with multilateral, international, regional and local organizations. Its members are socialist, social democrat and labour organizations in the international labour and student movements. IUSY fights for peace, democracy and human rights, based on the socialist ideals of freedom, equality, solidarity and social, environmental and climate justice.
2. IUSY is a non-profit organization. Its primary sources of financing are Membership fees paid annually by Member organizations, Participation fees for activities and Grants provided by public foundations. Incomes from publications, donations and other contributions represent additional sources of income for the organization. All IUSY’s financial means and assets are used to support activities and operational costs, and none are for profit of companies or individuals. No assets or financial benefits may be transferred to members, employees or related persons or parties, and the collected donations must be used exclusively for the beneficiary purposes stated in the organization’s Aims and Objectives and its Declaration of Principles.
3. IUSY’s budgeting and all fiscal documents are agreed upon and monitored by the IUSY bodies, in the first place the Presidium and Control Commission. They are furthermore transparent and reported to Member organizations regularly, at the organization’s Congress and Council, as well as upon request. In addition, external monitoring of IUSY’s budget reporting is performed annually by an internationally recognized auditor, following the regulations established by the foundations and partner organizations, as well as Austrian law, since the main office of the organization is situated in Vienna, Austria. Budget reports of the organization, including its annual Audit reports, are available to IUSY bodies, Member- and partner organizations.
4. As expressed in IUSY’s Declaration of Principles, the primary task of IUSY is to strengthen solidarity among all young democratic socialist, social democrat and labour organizations in the world, thus making cooperation, common mobilization and success for democratic socialism possible.
5. IUSY serves young people through its organizations by gathering members to share understanding and learning on the basis of IUSY’s Declaration of Principles that support our aims. This is achieved by, and not limited to, organizing activities and exchanges to promote and develop policies and actions collectively with our member organizations.
6. IUSY promotes gender equality. As a feminist organization, IUSY ensures the equal participation of women, in all its structures, activities, and decision-making processes. In line with our Global Political Manifesto, feminism is an inherent and binding principle of the organization and is embedded in these statutes with the purpose of guiding our objectives.
7. A minimum of 50% of IUSY representatives shall be women and/or non binary people, 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 and people outside the gender binary.
8. These Statutes are accompanied by, and shall be read and interpreted together, with the following annexes which form an integral part thereof:
   1. IUSY’s Declaration of Principles
   2. Global Political Manifesto
   3. IUSY Rules of Membership Application
   4. IUSY Code of Conduct

