Statutes of the International Young Naturefriends

(The only legally binding version of the Statutes is the German one.)

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Preamble
International Young Naturefriends (IYNF) is an autonomous branch of the International Friends of Nature (Naturfreunde Internationale – NFI). It defines its work autonomously in accordance with its field of activity. Its field of activities is laid down by the statutes of the NFI and the Statutes of the International Young Naturefriends (IYNF). IYNF dedicates itself to the political, social, ecological, intercultural, and sportive education of young people. It seeks to promote critical engagement and comprehensive, self-determined development, in order to strengthen the social consciousness of young people and to create the essential conditions for a socialist-democratic social order. To achieve its goals, IYNF can work together with any organisation working according to the goals stated.

I. Opening statements

§ 1 – Name
The legal name of the organisation is Naturfreundejugend Internationale (NFJI). The English name “International Young Naturefriends“ (IYNF) as well as names in other languages can be used in correspondence, publications and other materials.

§ 2 – Seat
The seat of IYNF is the seat of NFI, which is currently in Vienna. The seat of the IYNF Secretariat is a matter of decision of the General Assembly.


§ 3 – Working Languages

1. The main working language is English.
2. Further working languages are German and a language of the country where the Secretariat has its seat.
3. The binding version of the Statutes is in German language. The binding version of the minutes, texts and public declarations is in English or in other working languages. The binding version of contracts is in English with respective translation to the language of the contractual party. All accounts are kept in English.
4. All IYNF Organs are obliged to lay down a relating regulation in their respective standing orders.
   

II. Purpose of the organisation

§ 4 – Basic Principles

1. IYNF is the international union of Young Naturefriends Organisations. It promotes the ideal of the creation of a socialist-democratic society. Its central areas of activity are political, social, ecological, intercultural, and sporting engagement, and all-round education of young people.
2. Tasks conducted by IYNF are: to co-ordinate between the national organisations and the International Young Naturefriends, to propagate the socio-political ideas of the Friends of Nature and the Young Naturefriends on an international level within international organisations and institutions, to build up and promote national Young Naturefriends Organisations.
3. The work and measures of IYNF must respect Human Rights, be anti-fascist, anti-sexist, anti-racist, and must respect minorities such as with different cultural backgrounds or sexual orientations.
   

§ 5 - Areas of Activity
The activities of IYNF are divided into the following areas:

1. International Political Work (§ 6).
2. Promotion of international Integrative Tourism (§ 7).
3. Promotion of ecological and sustainable development (§ 8).
4. Support, promotion and organisation of intercultural, sporting and other leisure-time activities (§ 9).
5. Promotion of activities facilitating the social integration of young people (§ 10).
6. Promotion of the acquisition of foreign languages (§ 11).
   

§ 6 - International Political Work

1. It is the task of IYNF to promote the exchange of information, to encourage co-operation between national Naturefriends Organisations, and to organise international seminars, campaigns and events. Main focuses of the political work of IYNF are:
   • activities which are relevant to the situation of young people.
   • to promote solidarity with all people, especially with minorities and disadvantaged groups.
   • the struggle against militarism and fascism, for peace and social development.
   • the right of self-determination and active and equal participation of women for an emancipated society.
2. It is the task of IYNF to introduce and to support political discussion of this nature between national organisations by means of meetings and publications, whether these be organised by IYNF itself, or national events supported and publicised by IYNF.
   

§ 7 - Promotion of International Integrative Tourism

1. Central tasks of the Young Naturefriends are the promotion of integrative holiday tourism, the preservation of natural resources, the development of regional independence, as well as social and cultural education. Our political understanding of culture and leisure activities also defines the forms of integrative tourism to be promoted by IYNF.
2. IYNF contributes to this, in that it supports, promotes and encourages integrative tourist activities in the form of contacts between groups and Members of the Young Naturefriends’ movement from various countries, as well as in the form of a general policy on tourism. Furthermore, it is possible for IYNF to organise its own independent events.
   

§ 8 - Promotion of ecological and sustainable development

1. The aim of all activities of IYNF is to contribute to the ecological and sustainable development of all economic sectors.
2. Through the spread of information, organisation of seminars, meetings and campaigns, as well as through the support of educational activities in the field of ecology, IYNF seeks an ecology-oriented personal development, both inside and beyond the Naturefriends’ movement.
   

§ 9 - Support, promotion and organisation of intercultural, sporting, and other leisure activities

1. Through its own events, as well as through the stimulation and support of events of all Young Naturefriends Organisations, IYNF supports cultural education and meaningful forms of leisure-time activities. These activities could include exhibitions, congresses, competitions and sports meetings.
2. IYNF supports and organises international activities in these fields and can co-ordinate and support the work of all Members.

§ 10 - Promotion of activities facilitating the social integration of young people

1. IYNF seeks to build up a society in which all young people can participate actively. The Naturefriends Movement is a meeting place, where young people can develop their social skills, strengthen their personality, and prepare responsible involvement in a democratic society.
2. To facilitate such an emancipatory process, IYNF organises and promotes activities with an open, welcoming, and democratic atmosphere.

