![[IFNGO]-International Federation Of Non-Government Organisations For The Prevention Of Drug And Substance Abuse](http://www.ifngo.org/main/pub/ifngologogreen.gif)
Preamble
We, the founding members of the International Federation of Non-Government Organizations for the Prevention of Drug and Substance Abuse (IFNGO), having declared our intentions in a joint declaration in Kuala Lumpur in 1981, hereby reaffirm and dedicate our collective wisdom and efforts to the prevention and reduction of drug abuse. Realizing that community effort and voluntary initiative are needed to complement and reinforce government organizations in the fight against such abuse, we acknowledge and reiterate the philosophy and spirit of the partnership between non-government organizations and government organizations to work closely together at national, regional and international levels.
We recognize that drug and subtance abuse transcends ethnic, geographical, political, cultural and religious boundaries, and requires the active participation of the whole community for its control, reduction and eventual eradication, and that by virtue of their flexibility and adaptability, non-government organizations are in a better position than government organizations to experiment and innovate for the development of effective intervention strategies. We further recognize and share the following concerns:
- that human resources are the most valuable assets of any community and that the increasingly widespread multiple abuse of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances threatens not only the healthy development of the youth, but also the social fabric, the stability and national security of the respective countries;
- that more effective preventive and rehabilitative measures to reduce drug abuse and its hazardous consequences cannot be over emphasized;
- that NGOs have an important role to play in assisting their respective governments in the implementation of existing dangerous drug legislation and the provisions of the international treaties, such as the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961 (as amended by the Protocol of 1972) and the Convention of Psychotropic Substances 1971; and
- that NGOs need to work closely with the United Nations and its specialized agencies (e.g. United Nations Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention, World Health Organization, International Labor Organization, Regional and International Organizations (e.g. Colombo Plan Secretariat, the International Council on Alcohol and Addiction etc.) as well as national and international law enforcement agencies in order to achieve a DRUG FREE SOCIETY.
Therefore in order to enhance cooperation and exchange of information and expertise in this area and to facilitate and formulate cost effective programs, we have resolved to adopt this constitution of our Federation.
Article I - NAME AND DOMICILE
1.1. The Name of this organization shall be the International Federation of Non- Government Organizations for the Prevention of Drug and Substance Abuse (IFNGO).
1.2. Domicile. IFNGO may have its domicile in the office of the incumbent president, or at any other place of registration as designated by the Management Board. The Secretariat may be conveniently located in the country of the designated Honorary Secretary of the Federation.
1.3. Registered Office(s). The registered office(s) of the Federation shall be determined by the Management Board.
Article II - OBJECTIVES
In view of the concerns expressed in the preamble and the need to deal with them effectively, the IFNGO shall strive to achieve the following objectives:
2.1. The development of collaborative and fruitful interactions among non-government organizations regionally and internationally to identify the needs of services and implement diversified programs to prevent and control drug abuse with the ultimate aim to achieve a drug free society in our countries.
2.2. The development of a shared monitoring mechanism and communication system for the collection and collation of drug abuse information and research data for efficient analysis and dissemination to members and other concerned organizations.
2.3. The mobilization of necessary resources needed to support IFNGO’s activities to eradicate the problems of drug and substance abuse.
2.4. The attainment of concerted action among member countries and peoples in the fight against drug and substance abuse and the promotion of communication and education for its prevention, reduction and rehabilitation.
2.5. The organizing of regional and international conferences, seminars, workshops, etc. to further the understanding of and to resolve the problems of drug and substance abuse.
2.6. The promotion of co-operation and collaboration between Government Organizations and Non-Government Organizations at National, Regional and International Levels.
Article III - MEMBERSHIP
3.1. Membership.
3.2. Application for Membership.
3.3. Membership Fee. Every ordinary member or founding member of the federation shall pay an annual membership fee of US$100.00 and an Associate Member US$75.00. Membership fee shall be subject to revision, by majority decision of the General Meeting.
3.4. Termination of Membership. Membership may be terminated for the following reasons:-
3.5. Re-instatement of Membership
Article IV - GENERAL MEETINGS
4.1. The General Meeting of Members shall be held once every two years at a place and time appointed by the Management Board.[#]
4.2. The Business transacted at General Meetings shall be (a) the consideration and adoption of; i) the Bi-annual Report of the Management Board ii) the accounts and balance sheet for the preceding two (2) years and the Auditor's Report thereon provided that the Management Board shall have considered and adopted the budget, accounts and balance sheet for the year which is the earlier of the two (2) years; and (b) the election of the Management Board.[#]
4.3. Notices of General Meetings shall be sent to Members at least 90 days before the date of the meeting.
4.4. Extraordinary General Meeting.
The Management Board may whenever it thinks fit or upon a written request to convene an Extraordinary General Meeting. Such request must be signed by not less than one third of voting Members and must state the business proposed to be transacted at the Extraordinary General meeting of Members. No business shall be transacted at an Extraordinary General Meeting other than that specified by the Board or in the notice of request as the case may be.