CHAPTER II: MEMBERSHIP

9. Every youth and student organization that fulfills the following requirements is member of IUSY:
   1. Accepts these Statutes and its annexes mentioned under Chapter I.
   2. Is accepted as a member of IUSY following the procedures in the way mentioned in these Statutes and its annexes.
   3. Covers the age group between fourteen (14) and thirty-five (35) years old, 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.
   4. Is complying with the financial requirements established by the Congress.
10. IUSY shall comprise two (2) types of memberships: full and observer. Also, IUSY has associated and invited organizations, which do not acquire membership rights.
    1. Observer member (OM): Comprises every youth and student organization that fulfills the conditions in the way mentioned in these Statutes and its annexes. OMs have voice, participation, and no voting rights in any IUSY activity. It’s the necessary first step to become a member of IUSY.
    2. Full member (FM): Comprises every youth and student organization that fulfills the conditions in the way mentioned in these Statutes and its annexes. FMs have voice, participation, voting rights in IUSY activities and nomination rights.
    3. Associated organizations (AO): Comprises organizations that are aligned with IUSY’s values, aims, positions and objectives. AO are allies and sister organizations that IUSY collaborates with. Every organization which wishes to cooperate with IUSY, is an associate member of IUSY. AOs have voice when participating in IUSY events.
    4. Invited organizations (IO) may or may not hold all the requirements for membership status, however the political leadership of a given mandate understand the political strategy to collaborate with them. Also, those that fulfill the requirements, and are interested in joining IUSY can apply for OM. IOs have the right to speak when participating in IUSY events.
11. Full and observer members of IUSY can only have a status in another international organization with the agreement of the 2/3 majority of the Congress. The organizations are themselves responsible for communicating cooperation with other international organizations to the Presidium.
12. Member Organizations (full, and observer) have to choose their main regional committee for election processes in case their member organization belongs to more than one regional or subregional committee. The choice will be made at the beginning of each mandate and can be changed with officially informing the Presidium through the Control Commission. In cases outside the election process, the criteria to select a certain committee or subcommittee will be strictly geopolitical.
13. The Congress decides upon membership. In the case of a new OM the Control Commission prepares the received proposals according to IUSY Rules of Membership Application, for the Presidium to prepare recommendations for the Congress. In the case of a current OM that applies for FM, the request is sent to the Presidium to prepare recommendations. For the Congress to adopt a full or observer membership a 2/3 majority must vote in favour, not counting abstentions.
14. The Council is entitled to accept members with a unanimous vote, not counting abstentions. The process is the same that is detailed in Article 13. The next Congress must ratify such decisions with a simple majority. Applications not accepted by the Council can be re-submitted following the procedures detailed in Article 13 of these statutes and the IUSY Rules of Membership Application.
15. If a member organization split into one or more organizations, and/or cease to exist:
    1. The Control Commission prepares a report to the Presidium on the specific case following the national legislation for the existence of political, or student organizations.
    2. Following this report, in the case of an organization splitting, 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.
    3. In the case that this extensive report prepared by the CC concludes that the MO is non-existent in their country following its national legislation, it should recommend IUSY Presidium to exclude the organization’s membership.
16. Full members have the duty to pay the membership fee assigned to it by the Congress in order to get voting rights. In the case of an Observer member, it cannot apply to full membership if outstanding debts exist.
17. IUSY MOs have the obligation to maintain an active participation in its activities. Including a close communication with IUSY bodies about their ongoing internal political, and financial situation. Including maintaining their contact information, and registry with IUSY updated.
18. MOs should fulfill their financial obligations with IUSY within the first ninety (90) calendar days of receiving their annual membership invoice by the Secretariat. In the case of not being able to fulfill these annual financial obligations, MOs still have the obligation to communicate their situation to the CCC and Secretariat in the first 90 calendar days of receiving their annual membership invoice either to reach a payment agreement or to inform on the date and method of payment.
19. A member organization’s right to vote is automatically suspended, if all outstanding financial obligations have not been received by the opening of the Congress or Council.
20. A IUSY member organization, full or observer member, will be disaffiliated if it is not paying its membership fees for a period of three mandates without any communication to the IUSY Control Commission. Failure to fulfil membership financial and political duties leads to the suspension of membership by the Presidium, Council, or/ and Congress if a solution with CC is not reached in advance.
21. In the case of a suspended MO applying for its membership, responsibility for all outstanding financial liabilities shall remain with the MO and must be resolved. The Congress may decide on settlement modalities, upon recommendations of the Presidium and CCC, prior to approving the reapplication.
22. Membership can be suspended by:
    1. 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.
    2. A decision of the Council by a 2/3 majority (abstentions not counted).
    3. A decision of the Congress by simple majority (abstentions not counted).
    4. A decision by the statutorily empowered body of the member organization concerned, which has been communicated to the Presidium in writing.
23. The IUSY Control Commission has the responsibility to constantly evaluate that all member organizations follow what has been stated in these Statutes and its annexes, and must raise possible concerns to the Presidium, Council and Congress.

CHAPTER III: IUSY BODIES

24. The Bodies of IUSY are:
    1. The World Congress
    2. The World Council
    3. The Presidium
    4. C1: The Regional Committees
    5. C2: The Working Groups and Thematic Networks
    4. The Secretariat
    5. The Control Commission
    6. The Arbitrating Body
25. The responsibilities, obligations and constraints each Body has is detailed in the next subchapters.
26. For all sessions of all IUSY Bodies, an official report must be made.
27. All IUSY Bodies make their own rules and procedures, which must operate within these statutes and its annexes.