§ 11 - Promotion of the acquisition of foreign languages
IYNF has the task of encouraging, promoting and supporting opportunities for the promotion, the acquisition and the use of foreign language skills.

III. Members

Intro

§12 - Membership
The members of IYNF are divided into Full Members, Candidate Members, Partners and Supportive members

Statuses

§ 13 - Full members

1. There can be only one Full Member in each country; this rule can be set aside by decision of the General Assembly (GA, see § 24) in exceptional cases where due to the cultural or historical context it is not possible to have only one full member.
2. In countries where NFI has Full or Associate Members, IYNF Full Members must fulfil these criteria:
   • to be an independent youth structure
   • to be a supraregional organisation
   • to be interconnected with an NFI Member.
3. The condition of an independent youth structure is fulfilled if the youth branch:
   • decides on its own matters in its own ultimate responsibility
   • decides on its own budget in its own ultimate responsibility
   • is represented with voting rights in decision making bodies of the adult organisation on all levels
4. The condition of being a supraregional organisation is fulfilled if the organisation has members in most parts (regions) of the country.
5. In countries where no NFI member organisation exists, only supraregional youth organisations can become Full Members of IYNF. Such an organisation should be a Candidate Member before it becomes a Full Member. The GA may in special and exceptional cases decide to accept a new Full Member without the previous candidate membership (e.g. in case of the change of the legal status of a Full Member).
6. The GA may ignore the criterion of being a supraregional organisation under special and exceptional circumstances and only if such a decision is recommended by the Presidium and passed by 2/3 majority of present votes.
7. Once the organisation is accepted as IYNF Full Member in a country where there is no NFI Full or Associative Member, it should be approved by the NFI Executive Board as a Partner of NFI.
8. Full Members are accepted by the decision of the GA reached by simple majority of votes; subject to approval of the NFI Executive Board.
9. Members with suspended voting rights according to § 20.4b can apply to the GA to gain their rights back at least three months before the GA. This application must be supported by at least three other Full Members.
   

§ 14 – Candidate Members

1. There can be only one Candidate Member per country, but only in countries where no Full Member exists.
2. Candidate Members are organisations interested in becoming Full Members.
3. Candidate membership may last maximum two GA periods. The membership status is reviewed after each GA period.
4. Candidate Members are:
   1. NFI member organisations in the process of development of
      • an independent youth structure
      • supraregional structure
   2. National youth organisations in countries where no NFI member organisation exists
5. Candidate Members are accepted by the decision of the GA reached by simple majority of votes; subject to approval of the NFI Executive Board.

§ 15 – Partners

1. Partners are organisations interested in cooperation with IYNF
2. Partners are accepted by the decision of the Presidium. Membership review (see § 20) or the exclusion of Partners is in the competence of the Presidium.
3. Partners have a right of information about the activities of the organisation. Partners can attend the GA and the Council (see § 25) meetings as guests and on own expenses.

§ 16 – Supportive members

1. Supportive Members are organisations and individuals who want to support the aims and work of the International Young Naturefriends.
2. Supportive Members are accepted by the decision of the Presidium. Membership review or the exclusion of Supportive Members is in the competence of the Presidium.
3. Supportive Members have a right of information about the activities of the organisation.

Obligations and rights

§ 17 – Members’ obligations

1. All Members are obliged to accept and follow the goals and basic principles of IYNF and the Statutes of IYNF as well as NFI.
2. Full Members, Candidate Members and Supportive Members, especially in countries where no NFI Full Member exists, can be obliged to pay membership fees. Membership fees are a matter of decision of the GA and are based on the number of delegates in the GA.
3. Full Members and Candidate Members should attend meetings of the GA and the Council.

§ 18 – Members’ rights

1. All members have a right to participate at the work and development of IYNF through the work of IYNF organs in the capacity of their membership status.
2. All Full Members and Candidate Members have the right to nominate candidates to elected organs of IYNF.
3. All Full Members and Candidate Members have the right to pass proposals and motions to IYNF organs.
4. All Full Members and Candidate Members have a voting right in the GA and Council.
5. All Full Members and Candidate Members have a right to use the name and the logo of IYNF. Partners can use the phrase “Partner of the International Young Naturefriends” in their respective national language.
6. All members have the right to support IYNF.
7. All Full and Candidate Members have the right to pass a complaint to the GA because of a violation of members’ obligations according to § 17.
8. All members have the right to participate in projects, programmes, activities and campaigns of IYNF according to specific conditions, financial or practical restrictions or other given facts.
9. All Full Members and Candidate Members have the right to be informed about activities of IYNF through Presidium reports towards the organs of IYNF.
   

Procedures

§ 19 – Applications
Membership Applications to gain or to change a membership status of Full or Candidate Member or to gain back suspended voting rights must be sent to the Secretariat, addressed to the Council, at least three months before the GA. The Presidium accompanies the application with its proposal for procedure to the GA.

