By-Laws of the WSCF Asia-Pacific Region

AS AMENDED BY 18th REGIONAL COMMITTEE MEETING, IN HONG KONG, JULY, 2008

I. Name

The name of the region shall be the Asia-Pacific Region of the World Student Christian Federation.

The Region is composed of Affiliated, Associate and Corresponding member movements of the WSCF in Asia and Pacific.

II. National Movements

National movements are the basic units of the Federation.
The requirements for affiliation and association with the region are as set out in the WSCF Constitution.
National movements shall elect a representative to attend regional meetings.

III. Asia-Pacific Committee

Functions
The functions of the Asia-Pacific Committee are to:
1. review and assess the situations of the member movements of the region in the context of the work of the Executive Committee and the worldwide situation of the Federation;
2. consider the ideas, problems and aspirations of the member movements of the region;
3. determine and review objectives, policies and priorities for the region;
4. devise the ongoing program of the region;
5. recommend affiliation or association of the movements;
6. elect regional staff to be appointed by the Executive Committee;
7. coordinate the activities of the regional staff and national staff within the region;
8. prepare the regional budget to be submitted to the Executive Committee;
9. elect members of the Regional Standing Committee;
10. elect regional representatives to the Executive Committee in accordance to the Constitution of the WSCF; and
11. decide on a date and venue for the next meeting of the Committee.
Composition
1. The Asia-Pacific Committee is composed of:
  1. accredited representatives of all member movements,
  2. the regional representatives of the Executive Committee,
  3. officers of the WSCF Asia-Pacific Committee, and
  4. the regional staff who shall be ex-officio non-voting members.
2. In any four-year period beginning from and including the 1981 WSCF Asia-Pacific Committee meeting at least half of those delegates sent to regional meetings and program by any national movement shall be:
  1. students and
  2. women.
Officers
The Officers of the Committee shall be the following:
1. i. Chairperson who shall preside at all meetings of the Committee and take on suck tasks as assigned to him/her by the Committee from time to time, and
  ii. Vice-chairperson who shall assume the duties and privileges of the Chairperson in his/her absence.
2. i. At least one of the officers shall be a woman.
  ii. At least one of the officers shall be a student.
Voting

Only the accredited representatives of the affiliated member movements, the regional representatives of Executive Committee and the Chairperson shall have the right to exercise the vote.
Quorum

The accredited representatives of one half plus one of the affiliated member movements in the region shall constitute a quorum.
Meetings
1. The interval between two meetings of the Asia-Pacific Committee shall not be less than twenty-one months and not more than twenty-seven months.
2. One Asia-Pacific Committee shall determine the approximate date and venue of meeting of the next Asia-Pacific Committee. If such date, for whatever reason becomes unsuitable, then a majority of national member movements must agree on an alternate date.
Reports
1. Each member movement of the region shall be responsible for providing a written report on the state of its membership, program, perspectives, strategies and problems to the Asia-Pacific Committee.
2. The Executive (and special Project) Staff shall prepare reports on their work.
3. The Standing Committee shall prepare a report on its work.
4. The Executive Committee members from the region shall prepare a report.
5. Any other committee or regional representative of inter-regional committees appointed by the Asia-Pacific Committee shall prepare a report.
6. Staff shall present audited statement of accounts to the meeting.
Agenda

Member movements may submit items to be included on the agenda to the regional office, which in turn shall circulate the same to movement representatives at least one month prior to the meeting.
Decisions

All efforts should be made in achieving consensus on all issues. Where it is not possible to achieve a consensus, decisions shall be made by a vote of one half plus one of the actual representatives voting and present.

