AAPSO Constitution

Preface

The Afro-Asian Peoples Solidarity Organization was established in January 1958 at an inaugural conference held in Cairo. A constitution was framed at this conference reflecting the prevailing situation. In 1988 when the 7th congress was held in Delhi, the above constitution was once again adopted to govern the organization.

In taking into account the fifty years of its existence and the enormous changes that the world has undergone during this period; the 8th Congress held in Hyderabad, India from 14-16 December 2008, adopted a new constitution. The new constitution has been published in Arabic, English and French (No. 149 AAPSO Publications).

The new constitution stipulates the radical, political, economic and social changes which have undergone through various organizational and structural experiences providing new dimension to the Organization.

We hope that this new constitution will lead the Organization towards broader horizons and more extensive mass base. We also anticipate that with thie re-orientation the role of AAPSO develops with the developments in the local, regional international conditions.

CONSTITUTION
OF THE AFRO-ASIAN PEOPLES’
SOLIDARITY ORGANIZATION

Preamble:
The Afro-Asian Peoples' Solidarity Organization (AAPSO) is a mass solidarity movement of the peoples of Africa and Asia in the common struggle for the elimination of injustices to the people, for the consolidation of genuine independence and the defence of sovereignty, against aggressive policies, to ensure economic security, for the right to choose their own way of socioeconomic development, for the promotion of national culture, for a non-violent world and for general disarmament, international security and lasting peace.

As a non-governmental pluralist and democratic organization, AAPSO, based on the principles of Bandung and the Non-Aligned Movement, and in full adherence to the UN charter is an integral part of the peace-loving forces for the democratization of international relations; the establishment of the Democratic Economic and International Information and Communication Order, upholding human rights and for the protection of environment.

In keeping with peaceful economic development, AAPSO gives priority to poverty alleviation in the south countries.

Article I: Name of the Organization:
The name of the Organization is:
THE AFRO-ASIAN PEOPLES' SOLIDARITY ORGANIZATION hereinafter referred to as "the AAPSO".

Article 2: Objectives of the Organization:
1. To unite, consolidate and accelerate actions of solidarity with the struggle against all forms of aggression, racism, and to provide all-out moral, political and material support to the protection of freedom, and national independence.
2. To act in an interdependent world, in support of the principles of the United Nations Charter and of the Non-Aligned Movement and to strengthen cooperation of the AAPSO with the UN and the Non-Aligned Movement and with the other governmental and nongovernmental organizations that act for the same objectives.
3. To mobilize the peoples of Africa, Asia and other developing countries, progressive and democratic forces all over the world, against the policy of destabilization, against military pacts, blocs, bases and facilities.
4. To rally against exploitation, to overcome backwardness, for economic security, for the sovereign right of peoples over their national resources and to bring about socio-economic transformations.
5. To strengthen the struggle for just and lasting peace and security, stopping the arms' race, for nuclear and complete disarmament, and for development.
6. a. To safeguard, respect and uphold human rights, equal rights for women and  special protection of the child, to support the struggle for democracy and for the promotion of the democratic solution to the conflicts of nationalities and minorities.
b. To propagate the Charter of Universal Declaration of Human Rights including implementation of all the statutes, conventions, treaties and covenants passed and accepted by the United Nations Organisation over the years.  
7. To resolve international, regional and national conflicts by peaceful dialogue, based on the principles of the UN Charter in the spirit of solidarity and on the basis of national reconciliation.
8. To support achievement and consolidation of their national unity within the Afro-Asian countries.
9. For socioeconomic and cultural development and for a New International Information and Communication Order as well as to deepen cooperation and mutual assistance among nations and among democratic organizations for the realization of these goals.
10. To support the independent policy of the Afro-Asian States, organizations and forces which seek to extricate from political, economic, social and cultural infiltration.
11. To work, while retaining its own identity, for the activisation of the movement focusing on the masses and mass organizations, for establishing and consolidating the alliance of the progressive, national unity among the Afro-Asian peoples, and the peoples of the world.
12. To work for the protection of environment and for the safeguarding of the ecological resources of our planet.

Article 3: Membership:
1. Membership of the AAPSO consists of Afro-Asian Solidarity Committees, and Peace and Solidarity Committees. In the absence of such national committees, civil society organizations, in Africa and Asia, as the case may be, committed to the principles and objectives of the AAPSO can be considered for membership.
2. Member organizations shall constitute the basic units of the Afro-Asian Peoples' Solidarity Organization.
3. Each country shall be represented in the Afro-Asian Peoples' Solidarity Organization by more than one organization.
4. Upon receiving an application for membership, the Secretariat shall consider the application and finally endorses the new affiliation as a member.
5. Associate membership is open to solidarity organizations, outside Africa and Asia, which work for and are committed to the principles of the AAPSO and which seek to unify the social forces in their countries on the basis of solidarity among nations. The associate members will have all the rights of full members.
6. The status of observer shall be granted to national or international organizations, support-groups, trade-unions; youth, women; writers' and other political, economic, social or public organizations, regardless of their geographical affiliation, whose activities correspond with the principles, objectives and purposes of the AAPSO.
7. The status of guest invited to AAPSO meetings shall be granted to prominent personalities, leading members or representatives of national and international organizations as decided by the Secretariat, in each specific case.
8. Observers and guests have the right to attend AAPSO meetings and participate in discussion, but they do not have the right to vote.