A. IUSY CONGRESS

28. The Congress is the supreme body of IUSY. It determines policies and ensures their implementation within the framework of these Statutes and its annexes, which can only be amended by it. It controls the work of other IUSY bodies, and discusses the financial report. In the opening of the Congress (Ordinary or Extraordinary) a Chair/s will be elected.
29. The Ordinary Congress convenes once every 2 years. It takes place in the first half of the year, and must be convoked by the Presidium three months in advance. The Presidium proposes an agenda for the Congress.
30. The Extraordinary Congress can be convoked unanimously by the Presidium, or 1/3 of all full member organizations that held voting rights in the previous Ordinary Congress.
31. The delegation of a full member organization has the right to up to 4 delegates and two votes, provided that its delegation fulfills the gender requirements mentioned in Article 6 of these Statutes, and with its financial responsibilities, aforementioned in these statutes. 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.
32. The Presidium and the Control Commission have the right to participate as observers. Representatives from invited organizations and guests will be determined by the Presidium.
33. The Congress elects the President, the Vice Presidents, and the Secretary General, the Chair and the members of the Control Commission. The Presidium is responsible to the Congress for its activities.
34. The Congress sets the membership fee of each member organization (full and observer). This fee can only be changed by a Congress decision through a proposal from the member organization and recommendation by the Presidium.

B. WORLD COUNCIL

35. The Council determines the policy of IUSY between the Congresses and ensures its implementation within the framework of these Statutes and its annexes. It controls the activities of the Presidium, and discusses the financial report. In the opening of the World Council a Chair/s will be elected.
36. The Council assembles the year between years of an Ordinary Congress and is convoked by the Presidium three months in advance.
37. Full member organizations have the right to send up to 4 delegates and will have two votes.
38. The Presidium and the Control Commission have the right to participate as observers. Representatives from invited organizations and guests will be determined by the Presidium.

C. PRESIDIUM

39. Between the Council and the Congress the highest decision taking body is the Presidium, which is responsible for leading all the work of IUSY, including the legal and financial responsibilities. The members of the Presidium are elected by the Congress for the period between the Ordinary Congresses.
40. The President: is responsible for the political representation of IUSY on a global level. It's responsible for coordinating the political work of the Presidium, and is the Presidium's Chair. Is the official signatory for legal and financial matters of IUSY, alongside with the Secretary General.
41. If the President resigns, Presidium elects a new President, within the Presidium. This is to be ratified during the World Council. In the case that is not ratified, an open call will be put in place by the Chair of the Council for nominations for President, and it will be elected before the World Council concludes.
42. The President will work out a political report which is to be presented to the Presidium for approval. The report shall then be presented to the Council and to the Congress.
43. The Presidium is composed of 21 members, including:
    1. The President (as the Chair of the Presidium);
    2. Nineteen (19) Vice Presidents (5 representing the European Committee, 5 representing the American Committee, 4 representing the African Committee, 3 representing the Asia-Pacific Committee and 2 representing the Mediterranean Committee);
    3. The Secretary General.
44. Presidium has invited representatives which serve as observers with the right to speak. As observers, these representatives are not part of the quorum of the Presidium, and are composed by:
    1. The Chair of the Control Commission,
    2. The IUSY Working Groups and Network Coordinators,
    3. The President of YES
45. The Presidium (members and observers) must meet the following eligibility criteria:
    1. Age requirements, set out in these statutes (14-35 years old) at the time of their election.
    2. Gender balance, as it is set out in these statutes.
    3. Officially nominated and being a representative of a full member organization, as it set out in these statutes, followed by a regulated financial situation. The nomination must be presented together with a letter of motivation, official nomination from the MO, and the candidate’s CV. These documents will be made public by the IUSY Secretariat.
    4. Neutrality: not hold any affiliations, positions, or formal engagements with entities or structures whose objectives, practices, or nature are incompatible with the values, principles, and aims of IUSY, as defined in these Statutes and its annexes. Members actively serving in armed forces are not able to contest in elections for the duration of their service. In the case of Presidium members and observers they must resign from their position during the period of such service. Exceptions to this rule shall be considered by the Presidium on a case-by-case basis.
    5. Represents IUSY as the highest decision taking body of the organization between Ordinary Congresses.
46. Quorum: Eleven (11) members of the Presidium constitute quorum. The President has the casting vote.
47. A Presidium member is required to inform via official communication to the President on their unavailability to attend a Presidium meeting. In this case, the President will inform the Presidium of their absence. The member of the Presidium who is not present without informing on their absence, as it was abovementioned, on three consecutive meetings of the Presidium shall lose their mandate with immediate effect.
48. Resignation or suspension of a Vice President: Should a Vice president cease to belong to a full member organization during their time of office, resigns, or is suspended, the Council elects a new member from the same Regional Committee.
49. The Presidium must meet at least twice a year. The meetings can be organized in person, online or hybrid.
50. Presidium 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, the period is also counted as one period, regardless of the length of the mentioned mandate.
51. Vice Presidents and Working Groups and Network Coordinators represent IUSY, not their IUSY member organizations. Exceptions will only be made in circumstances where IUSY Presidium members are the only representatives from their Member Organization in a IUSY event. In this case, they must acknowledge whether they are acting as a Presidium member or as their Member Organization delegate when speaking.
52. The Global Leadership (the President, Secretary General and the Chair of the Control Commission) are the only figures that cannot in any case represent other than IUSY. A requirement for running for these positions is to have had relevant and active participation in any IUSY events.
53. 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.
54. Regional and Subregional Coordinators will be elected in the first Presidium meeting after the World Congress, and should be from the Committee they were elected from.
55. Working Group and Network Coordinators will be appointed by the Presidium in its first meeting after the World Congress.
56. 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, inheritances 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.
57. The Presidium will communicate to member organizations about the long-term plans for IUSY through an action plan that presents: political initiatives and strategic priorities, Regional Coordinators, Portfolios of Vice Presidents, and Working Groups and Network Coordinators and planning of activities. This will be informed after the first Presidium meeting after the World Congress.
58. Staff is appointed by the Presidium, on the proposal of the Secretary General. Job descriptions must exist in the open call for applications.

