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and By-laws Preamble (Background) The Global Campaign for Education, established in October 1999, is an alliance of diverse independent and voluntary organisations (non-governmental organisations, community-based organisations, trade union federations, faith-based groups, etc.), each having their own members. It unites civil society in the common pursuit of the right to quality basic education for all, with emphasis on publicly- funded education. The GCE's founding aim was to ensure that the World Education Forum in Dakar, April 2000, would result in concrete commitments and viable policies to implement the Education for All goals, including gender equity by 2005, universal enrolment in and completion of free primary education by 2015 and a 50% reduction in adult illiteracy by 2015. In its 2001 world congress, the GCE committed itself to the building of an international movement, one with minimal bureaucracy and with a long-term commitment to monitor the achievement of the EFA goals. The campaign intends to continue its advocacy work until 2016. However, GCE will undertake a mid-term review of itself in 2006 in accordance with our call for an EFA mid-term review. GCE shall be registered as a legal entity in its own right that can sue and be sued. It is a non-profit organisation. Mission Statement The Global Campaign for Education promotes education as a basic human right, mobilizes public pressure on governments and the international community to fulfil their promises to provide free, compulsory public basic education for all people, in particular for children, women and all disadvantaged, deprived sections of society. Principles The campaign is driven by the conviction that quality education for all is achievable, and by the concern for immense cost of failure. GCE believes that in an increasingly knowledge-based economy, exclusion from education will translate into growing poverty, inequality and deprivation. The Global Campaign for Education commits itself to achieve its mission with objectivity, transparency and accountability and to follow democratic norms and processes in all its plans and actions. GCE believes education is: A universal human right; The key to poverty alleviation and sustainable human development; A core responsibility of the state; Achievable if governments mobilize the political will and available resources. GCE calls for:
The organisation shall be called Global Campaign for Education (GCE). Article 2: AIMS The organisation shall: campaign for the actions and policies needed to ensure that every man, woman, boy and girl can realise their rights to quality, free public education; provide a common platform and meeting point for civil society organisations to coordinate their campaigning activities on Education for All ; build an international movement with a long term commitment to promote and monitor the fulfilment of the right to basic education and the achievement of the 2005 and 2015 Millenium Goals on education and the other Education for All goals ; co-operate with national, regional and international organisations in pursuit of its aims. Article 3: Membership Membership of the organisation shall be open to independent and democratic national and regional coalitions of civil society organisations, and international networks and non-governmental organisations working for quality public education for all. Conditions for membership An organisation seeking membership shall:
Article 4: Rights and Obligations of members
Article 5: Suspension and Termination of Membership A member of the organisation may lodge a complaint against another on the grounds of violation or non-compliance of the constitution. The Executive Board may also initiate a complaint against a member of the organisation for non compliance or violation of the constitution ; Such complaints shall be referred to a special committee of not more than three members, which shall enquire into the changes and conduct a due hearing before presenting its findings to the Executive Board ; The organisation whose membership status is under review by the special committee shall be given due notice, a copy of the charges, the right to respond to the charges and a copy of the finding of the committee ; Such organisation shall have the right to defend itself at the General Assembly A two thirds of membership of the Board present and voting shall be required for the Board to exclude an organisation from membership ; The member organisation concerned shall be informed of the decision of the Board and of the reasons justifying that decision ; An organisation which is more than 24 calendar months in arrears of the payment of the membership fees without the approval of the Board shall be excluded from membership ; An organisation may also withdraw from membership in GCE but shall give notice of such intent six months in advance ; Only notifications of withdrawal duly authorised by the members of the governing body of an organisation shall be accepted by the GCE board. Article 6: Associate Membership The board reserves the right to admit special organisations and corporate institutions as associate members provided they pledge to respect the principles and mission of the GCE.. A non civil society organisation may also be admitted as an associate member of the campaign by the Executive board. Such an organisation shall commit itself to the mission and principles of the campaign, and undertake practical actions in support of the GCE. Any civil society organisation which is a member or affiliate to a national or international coalition, network or alliance which is a member of GCE can become an associate member; such organisation shall be encouraged to form or join a national coalition if it exists. A two third's majority of Board members present and voting at a quorate session shall be required to exclude an organisation from associate membership. Article 7: Organisation The organisation of GCE shall be governed by the following: Governing Bodies General Assembly GCE Board Management Committee (Secretariat Liaison Committee) National and Regional Structures Adhoc Committees The Secretariat. Article 8: General Assembly The General Assembly of GCE shall be the Supreme authority. Membership of the General Assembly shall be: Members of the GCE Board Delegates from National and Regional Coalitions Delegates from International Organisations Members of the Secretariat - Non-voting (Ex-officio) Representative of Associate Members (Non Voting) Each member organisation shall be entitled to one and additional delegates shall be allocated to each member organisation whose membership fees have been paid in full by the Board. No member organisation shall be entitled to more than ten delegates. Subject to the approval of the Executive Board, member organisations may sponsor Observers to the Assembly. The Board may invite non member organisations to participate as observers in their meetings and the Assembly. The General Assembly shall: Adopt the rules of procedure and agenda. Adopt the activity report of the Executive Board Determine the policies, principles of action and programme of the campaign Elect the Executive