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I. Name and Seat

Article 1

The Swiss Helsinki Association (SHV) is organized as an association according to Article 60 of the Swiss Civil Code. It has its seat at the domicile of its president.

II. Objective

Article 2

The Association aims at observing the respect of the rules and principles as contained in the Helsinki Final Act of CSCE (now OSCE) and the documents of the follow up  conferences, in particular within the Human Dimension, and at supporting the spreading and implementation of these rules and principles. These objectives are in conformity with the objectives of the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights (IHF).

The implementation of these objectives is pursued, in particular, by

  1. collecting and spreading information on human rights, on the violation of human rights and on democracy;
  2. encouraging school programms promoting democracy, rule of law and human rights;
  3. realising humanitarian and reconstruction projects;
  4. promoting public relations.

 

Article 3

The Association is denominationally and politically neutral.

The SHV may apply for IHF membership and membership of other organisations that pursue similar objectives.

III. Membership

Article 4

Persons and legal entities interested in the Association’s work can become  members.

The Board takes the final decision on membership. It can deny membership without indicating any reasons.

Precondition for membership is, as a rule, domicile or seat in Switzerland.

Friends of the SHV are persons who are regularly informed about its activities and who support it financially.

Article 5

Resignation by a member  is possible by the end of each association year; it has to be presented in writing, respecting a period of notice of 60 days.

Article 6

Exclusion of members falls under the exclusive responsibility of the Board, not requesting any indication of reasons.

Article 7

Any personal claim of members for the association’s funds is excluded.

IV.  Financial means

Article 8

In order to fulfil its tasks, the Association can use the following financial means:

  1. annual membership fees
  2. profits from donations, collections, etc.
  3. donations and legacies
  4. interests on the association’s  funds
  5. financial contributions to projects

Artcile 9

The annual membership fee according to Article 8 lit.a amounts to a maximum of CHF 100.- .

Article 10

Only the Association’s funds may be held liable for commitments of the Association.
Every personal liability of the members is excluded.

V. Organisation

Article 11

The Association’s organs are:

  1. the General Assembly
  2. the Board
  3. the Audit Office

a) General Assembly

Article 12

The General Assembly regularily meets once a year in order to fulfil the tasks assigned to it by law and by the statutes. If necessary, extraordinary general assemblies are called for by the Board or on request of one fifth of all members. In any case, the Board has to send the invitation in written form to the members at least fourteen days before the meeting, including the agenda.

Article 13

The General Assembly has the following competences:

  1. To elect the president and the other members of the Board as well as the Audit Office for a term of office of two years; reelection is possible.
  2. To accept the annual accounts, the audit report and to discharge the Board.
  3. To approve the budget and to fix the annual fees.
  4. To decide on applications by members concerning affairs not mentioned on the agenda. These applications must reach the president in written form at least five days before the General Assembly.
  5. To revise and amend the statutes.
  6. To decide on any other business devolving on law or being presented by the Board. 
  7. To dissolve the Association.

Article 14

The General Assembly may nominate honorary members and a honorary president.

Article 15

The General Assembly can take decisions, notwithstanding the number of members present at the assembly.

b) Board

Article 16

The Board consists of at least seven members, namely a president, one or two vice-presidents, one quaestor, one secretary and assessors. A maximum of two members of the Board may be personally linked (married, related, connected by marriage).

Article 17

The Board meets as frequentily as necessary, upon the invitation of the president; the invitation will include the agenda.

The decisions are taken by simple majority of the members present. In the event of a tied vote, the vote of the president counts twice. Circular decisions are possible.

Article 18

The Board constitutes itself.

The Board has all competences that have not been explicitly attributed to another organ by the statutes. In particular, the Board has the following tasks:

  1. To manage the affairs and to present them externally.
  2. To prepare the General Assembly and to implement the decisions taken by it.
  3. To call upon individual members to support the management of the affairs, to constitute commissions and to task experts with specific assignments.
  4. To represent the Association externally.
  5. For current affairs, the board members are authorised to sign individually. Concerning the conclusion of contracts and the representation of the Association in court and public authorities, the president, the vice-president and the quaestor are authorised to sign individually. The other board members are authorised to sign collectively by twos.
  6. To take the final decision on admission and exclusion of members.

Article 19

The board members work on an honorary basis.

c) Audit Office

Article 20

The Audit Office is elected by the General Assembly. It annually audits the accounting, the receipts, the cash balance and the account. The audit office issues a written report for the attention of the general assembly

VI. Closing of accounts

Article 21

The association year corresponds to the calendar year. Respectively, the account closes per December 31.

VII. Dissolution

Article 22

The decision to dissolve the Association requires two thirds of the votes of the   members present at the General Assembly. The liquidation is carried out by the Board. The remaining funds of the Association have to be donated to institutions with similar objectives.

 

These statutes come into force after their approval and replace the statutes of April 3, 1995.

Basel, November 2, 2005

 

The president: Dr. Marianne von Grünigen, former ambassador

The Quaestor: Hanswalter Schmid