Titelbild

Statues


1. Name and Registered Office


1.1. The “Fédération Internationale des Communautés Educatives” (FICE) (International Federation of Educative Communities; Internationale Gesellschaft für erzieherische Hilfen) is an organization established in accordance with article 60 ff of the Swiss Civil Code. Its registered office is defined as being where the General Secretariat is located.

1.2. Founded under the auspices of UNESCO in 1948, in the Pestalozzi Children’s Village in Trogen, Switzerland, FICE currently maintains consultative status with UNESCO, UNICEF, ECOSOC and the Council of Europe.


2. Objectives

2.1. In accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights FICE supports all endeavors which further the global realization of the International Rights of the Child and the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child as defined by the United Nations. FICE focuses on such living conditions of young people and their families which prevent or are detrimental to the positive development of young people.

2.2. FICE promotes the rights of young people and their families. It focuses in particular on those who are not in care, who live at home and are at risk, and on young people with special needs.

It develops standards for children

FICE promotes the initial and ongoing training of child and youth care workers who work with young people in various settings.

2.3. FICE observes strict political and religious neutrality. It rejects all forms of discrimination. It accepts within its Membership all ideological, religious and cultural orientations as long as these are inline with the objectives defined in the present statutes.

2.4. FICE promotes the international exchange of knowledge and experience in the field of childcare. At the same time FICE encourages the family as the main method of childcare. FICE encourages and supports reforms which serve to develop and improve all types of child and youth care and the life models for young people.

2.5. To realize these objectives FICE organizes training courses, meetings, seminars, international symposia and projects. It establishes work groups which promote the exchange of experience and the further education of experts in the childcare field. It involves children and young adults in this process and cooperates with other international institutions with the same goals and objectives. It encourages and carries out scientific studies and research.

2.6. FICE informs the experts in the field and political decision-makers by means of the new media and means of communication of its work and its findings.

2.7. In the spirit of international understanding and global solidarity FICE supports within its means meetings and exchanges of professionals as well as children and young adults.

2.8. In unusual circumstances and in cases of war and catastrophes FICE may participate in limited relief efforts. In particular, it coordinates, in cooperation with its Members, their activities, and concentrates its assistance on young people without families or those whose families are unable or only partially able to carry out their social, educational, or health care responsibilities.


3. Membership

3.1. FICE recognizes the following forms of Membership:

3.2. Full Membership is open to non-governmental organizations of national standing which are engaged in practical and theoretical work in the field of socio-pedagogical assistance for children and youths.

Full Members must select their executive bodies and representatives in free democratic elections. Full Members must themselves be open to Membership by private individuals, and/or educational and training institutions, universities and colleges, public authorities and other associations engaged in childcare.

As a general rule only one Full Member per country will be accepted. If good reasons exist for several organizations- from one and the same country to become Members, the General Assembly may, upon written request, approve one or more Full Members from a single country, contingent on the prospective Full Members from the same country having first deposited a written agreement governing their mode for sharing voting rights. Likewise supranational bodies may also be accepted as Full Members under exceptional circumstances, in which cases the General Assembly will determine voting rights.

3.3. Acceptance into Full Membership is generally preceded by a limited period of Associate Membership. Associate Membership shall be for a period of one to two years. In exceptional situations the Federal Council may extend Associate Membership for one additional period.

Associate Members are invited to all events open to Full Members. They have no voting rights but may submit motions.

Associate Members may use the name FICE and the FICE logo only in exceptional cases and only together with a reference to their Associate Membership.

In exceptional cases an Associate Membership period may be waived and immediate acceptance as a Full Member is possible.

3.4. Individual Membership is open to universities, NGOs or other organisations, and individuals who have been professionally engaged in practical and theoretical work for young people including youth care and will continue to do so. They will require to pay the required annual fee set by the Federal Council at its autumn meeting.

FICE Individual Membership is open to anyone interested in questions of childcare and open to those individuals whether their country has a National Section or not. Where there is a National Section, they will be required to be members of that National Section as well as being FICE International Members. FICE International Members will be kept aware of the activities of FICE in the same way as other Members and will receive invitations to the FICE events. They will be allowed to speak at meeting of the Federal Council but will not have a vote. Universities, NGOs or other institutions accepted as Individual members have the right to use the FICE logo and the designation “FICE”.

Honorary Membership may be awarded to persons or institutions who over many years have been engaged in an exceptional manner in the work of FICE.

Honorary Members are kept abreast of the activities of FICE and invited to all events. They have no voting rights, are ineligible for election, and pay no dues.

3.5. Cancellation of Membership must be in writing, with six months’ notice, and is effective at the end of a calendar year. Full, Associate, and Individual Members who cancel their Membership lose the right to use the FICE logo or the designation FICE in any manner whatsoever.