Board Appoint auditors Consider the audited Financial Report, adopt general budget and determine the membership fees/contribution. The General Assembly shall have the authority to amend the Constitution by two-thirds majority vote or the bylaws by a simple majority vote of members present and voting. It shall have the authority to take final decisions concerning appeals for membership or the removal of a member organisation. The Assembly shall meet in Ordinary Session at least every three years. The venue, date and provisional agenda of the Ordinary Assembly shall be determined by the Board. An extra-ordinary Congress may be convened on the authority of the Board or shall be convened at the written request of at least 50% of paid up member organisations. A fully paid up member organisation (national coalition or international network) except Education International and Global March shall be entitled to one vote. The Global March Against Child Labour and Education International shall have ten percent (10%) each of the total vote. The special ten percent vote shall be determined by the Board and approved by the General Assembly in Session. Article 9: The GCE Board The Board, the political organ of the Campaign, shall direct the affairs and activities of the GCE between General Assemblies in conformity with the resolutions and decisions of the latter. The Board shall have a membership of not more than twelve elected from the membership of member organisations as follows:
Each membership category shall elect its representatives and shall be affirmed by the General Assembly. The Board shall elect a Chairperson, from the Board membership. She/He shall have leadership qualities in the field of education. The Board shall meet at least twice a year. It shall: Initiate policies and actions in accordance with the resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly and with the aims and principles of GCE. Draft the agenda of the General Assembly Review implementation of the resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly Review and approve financial statements, establish annual budgets, and submit a general budget to the General Assembly Consider applications for membership in accordance with constitution and by-laws. Consider suspension or exclusion of member organisations in accordance with article… Determine the salaries and conditions of service of the staff of the secretariat Submit to the General Assembly a report on its decisions and activities The Executive Board shall interpret the constitution in the absence of the General Assembly. It shall have the power to co-opt any member of an affiliated organisation for any particular meeting but such a co-opted member shall have no voting rights. Members of the Board shall be elected for a term of two/three years and may seek re-election Vacancies occurring in the membership of the board shall be filled by the membership category concerned. A member so elected shall serve the remaining term of the person he/she is replacing. Article 10: Secretariat Liaison Committee (Management Committee) There shall be a Management Committee comprising the chairperson of GCE Board, representative of the legal employer organisation, and three other members appointed by the board. In the appointment of the management committee, the Board shall ensure the following representation: Education International, Global March and International organisations (one each) and two from National Coalitions The Management Committee shall collaborate with the secretariat to ensure the most efficient management of the secretariat. It shall exercise control of the budget and manage the personnel of the Campaign. Article 11: The Secretariat The board shall appoint coordinator(s) to manage the secretariat and implement its decisions. The Secretariat shall provide supporting services to the board in its efforts to build on the momentum generated in Dakar, by facilitating national and international campaign activities The Board shall decide on the venue for the secretariat of the campaign. Procedures regarding the appointment, suspension, salaries and conditions of employment of staff members shall be determined by the board. Article 12: National and Regional Structures The GCE shall promote the establishment of National coalitions and Regional networks of civil society organisations for the promotion of quality public education for all The national coalitions and regional networks shall be independent organisations and develop their own by-laws and procedures National coalitions and regional networks shall be assisted to seek adequate representation on bodies established for the provision and maintenance of quality education for all. They shall monitor and influence the activities of national and international organisations and ensure transparency and accountability. Any national coalition or a regional network shall have the right to apply for membership of GCE and shall be admitted as a member by the Board, provided that the applicant complies with Article 3 of the GCE constitution and bye laws. GCE shall encourage the formation of one viable national coalition in a country and one regional network in a continent. Article 13: Finance The Finance of GCE shall include Membership fees Donations,Grants and special contributions for specific activities Proceeds from Fund Raising Activities And other sources approved by the Board There shall be a graduated scale for payment of membership dues
The Board shall determine the various categories and review the rates and the categories from time to time. The funds of the campaign shall be deposited in savings and /or current account in a bank approved by the board. The operators of the accounts shall be one of the co-ordinators and a member of the board resident at the headquarters of the campaign The Board shall appoint external auditors of the campaign (GCE) The financial year shall be the calendar year ending on the 31st of December. Article 14: Official Languages The official languages of GCE shall be English and any other language approved by the General Assembly Article 15: By-Laws and Rules of Procedure The General board shall make by-laws and rules of procedure to regulate elections, conduct of the Assembly and Board meetings and other matters referred to it by the constitution. Article 16: Miscellaneous The interpretation of this constitution and by-laws is within the competence of the Board. Notices of motion to amend the constitution shall be submitted in writing to the Secretariat not less than four months before the opening of the General Assembly. They shall be circulated to all member organisations prior to the opening of the Assembly. A proposed amendment to the constitution shall be declared adopted if supported by not less than two-thirds of the total votes cast by at least fifty per cent of member organisations The GCE may be dissolved by not less than two-thirds of total votes cast by at least sixty percent of member organisations. In the event of the dissolution of GCE shall be given to any charitable institution as decided upon by dissolution Assembly Dated this 27th day of November 2001 |
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