Statutes of the Worldwide Association of Women Journalists and Writers 2022

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

Cada dos años rota la presidencia de AMMPE, y su sede se encuentra en el país que ostenta la presidencia.  No tiene sede permanente.
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.

Global 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

Cualquier periodista o escritora que trabaje en medios de comunicación (tradicionales, digitales o sociales) puede solicitar ser miembro activo de la organización nacional AMMPE de su respectivo país.  Aquellos que están vinculados al periodismo y contribuyen al éxito de AMMPE (estudiantes, profesores, ex periodistas, aquellos que trabajan en relaciones públicas) también son elegibles para postularse.
Las ex presidentas mundiales son miembros vitalicios de AMMPE y de su órgano de gobierno global. Durante el Congreso, este organismo puede recomendar la Membresía Honoraria Vitalicia para los nuevos miembros que han contribuido sustancialmente al desarrollo de AMMPE.
Las organizaciones nacionales de AMMPE están sujetas a sus propias reglas organizativas, sin embargo, deben adherirse al propósito, los valores y los objetivos de AMMPE. Si no apoyan lo mismo, el órgano de gobierno mundial tiene el derecho de vetar su membresía y su uso del nombre AMMPE.
La primera Presidenta Vitalicia  Honorifica es la Fundadora de AMMPE, Gloria Salas de Calderón.

ARTICLE VII

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

  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.

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.

Vice 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

El Congreso Mundial se celebra una vez cada dos años, organizado por la actual Presidenta Mundial en el país correspondiente.  Los costos y la logística, incluida la promoción y la comercialización, son organizados por la Presidencia.

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. El derecho a asistir al Congreso (a su propio costo). 
  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

El comité de planificación global garantizará el buen funcionamiento del Congreso asegurando un cronograma que incluya tiempo para los oradores, sistemas de votación y registro de resoluciones y enmiendas, entre otros.
La Junta podrá designar a un abogado con pleno conocimiento de estos estatutos para apoyar el buen funcionamiento del Congreso.
Se debe proporcionar una copia de estos estatutos a cada delegado.

ARTICLE XV

REVISION OF STATUTES

Cualquier miembro de una organización nacional de AMMPE puede presentar por escrito una enmienda a los Estatutos, que debe enviarse a la Presidenta Mundial  antes de la realización de Congreso.
Si hay varias enmiendas, se debe asignar tiempo durante el Congreso para una revisión de los Estatutos.
Ningún Estatuto puede ser cambiado sin la autorización del Congreso a través de una votación.
Será obligación del comité de planificación global estar al tanto de las implicaciones legales internacionales de cualquier cambio, y darlos a conocer al Congreso antes de la votación.

ARTICLE XVI

SEDE PERMANENTE Y FINANCIAMIENTO DE  AMMPE

Cuando se creó la organización, la sede estaba en México, ya que este país organizó el primer Congreso Mundial.
Actualmente no hay una sede permanente para AMMPE, y la sede rota cada dos años de acuerdo con la presidencia mundial. La organización no tiene un estatus legal formal, sin embargo, las organizaciones nacionales de AMMPE pueden tener su propio estatus legal en el país correspondiente.  AMMPE tampoco tiene presupuesto ni financiamiento, y cada presidencia tiene la tarea de recaudar fondos para la celebración del Congreso. No tiene personal remunerado ni gastos generales.
Idealmente, AMMPE debería tener una Secretaria Permanente y una sede para garantizar la coherencia, los estándares y la recaudación de fondos en curso. Sin embargo, la creación de una institución jurídica permanente tendría derecho a emplear personal y tendría costos considerables.
AMMPE no tiene miembros globales y no cobra una cuota de membresía. Tampoco cobra una tarifa a las organizaciones nacionales, ni para asistir al Congreso.
Hay pros y contras para los diferentes modelos operativos, y es necesario establecer un subcomité encargado por el Consejo de Administración Global para analizar las opciones, los riesgos y los beneficios, con más detalle.  Es importante destacar que si se va a cobrar una tarifa y se crean miembros globales, debe haber un énfasis en lo que reciben y la relación calidad-precio. A la fecha sólo se cobra una cuota de participación al Congreso a la periodistas y escritoras asistentes.

ARTICLE XVII

NATIONAL AMMPE ORGANISATIONS 

Son numerosos los países que participan en AMMPE y que entre Congresos mantienen múltiples e importantes actividades que contribuyen a la reputación y actividad de la organización.
Cada organización nacional tiene sus propios estatutos y participa en Congresos Internacionales.
Aunque hay países con un gran desarrollo profesional de mujeres periodistas y escritoras, la situación no es consistente y hay mucho que aprender unos de otros.

ARTICLE XVIII

DISSOLUTION
La terminación de AMMPE debe ser aprobada por un Congreso convocado al efecto por dos tercios de los miembros activos.
Este Congreso determinará el destino que se dará a los activos de AMMPE.

Descargar PDF