Individual members may apply for acceptance with the General Secretariat. Paragraph 1.1 of the Rules of Procedure applies in such cases. If accepted individual members have advisory status only but will not have a vote. They are kept abreast of the activities of FICE and are invited to selected events.


4. Constituent Bodies

4.1. The constituent bodies of FICE International are:


5. General Assembly

5.1. The General Assembly is the highest body in FICE. It is composed of the representatives of all Full, Associate, Individual and Honorary Members.

The General Assembly meets in ordinary session every three years. The President calls and presides over each session.

The Federal Council, the Executive Committee, or a third of the Full Members may request an extraordinary session of the General Assembly.

5.2. The functions of the General Assembly include:

5.3. Invitations to the General Assembly require two months’ notice and must be accompanied by an agenda. Motions to amend the Statutes require that the proposed amendments be distributed with the invitation.

5.4. Every Full Member has two votes at the General Assembly.

The President votes only in the case of ties; in such cases he/she has the casting vote. The Secretary General and the Treasurer have no vote. They may propose motions to all items on the agenda.

5.5. Amendments of the Statutes require the approval of two-thirds of the Full Members present and voting.


6. Federal Council

6.1. Between General Assemblies the Federal Council resolves all questions concerning FICE which are not exclusively the domain of another body.

The Federal Council is composed of representatives of all Full and Associate Members. Full and Associate Members will normally be represented by their President and/or one other Member of their executive bodies. Honorary Members of FICE International may also attend Federal Council meetings.

The Federal Council meets in ordinary session once or twice per year. The President calls and presides over each session.

6.2. The functions of the Federal Council include:

The Federal Council may establish work groups. The tasks, composition, duration and competencies are to be defined in writing.

The Federal Council may adopt rules of procedure and financial rules which regulate the points above and other matters.

6.3. Invitations to meetings of the Federal Council require six weeks notice and must be accompanied by an agenda.

6.4. Every Full Member has two votes at the Federal Council.

The President votes only in the case of ties – in such cases he/she has the casting vote.

The Secretary General and the Treasurer have no vote. They may propose motions on all items on the agenda.


7. Executive Committee

7.1. The Executive Committee prepares the work of the General Assembly and the Federal Council, drafts motions and carries out decisions. Members of the Executive Committee are normally the official representatives of FICE.

The Executive Committee consists of the President, the Secretary-General, the Treasurer and the Vice-Presidents. It meets in ordinary session two to four times.

Meetings are called by the Secretary General on behalf of the President and chaired by the President.

7.2. The President, the Secretary General and the Treasurer are elected by the General Assembly for three-year (the original revision agreed was two terms not three) terms of office. The maximum period a President may remain in office is limited to nine (this was agreed as six) years. No maximum is set for the periods in office of the Secretary General and the Treasurer.

In the event of a resignation between two General Assembly sessions the Federal Council shall select a replacement for the remaining duration of the current term.

7.3. The functions of the Executive Committee include especially:

7.4. The Executive Committee may assign duties to Vice Presidents and delegate functions.


8. General Secretariat

8.1. The General Secretariat is the primary contact point to all Members and to all international organizations. It is run by the Secretary General.

8.2. The General Secretariat is responsible for the timely preparation and distribution of documentation to all Members. It processes Membership applications in line with the statutes and rules of procedure.

8.3. The General Secretariat maintains a list of Members. In cases of doubt the Executive Committee decides on the inclusion of addresses on the list.


9. Audit Committee

9.1. The Audit Committee consists of three Members (checks the Annual Financial Report and the correct use of FICE funds.

9.2. The Audit Committee reports to the General Assembly every three years.


10. Finances

10.1. FICE is financed through:

10.2. All obligations incurred by FICE must be covered by its assets. Recourse to the assets of its Members is excluded.

10.3. Members who for two consecutive years fail to meet their financial obligations, even after being reminded, are automatically excluded. The Executive Committee shall inform the Federal Council and the General Assembly of such cases.


11. Miscellaneous Provisions

11.1. FICE endeavors to provide its documentation in several languages. It is possible to correspond with all constituent bodies in English, French or German.

11.2. The dissolution of FICE requires the support of two-thirds of those present and voting, representing at least half of all Members. In case of dissolution all assets shall, as determined by the General Assembly be assigned to an organization pursuing similar goals.

11.3. The original of these statutes is in the German language. In case of dispute the German text shall prevail.

11.4. Until new rules of Procedure are established the prevailing rules shall, remain in force, as applicable.

11.5. In the event of the resignation of a Member of the Executive Committee, the individual shall remain in Office until a replacement has been elected by the respective responsible body.

11.6. These statutes shall enter into force immediately upon their acceptance.


These Statutes were accepted by the General Assembly on June 2008, in Helsinki


Signed by:

Monika Niederle, President

Andrew Hosie, General Secretary

10th June 2008