IV. Standing Committee

Composition
The following shall constitute the Standing Committee:
1. Chairperson of the Region,
2. Vice-chairperson of the Region,
3. two representatives of the region to the Executive Committee, and
4. two others to be elected by the Regional Committee.
- At least half of these shall be students.
- At least half of these shall be women.
Functions
The functions of the Standing Committee are to:
1. review the progress and facilitate the implementations of decisions made by the Regional Committee by:
  1. drawing up specific plans for program implementation, and
  2. dividing areas of work among the members of the committee and others who may be coopted in the program in relation to the job description and current work load of the Regional Secretary;
2. make interim decisions on behalf of the Region within the policy guidelines laid down by the Regional Committee;
3. appoint temporary replacements for any vacancy in the Committee;
4. provide pastoral and collegial support to the Regional Secretary and other staff directly involved in the program implementation; and
5. make recommendations for action to the Regional Committee.
6. to ensure sub-regional balance in the Standing Committee;
7. if it is not possible to meet those criteria in point f), the Regional Committee Meeting must decide on the compromise it thinks best;
8. multiple nominations will be received for all Standing Committee positions to be duly endorsed by National Movements and this be ensured by Regional Office (ie. It is possible for all positions to be changed at Regional Committee Meeting). The chair, vice-chair, and member-at-large have 2-year term with a maximum of 2 terms, if endorsed by National Movements and elected by RCM).
- Note:
  Adopted Practice in Regional Committee Meeting:
  1. Profiles of a nominee are sent with endorsement from national movements for consideration when choosing Standing Committee and Regional Women’s Committee
  2. Nominations for Standing Committee positions to be accepted even if members have requested a second term
Meetings
1. The Standing Committee shall meet once between two Asia-Pacific Committee meetings.
2. Extraordinary meetings of the Standing Committee shall be convened with the agreement of a majority of affiliated member movements.
Quorum

Two-thirds of its members shall constitute the quorum.

V. Regional Women’s Committee

Composition
The Regional Women’s Committee shall be composed of six women:
1. two women from the Standing Committee,
2. three representatives nominated by the women’s caucus and accepted by the Regional Committee, and
3. the Regional Women Coordinator (intern/part-time/full-time) as an ex-officio and a non-voting member.
- In the case of (c) being vacant, the sixth woman shall be coopted as a full member by the Regional Women’s Committee.
- At least 50% shall be students.
- One of the two women members from the Standing Committee shall be the moderator of this committee.
Functions
The Regional Women’s Committee shall primarily be responsible to:
1. concrete plans for the Regional Women’s Program in the new quadrennium;
2. evaluate the program and the work being done;
3. implement concrete plans;
4. coordinate development on women’s work from the regional level to the national movements and to the sub-regions they represent by helping to carry out women’s program at these levels;
5. review the process and facilitate the implementation of decisions concerning women made by the Regional Committee by:
  1. drawing up specific plans for program implementation,
  2. dividing areas of work among members of the Regional Women’s Committee and others who may be coopted in program implementation, and
  3. making recommendations concerning women for action of the Regional Committee;
6. make interim decisions concerning women on behalf of the Region within the policy guidelines laid down by the Regional Committee;
7. provide support to the Regional Secretary and Regional Woman Coordinator (intern/part-time/full-time) involved in the implementation of Women’s Program;
8. appoint temporary replacements for any vacancy in the Regional Women’s Committee; and
  1. formulate job description for the Regional Woman Coordinator (intern/part-time/full-time).
Meetings
1. The Regional Women’s Committee shall meet once between two Asia-Pacific Regional Committee Meetings.
2. Extraordinary meetings of the Regional Women’s Committee shall be convened with the agreement of a majority of members of the Regional Women’s Committee and/or with the support of the Standing Committee.
Quorum

Two-thirds of its members shall constitute the quorum.
Regional Woman Coordinator
1. Appointment
  1. The Regional Women’s Committee will nominate and recommend names to the Regional Committee for the position of Regional Woman Coordinator.
  2. Nominations will be approved by the Regional Committee.
  3. The term of appointment shall be decided by the Regional Women’s Committee.
2. Functions
  1. The Regional Woman Coordinator shall be responsible to the Regional Secretary and Regional Women’s Committee.
  2. The Regional Woman Coordinator shall provide support to women’s work in consultation with the Regional Secretary.
  3. The Regional Woman Coordinator shall be in direct contact with National Women’s Project Coordinators.

