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Statutes of the worldwide association of women journalists and writers

2022


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ARTICLE I

The name of the organization is the Worldwide Association of Women Journalists and Writers, henceforth referred to as AMMPE (the initials of the title translated into Spanish). AMMPE was founded at its first  World Congress in Mexico in 1969.

ARTICLE II

PURPOSE AND VALUES

AMMPE is an international umbrella organization working with national chapters to support the development of women journalists and writers in their professional lives and the safe practice of their craft.

AMMPE was founded to improve and strengthen collaboration between women journalists and writers in as many countries as possible, to support their professional development, equality and safety. It is an organization that is founded on core principals of respect for human rights, freedom of expression, fairness, equality and knowledge sharing.

There are many challenges facing journalists and writers today, and the purpose of AMMPE is as relevant as ever.

 

ARTICLE III

OBJECTIVES

  1. Support women journalists and writers worldwide to communicate, share knowledge and exchange useful professional experiences.
  2. Promote and support freedom of the press and the professional status of women journalists and writers, based equal opportunity at work; lack of harassment and discrimination; fair and equal pay; and professional parity.
  3. Promote a safe working environment for women journalists and writers.
  4. Take a global and regional approach to solving professional problems and improving        conditions, holding meetings and exchanges to extend collaboration.
  5. Use technological advances support the growth of AMMPE and provide a professional support network for its members.
  6. Support the development of national organizations of women journalists and writers in as many countries as possible.
  7. Seek ways to achieve support and promotion for AMMPE through public and/or private organizations (providing these same organizations are in alignment with AMMPE’s core principals of freedom of expression, gender parity and human rights).

ARTICLE IV

OPERATION

Every two years the presidency of AMMPE rotates, and its headquarters is based in the country that holds the presidency.  It does not have a permanent headquarters.

At the end of each presidency period, the global President will hold a World Congress.

The archives of each World Congress will be available on the AMMPE website.

ARTICLE V

GOVERNANCE

Global governing body

The ongoing global governing body of AMMPE will consist of a committee of former world presidents. This body is responsible for choosing the next President. At each World Congress, the past presidents will choose the president for the next two year period.

All former world Presidents must participate in the election of the next president. If unable to attend the Congress meeting and vote in person, they will deliver their vote in writing either to the national president of the AMMPE branch of their country or to the former world president who is convening the vote. All Regional Vice-Presidents are empowered to vote in the next election for President.

This governing body will also nominate at least six regional vice-presidents representing different geographical areas, as well as a deputy from the president’s country.

Global Congress planning committee

For the duration of each presidency, the world President will chair a global Congress planning committee which (in addition to the chair) will comprise at least six regional Vice-Presidents, representing different geographical areas, and a deputy from the President’s country. 

The regional Vice-Presidents will support the President in organizing the Congress, promoting interest in AMMPE in the region from potential members and partners.

The deputy President will act as a substitute in the event of the President’s incapacity, death or resignation.

This committee will be supported by the president’s secretariat (treasurer and secretary) and meetings will be held minimum once every two months.

National Congress planning committee

The President-elect will appoint a Congress Secretary and Treasurer for the period of the presidency, as well as other professionals to support Congress planning.

The President and committee is responsible for the Congress to be held at the end of the presidency period and any activities that support its preparation. The President will not undertake any fundamental or significant changes to AMMPE itself without the approval of the global governing body ( former world presidents and regional vice-presidents).

ARTICLE VI

MEMBERSHIP

Any journalist or writer who works in media (traditional, digital or social media) can apply to be an active member in the national AMMPE organization of their respective country.  Those who are linked to journalism and contributes to the success of AMMPE (students, lecturers, former journalists, those working in PR) are also eligible to apply.

Former world presidents are life members of AMMPE and of its global governing body. During Congress, this body may recommend Honorary Life Membership for new members who have contributed substantially to the development of AMMPE.

National AMMPE organizations are subject to their own organizational rules, however they must adhere to the purpose, values and objectives of AMMPE. If they do not support the same, the global governing body has the right to veto their membership and their use of the AMMPE name.

The first Honorary Life President is the Founder of AMMPE, Gloria Salas de Calderón.

ARTICLE VII

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

World President

  1. The world President must plan, organize and run a World Congress at the end of the two-year presidency period, and is responsible for holding any meetings required to facilitate this, either in person or online.
  2. The world President is responsible for appointing a Congress secretariat and treasurer for the Congress period, as well as any other ad-hoc committee members considered necessary to support the operations of AMMPE during that period.
  3. The world President is responsible for all aspects of fundraising, partner relations, marketing and logistics needed for the successful and safe holding of the world Congress.
  4. The world President must ensure that the topics of the Congress align with the purpose and values of AMMPE; are topical and relevant; are informative for and interesting to global journalism professionals; and extend the reputation of AMMPE.
  5. The world President must ensure that guests, speakers and trainers appearing at the Congress are specialist and relevant to the current industry, and that the standards of presentation and production are high and formats are interesting.
  6. The world President must take the contacts at the highest level of the country where the Congress is held to maintain the level reached to date.
  7. The world President is responsible for providing national AMMPE organizations with timely marketing materials and information on the Congress, as well as logistical information to support attendance (online or in person), and is responsible for ensuring the maintenance of the AMMPE website and social channels.
  8. The world President is responsible for delivering a summary of the Congress including any agreements taken, and updating the web page with details and photos.