4.5. A Quorum for general meeting of the IFNGO shall be five members present in person or through proxy, or a number representing one third of the voting members present in person whichever is the lesser.
Article V - ADVISORY COUNCIL
5.1. Composition. The ADVISORY COUNCIL shall be composed of the President and Past Presidents of IFNGO who have served since 1981.
Article VI - MANAGEMENT BOARD
6.1. Composition. The Management Board shall be composed of twenty one members, namely the President, the President-Elect, the 1st Vice President, the 2nd Vice President, the Hon. Secretary, the Hon. Treasurer, Representatives of the Founding Members and eight other voting members, each representing a national NGO or a country. The Representatives of the Colombo Plan shall serve as a non voting advisor of the board.
6.2. Term of Office. They shall hold office for two years and shall remain in office until their successors have been duly elected and qualified.[#]
6.3. Extension of Term of Office. In the event of the postponement or cancellation of the Biennial General Meeting for whatever reason, the incumbent Management Board shall be charged with the responsibility of managing the organization until the process of election of the succeeding IFNGO Management Board is duly completed.[**]
6.4. President-Elect. The President-Elect shall forfeit the right of assuming the office of President of IFNGO if he or she and/or his/her organization fails to convene the IFNGO International Conference and host the IFNGO Biennial General Meeting for whatever reasons during the stipulated Period/Term of Office. The Management Board shall be vested with the powers to appoint Representative of the succeeding host organization to be the President-Elect of IFNGO.[**]
Article VII - POWERS AND DUTIES
7.1. The Advisory Council.
7.2. The Management Board.
7.3. Duties
- Preside at all General Meetings and Management Board Meetings.
- Supervise the activities and programs of IFNGO, the Secretariat and the Finance Committee to ensure that the decision of the IFNGO and the Management Board are put into effect.
- Approve all statements and reports submitted by the Hon. Secretary and Hon. Treasurer.
- Keep records of the proceedings of all meetings of the Advisory Council and the Management Board.
- Have custody of all IFNGO records.
- Take charge of the Secretariat of the IFNGO.
- Carry out any other duties assigned by the Management Board.
- Prepare annual budgets of IFNGO for the approval of the Management Board.
- Collect all fees, dues or contributions as required by the constitution and as may be deemed necessary.
- Operate IFNGO account with the duly designated bank.
- Keep proper accounts of the IFNGO.
- Submit financial reports as required by the Management Board and for independent audit
Article VIII - CONFERENCES, MEETINGS & VOTING
8.1. Conference. The venue and date of the IFNGO conference, to be convened once every two years, shall be determined by the Management Board, and the notice thereof shall be circulated at least 90 days prior to the date of the Conference.[#]
8.2. The Management Board shall meet at least once a year to ensure adequate consultations. A General Meeting of the IFNGO may coincide with the bi-annual conference. A Management Board meeting may be convened at a time and place to be determined by the Management Board for which 30 days notice shall be given.[#]
8.3. Quorum
8.4. Voting
Article IX - AMENDMENTS
9.1. Any proposed amendment to this Constitution shall be presented in writing by 2 or more voting members to the Management Board 60 days before an Bi-Annual General Meeting/Extraordinary General Meeting.[*][#]
9.2. The proposed amendment shall be subject to Two Third (2/3) decision of the Founding Members and Two Third (2/3) majority approval at the Bi-Annual General Meeting/ Extraordinary General Meeting.[*][#]
Article X - LIABILITY AND DISCUSSION
10.1. The debts of the Federation are payable only out of its funds. Its members shall not be liable for such debts. The Management Board shall not incur any debts of liabilities in respect of which the Federation’s Fund are insufficient to discharge.
10.2. A decision to dissolve IFNGO may be made at a general meeting by three quarters (3/4) of the voting members.
10.3. Liquidator. In the event of IFNGO being dissolved, the general meeting shall appoint a liquidator to be in charge of its liquidation.
10.4. Dissolution. Upon such dissolution the funds and assets of the Federation shall be firstly applied towards payment of the expenses of the dissolution and secondly towards payment of all its debts and liabilities and thirdly towards such amount of reserves against contingent liabilities as the liquidator thinks fit and thereafter any surplus assets shall be donated to the Colombo Plan Bureau.
Article XI - EFFECTIVE DATE
11.1. This Constitution took effect immediately following its ratification by the unanimous decision of the Meeting of IFNGO held on 15th July, 1986 at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia as witnessed by those present:-
*Amended at the 4th Annual General Meeting of IFNGO held on 14th November, 1989 in COLOMBO, Sri Lanka.
#Amended at the 7th Annual General Meeting of IFNGO held on 10th December, 1992 in KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia.
**Amended at the 12th Biennial General Meeting of IFNGO held on 14th August, 2003 in COLOMBO, Sri Lanka.