VI. Human Rights, Justice and Peace Committee

Composition
1. The Human Rights, Justice and Peace Committee shall be composed 6 people. Four (4) representatives from national movements, the HRJP Coordinator and the WSCF AP Regional Secretary.
2. That there should be gender balance in the Human Rights, Justice and Peace Committee. 50% of the composition of the Committee should be students.
3. That nominations be made prior to the RCM from each sub region (South Asia, South East Asia, North Asia, South Pacific) be appointed to the Human Rights Justice and Peace Committee on a rotational system.
4. That RCM approves the appointment of the WSCF AP HRJP Committee.
5. If there is no nominee from any of these regions then the RCM will ask another country of that region to nominate a member of their movement.
6. That the HRJP Coordinator is to communicate and with the sub regions for nominations if no nominations are found then another country in that region will be asked to submit a nomination.
Roles and Function of the Human Rights, Justice and Peace Committee
1. That the HRJP Committee functions for two years until the next RCM;
2. (this function has been completed by the interim committee)Assessment and evaluation of Human Rights Programs and Human Rights actions taken in the regional and national levels;
3. Draw specific themes, plans and recommendations for the Human Rights Work and Program;
4. Fundraising and linking with other HR and Justice and Peace groups.
5. Serve as a campaign centre for HR, Justice and Peace issues locally and internationally.
6. Develop future Human Rights and Peace Advocates.
7. To build solidarity on peace and justice issues.
8. Encourage and support national movements on their HR, Justice and Peace issues.
Meetings

The Human Rights, Justice and Peace Committee, when possible, shall meet once in between 2 Regional Committee Meetings and meet regularly online.
Human Rights, Justice and Peace Coordinator

The HRJP Coordinator will work as a volunteer on an interim basis. Its primary function is to assist the Regional Secretary on concerns related to Human Rights, Justice and Peace. The HRJP will be responsible to the Regional Secretary and the HRJP Committee.
1. Appointment
  1. The WSCF AP HRJP Committee will nominate and recommend names to the RCM for the position of WSCF AP Human Rights Justice and Peace Coordinator.
  2. Nominations will be approved by the HRJP Committee and submitted for approval to RCM.
  3. The HRJP Coordinator will work from his/her working country.
2. Functions
  1. To coordinate the Human Rights, Justice and Peace Committee members and to assist the regional staff in implementing HRJP and solidarity program in WSCF Asia-Pacific region.
  2. Coordinate work with national movements and networks on responding to action alerts and requests for solidarity action in the regional and national level.
  3. Assist and help national movements in developing human rights programs and activities.
  4. Assist in gathering data and information on the Human Rights Issues and sharing it to the national movements.
  5. Organize and coordinate in Human Rights campaigns/publication for national and regional level.
  6. Organize online meetings (preparing agenda before meetings; positing and updating information for Web Site).
  7. Information sharing updating and information sharing to the national movements.
  8. Ensure the Nominations for the HR JP Committee
  9. Attend various programs and networks on behalf of the WSCF AP HRJP Committee.

VII. Staff

There shall be two executive staff at the Regional Office with the possibility of additional staff to be appointed for special projects.
One-half plus one of the affiliated movements must consent before the staff are appointed.
The term of office shall be for two years, subject to review by the following Asia-Pacific Committee.
The maximum term of office for an executive staff shall be eight years.
The Staff are accountable to the Asia-Pacific Committee and the Executive Committee of the Federation for their work.

VIII. Program

The Asia-Pacific Committee shall determine the program priorities from time to time.

IX. Amendments

Changes in the Bye-Laws must be accepted by two-thirds of the movements present at a Asia-Pacific Committee meeting.
Notice of proposed amendments must be given three months prior to the Regional Committee Meeting.

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