Congress Secretary and Treasurer

  1. The president chooses a Secretary and Treasurer for the Congress period, to support the delivery of the Congress and all associated activities.
  2. The secretary is responsible for coordinating meeting agendas and minutes, ensuring the appropriate people are invited to meetings and that the facilities are appropriate.
  3. The treasurer is responsible for the Congress budget, financial planning and fund raising.

Deputy President

The deputy president is from the president’s country, and is nominated at the preceding World Congress by the global governing body. This deputy sits on the Global Congress planning committee alongside the president and the six regional vice-presidents. The deputy president can represent the president in case of absence or incapacitation.

ARTICLE VIII

BIENNIAL CONGRESS

The World Congress is held once every two years, organized by the current world President in the relevant country.  Costs and logistics including promotion and marketing are organized by the presidency.

ARTICLE IX

VOTING DURING THE CONGRESS

Two forms of voting may be used during the Congress:

  1. Secret ballot, whereby each attending country will have one vote, regardless of the number of delegates from that country. The President may determine such items as she deems necessary during the Assembly.
  2. Open Vote, that is raising of hands when a motion is proposed during a working session. This vote will be taken as a means of establishing the opinion of the delegates present who have followed the discussion.

ARTICLE X

Global Congress planning committee

New elected directors such as Regional Vice-Presidents should meet, as far as possible during the Congress, to prepare a programme of work and establish relevant contacts to begin their two-year, extendable work.

ARTICLE XI

GUIDELINES FOR CHOOSING THE HOST COUNTRY FOR THE CONGRESS

The global governing body should take into account the following when considering nominations for the next presidency.

  1. The relative advantages of holding the Congress in different continents, for example the geographical spread of recent Congresses or the ability to attract new members or support a growing national organization.
  2. The ability of local members to handle the many details of organization, planning and logistics.
  3. Political stability of the country to avoid, where possible, the last-minute cancellation of the event and to ensure delegate safety.
  4. The convenience and comparative cost of delegate travel.
  5. Partner or funding support on offer.

ARTICLE XII

RIGHTS OF MEMBERS

AMMPE’s members belong to its national organizations. Through that, they are members of AMMPE globally. They have:

  1. The right to attend, speak and vote in Congress.
  2. The right to attend Congress (at their own expense).
  3. In case of disagreement or behavior at odds with AMMPE’s purpose, values and objectives, the member has the right to be heard in a review by a specially convened committee (convened by the world president or relevant national chapter president) before a decision is taken either at national or international level regarding continued membership or possible sanction.

ARTICLE XIII

RESPONSIBILITIES OF MEMBERS

  1. Support the purpose, values and objectives of AMMPE (globally and any specific national additions).
  2. Comply with the requirements of the Statutes, regulations and with all decisions taken by the Congress, global governing body and global planning committee.
  3. Pay any national membership fee set by the national organization.
  4. Contribute to improving the professional position of women journalists and writers.

ARTICLE XIV

REGULATIONS FOR CONGRESS

The global planning committee will ensure the proper functioning of the Congress by ensuring a schedule that includes time for speakers, voting systems, and registration of resolutions and amendments, among others.

The Board may appoint a lawyer with full knowledge of these statutes to support the proper functioning of the Congress.

A copy of these statutes must be provided to each delegate.

ARTICLE XV

REVISION OF STATUTES

Any member of a national AMMPE organization may submit in writing an amendment to the Statutes, which must be sent to the world President before the inauguration of the Congress.

If there are several amendments, time should be allocated during the Congress for a review of Statutes.

No Statute may be changed without the authorization of Congress through a vote.

It will be the obligation of the global planning committee to be aware of the international legal implications of any changes, and to make these known to Congress before the vote.

ARTICLE XVI

PERMANENT HEADQUARTERS AND FINANCING OF AMMPE

When the organization was set up, the headquarters was in Mexico, as this country organized the first World Congress.

There is currently no permanent headquarters for AMMPE, and the headquarters rotates every two years according to the world presidency. The organization does not have a formal legal status, however, national AMMPE organizations may have their own legal status in the relevant country.  AMMPE also does not have a budget or financing, and each presidency is tasked with raising funds for the holding of the Congress. It has no paid staff or overheads.

Ideally AMMPE would have a permanent Secretary and headquarters to ensure consistency, standards and ongoing fundraising. However, there would be significant costs associated with setting up a permanent legal institution, which would have the right to employ staff.

AMMPE does not have global members and does not charge a membership fee. It also does not charge a fee to national organizations, or to attend Congress.

There are pros and cons to different operating models, and it is necessary to establish a sub-committee commissioned by the Global Governing body to look at the options, risks and benefits, in more detail.  Importantly if a fee is to be charged, and global members created, there needs to be an emphasis on what they receive and value for money.

During recent meetings there is a fee for  journalists and writers  participating in the Congress.

ARTICLE XVII

NATIONAL AMMPE ORGANISATIONS

There are numerous countries that participate in AMMPE and that between Congresses maintain multiple and important activities that contribute to the reputation and activity of the organization.

Each national organization has its own statutes and participates in International Congresses.

Although there are countries with a great professional development of women journalists, the situation is not consistent and their is much to learn from each other.

ARTICLE XVIII

DISSOLUTION

The termination of AMMPE must be approved by a Congress convened for that purpose by two-thirds of the active members.

This Congress shall determine the destination that will be given to any assets of AMMPE.

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