C1. REGIONAL COMMITTEES

59. The Regional Committees are the African Committee (AFC), the American Committee (AC), the Asia-Pacific Committee (APC), the European Committee (EC) and the Mediterranean Committee (MC). In addition, there are two sub-committees to the European Committee: Balkan Roundtable (BRT) and Black Sea Area Cooperation meeting (BSAC). The Congress may establish other sub-regional committees.
60. One Vice President from the respective region coordinates the Regional Committee, and it’s appointed by the Presidium.
61. Regional Coordinators ensure permanent coordination of the Regional Committee with the IUSY Presidium, the Secretariat and the Control Commission.

C2. WORKING GROUPS AND THEMATIC NETWORKS

62. The Permanent Working groups are the Feminist Working Group, the Student’s Working Group, the Queer Working Group, the Peace Thematic Network, the Environmental Network, and the Pool of Trainers. The Presidium may establish other working groups and thematic networks.
63. The Working Groups and the Thematic Networks develop IUSY policies and activities in their particular fields and decide upon their working methods, within the framework of decisions by the Presidium.
64. The Coordinators of Working Groups and Thematic Networks are appointed by the Presidium in the first meeting after the Congress and they present an activity plan.

D. SECRETARIAT

65. It is composed of an elected Secretary General, Project Managers, volunteers, trainees, interns, legal and accountant advisors. The Secretary General is the chair and manages the work of the Secretariat.
66. The Secretary General: Is responsible for the administration, budget and technical work of IUSY and executes the decisions made by the Congress, the Council, and the Presidium. It's responsible for facilitating the adequate functioning of the Presidium. Is the official signatory for legal and financial matters of IUSY, alongside with the President. As a full-time role with exclusivity, an outside employment from IUSY is not permitted for the Secretary General. On important financial, legal, organizational, management matters the Secretary General consults the President, the Vice Presidents and the Chair of the Control Commission.
67. The Secretary General will work out an 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.
68. The work and management of the Secretariat is detailed in the IUSY internal rules of management document, available by request by any member organization.
69. If the Secretary General resigns, the Presidium prepares an urgent call for nomination for this position, within thirty (30) calendar days. The candidate should meet the general requirements for the position, including article 45 of these Statutes. The election will be prepared and organized by the Control Commission and the President. It needs to be ratified during the World Council. In the case that is not ratified, an open call will be put in place by the Chair of the Council for candidacies for Secretary General, and it will be elected before the World Council concludes.