Article 4: Constitutional Organs of AAPSO:
The Organization shall comprise of:
 I- The Congress
 2- The Secretariat

Article 5: The Congress:
1. The Congress of the AAPSO is the supreme authority of the Organization. It is the only body empowered to introduce amendments to the Constitution. It has the full competence to decide on all political, organizational and financial matters of the AAPSO. It shall determine the AAPSO strategic platform and programme of action.
2. The Congress shall be composed of member and associate-member organizations which constitute the basic units of the AAPSO; and shall be attended by observers and guests.
3. All resolutions and recommendations adopted by the Congress shall be binding to constitutional organs of the AAPSO and shall guide the action of the member  and associate-member organizations.
4. The Congress elects:
-The President of AAPSO
-The Secretary-General of AAPSO
- Members of the Secretariat.
Congress shall ratify and/or amend what the Secretariat has previously adopted with regard to the following:
a) the list of member organizations,
b) the list of associate member organizations.  And
c) the list of observer.
5. The quorum for the convocation of the Congress shall be reached by the attendance of the simple majority of member and associate-member organizations.
6. Each delegation of the member-or associate-member organizations to the Congress shall have one vote. Participants in the Congress shall seek consensus on all issues. However all Congress documents shall be adopted by a simple majority of the votes of the member- and associate-member organizations participating in the Congress.
7. The political-organizational report of the Secretariat of the AAPSO as well as its proposals for future programmes of action, shall be considered the working documents of the Congress.
8. Only the Congress shall have the right to elect the President of the AAPSO from the prominent personalities of the Afro-Asian Solidarity Movement, on the nomination of the Afro-Asian Solidarity Committee of the country of the Headquarters of the AAPSO. Only the Congress has right to adopt a resolution on changing the country of the headquarters of the AAPSO on the proposal of the AAPSO Secretariat.
9. The Congress shall elect the Secretary General of the Afro-Asian Peoples' Solidarity Organization on the nomination of the Secretariat, from the prominent personalities of the Afro-Asian Solidarity Movement.
10. The Congress elects a number of Secretaries from member and associate member organizations, taking into account geo-political considerations on two tier system: - a small secretariat working daily and enlarged secretariat to meet once in four months.
11. The Congress shall be convened every three years.
12. An Emergency Congress of AAPSO shall be convened on the request of the simple majority of member-organizations of AAPSO.
When the Congress is in session, the Secretariat shall act as the Steering Committee which shall decide on all its procedures, including the agenda, time-table, commissions, election of officers of the Congress and participation.

Article 6: The Secretariat:
1. The Congress elects the Secretariat, which is composed of the President, the Secretary General, vice-presidents, as well as a number of Secretaries representing member and associate member organizations taking into consideration geo-political factors.
2. a) The Secretariat is the political executive which shall directly implement all the decisions of the AAPSO and its programme of action.
    b) The quorum of the Secretariat is the simple majority and voting is by the simple majority.
3. The Secretariat shall be fully accountable to the Congress.
4. The President of the AAPSO shall be the head of the Permanent Secretariat.
5. The Secretary General shall lead all the activities of the Secretariat and its work, and responsible for the implementation of all its decisions.
6. a) In the absence of the President for any reason, the Secretary General takes over his function.
  b) The Congress authorizes and empowers the Secretariat to meet in an emergency situation and to elect the President and/or the Secretary General in case of resignation, incapacitation or demise of either or both of them.
   c) Until the election takes place, the President or Secretary General takes over the functions of the vacant post.
7. On the decision of the Secretariat any member or associate member organization of the AAPSO may send its representative to the Permanent Secretariat as an observer and shall pay all expenses of his stay in the AAPSO headquarters.
8. The Secretariat prepares the Congress.
9. The Secretariat appoints the Editorial Board of the AAPSO publications.
10. The Secretariat provides the administrative and technical machinery required by the meetings of the AAPSO on all levels, and it keeps records of these meetings.

Article 7: Finances:
1. The Organization shall be financed by the subscriptions of member and associate member organizations and by the contributions offered by the friendly organizations, observers or individuals that support the objectives and purposes of the AAPSO.
2. Each member-organization and associate member organization of the Afro-Asian Peoples' Solidarity Organization shall pay a minimum annual subscription of five thousand US dollars, the equivalent or in other forms.
3. The secretariat will submit a financial report to the congress.

Article 8: The AAPSO Specialized Centres:
Depending on the requirements of the movement the Secretariat will undertake to establish research groups as and when necessary.

Article 9:
The official languages of the AAPSO are Arabic, English, and French.