E. CONTROL COMMISSION

70. The Control Commission (CC):
    1. is the body responsible for overseeing the adherence to the statutes, transparency, the good governance of IUSY, and the membership related matters.
    2. has to control the execution of the decisions of all the statutory bodies.
    3. is to be consulted on financial matters and agreements.
    4. gives recommendations on membership applications to the Presidium and on membership suspensions and exclusions to the Presidium, Council and Congress.
    5. is responsible to regularly inform the Presidium about Member Organizations adherence to payments of their annual memberships.
71. Between the Congresses the Control Commission is the only body that can interpret these Statutes and its annexes.
72. The Control Commission is composed of five members, elected by the Congress for the period between the Ordinary Congresses. The Control Commission has a Chair.
73. The requirements for being a Control Commission member are the same mentioned in Article 45 of these Statutes. The Regional balance should be respected by not having more than 2 representatives from one Committee. These members will not be members of the Presidium. The quorum of the CC is of three (3), including the Chair of the Control Commission.
74. Chair of the Control Commission (CCC): has regular coordination with the Secretary General. Furthermore, accompanies the financial reporting throughout the fiscal year and reports it to the CC and the Presidium. Is an observer member of the Presidium.
75. If the CCC resigns, CC elects a new CCC within the CC. This is to be ratified during the World Council. In the case that is not ratified, an open call will be put in place by the Chair of the Council for candidacies for CCC or for a new member of the CC, and it will be elected before the World Council concludes.
76. The CC must meet at least twice a year. The meetings can be organized in person, online or hybrid.
77. The CC must present a financial report to the World Council and the World Congress that describes the financial situation of the organization, in coordination with the Secretary General. The financial report has to be discharged by the World Congress and World Council.

F. ARBITRATING BODY

78. In all cases of conflict arising within IUSY, the Arbitrating Body (AB) decides. The Arbitrating Body is made up of five people: two representatives of each party 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.
79. Should the Presidium itself be part in conflict, the Control Commission elects the chairperson by simple majority. Its decisions are final.

CHAPTER 4. VOTING RIGHTS

80. In any case not specified by the present Statutes, all decisions requiring voting are taken by a simple majority of all present, valid and non-abstaining votes.
81. In any election, the candidates with the 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.
82. Full Member organizations are entitled for voting rights for the World Congress and Council if they fulfill their financial obligations, as mentioned in Article 16 of these statutes, and respect the gender balance of its delegation.
83. Following article 82, financial regulation of a Full Member Organization to get voting rights should be agreed thirty (30) days before the beginning of the Ordinary Congress and the World Council.

CHAPTER 5: PROCEDURE TO AMEND THESE STATUTES AND ITS ANNEXES

84. Amendments of these Statutes and its annexes can only be decided in the World Congress.
85. Changes to these Statutes will be taken by a 2/3 majority (abstentions not counted).
86. 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.
87. All proposals regarding possible amendments to these Statutes and their annexes must be submitted within the deadlines specified in the Congress invitation. Any urgent matter arising after this period may be placed on the agenda by decision of the Congress.
88. The Presidium is authorized to decide on an amendment to these Statutes without the Congress only in cases when such an amendment is necessary in order to maintain and/or obtain the non-profit status and the status as a donation-eligible organization according to the law of the country in which the IUSY Secretariat is situated.

CHAPTER 6. DISSOLUTION

89. Dissolution of IUSY can only be decided by a specially convened Congress, by a 2/3 majority (abstentions not counted).
90. Upon dissolution of the organization or upon cessation of its previously eligible purpose described in the Aims and Objectives and the Declaration of Principles, the assets remaining after covering the liabilities of IUSY must in any case be used for the purposes listed in this legal basis, which are eligible for tax benefits pursuant to Section 4a Paragraph 2 of the 1988 Income Tax Act.
91. 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.
92. Detailed decisions for the execution must be taken by the above-mentioned, specially convened Congress.