§ 20 – Membership review

1. The process of the Membership Review is launched by the decision of the GA or Council based on the proposal of the Presidium or a Full Member. Once the Membership Review is launched it is further carried on by the Presidium.
2. The aim of the process is to find out whether a member fulfils the criteria of its current membership status, or of a higher membership status or whether it violates the members’ obligations.
3. The process of the Membership Review is finished by the discussion and decision at the GA based on the Presidium report and proposal for procedure.
4. The decision of the GA upon the Presidium’s proposal for procedure may be:
   1. to keep the current status of the member,
   2. to suspend the voting rights at the GA and Council,
   3. to change the membership status with having in mind the criteria for it,
   4. to exclude the member according the procedure in § 22
5. The affected Member organisation has the right of appeal to the Arbitration Commission.

§ 21 – Resignation
Resignation from IYNF is possible at any time, taking into consideration a six-month period of notice before the end of the financial year. The resignation, in written form and addressed to the Council must be handed to the Secretariat.

§ 22 – Exclusion

1. The Exclusion of a member is a decision of the GA reached by 2/3 majority of present votes.
2. Members may be excluded if the member repeatedly and seriously violate the obligations in § 17.
3. In case of violating obligations according to § 17.2 / § 17.3 the GA may alternatively decide to review the membership status of the organisation.
4. Demands for exclusion must be sent to the Secretariat, addressed to the Council, at the latest three months before the GA; these must be passed on to all Full Members and Candidate Members.
5. The demand on exclusion according to § 17.1 can only be passed by the Presidium or by a Full Member.
6. In case of § 17.2 / § 17.3 the Presidium can put the proposal to exclude a member to the GA agenda without a demand from a Full Member.
7. The affected organisation has the right of appeal to the Arbitration Commission.

§ 23 – Termination of the membership
Membership of all kinds of members terminates automatically when

1. the organisation legally vanishes
2. is put into bankruptcy

The membership terminates by the date the Presidium acknowledges the stated occurrences. Membership of individuals terminates with their death.

IV. Organs

§ 24 – General Assembly

1. The General Assembly (GA) takes place bi-annually. The Council convenes the GA and prepares its agenda at least four months before the GA.
2. Extraordinary General Assembly
   1. The Council can decide on convening an Extraordinary General Assembly.
   2. The Presidium convenes an Extraordinary General Assembly when:
      1. at least 10 % of Full Members wish so or
      2. more than half of the Presidium members elected by the GA have resigned during their term of office.
   3. The Extraordinary GA must be convened at the latest two months and must meet at the latest four months after such a wish has been expressed.
3. The key of delegates is decided by the Council at least four months before the GA with a two-third majority, taking into account that Full Members have a maximum of 6 delegates, Candidate Members have maximum 2 delegates. At least one person per delegation must be in a decision-making key position of the member organisation. Members can voluntarily forfeit their votes retaining a minimum of one on the registration form for the coming Congress.
4. The GA reaches the quorum when more than two fifths of the delegates with voting rights are present at the verification of mandates. Each mandate must be represented personally and individually.
5. The GA is opened by the President or one of the Vice-Presidents of IYNF. The GA elects its leadership and adopts its standing order.
6. The GA consists of:
   1. the representatives of the Full Members and Candidate Members according to the list of delegates approved by the Council (taking into account a possible reduction caused by forfeited votes (§ 24.3)),
   2. the Council members,
   3. a further representative of the NFI,
   4. the Chair of the International Youth Arbitration Commission in advisory capacity,
   5. the members of the Audit in advisory capacity,
   6. guests invited by the presidium
7. Tasks and powers
   1. To discuss and approve work reports and closing of accounts
   2. To discuss and decide upon presented motions and resolutions
   3. To discuss and decide upon the IYNF work programme
   4. To discuss and decide upon membership applications, changes of membership status, suspension of voting right and the exclusion of members with a two-thirds majority
   5. To adopt and change the Statutes with a two-third majority of delegates present and two-thirds majority of Full Members present
   6. To dismiss the IYNF Presidium
   7. To elect and revoke IYNF Presidium
   8. To elect and revoke a representative of IYNF to the Audit
   9. To elect and revoke the International Youth Arbitration Commission
   10. To adopt rules of arbitration
   11. To discuss and decide upon the seat of the Secretariat
   12. Dissolve IYNF with a three-quarters majority of delegates present and three-quarters of Full Members present according to § 35
   13. To decide upon membership fees according to § 17
8. If not otherwise defined, the GA decides with a simple majority of the delegates.
9. Motions
   1. Organs, Full Members and Candidate Members of IYNF and the NFI Executive Board can forward motions to the GA
   2. The motions must be addressed to the Presidium and be handed to the Secretariat at least two months before the GA. The Presidium must make them known to the Full Members and Candidate Members at the latest one month before the GA.
   3. During the GA initiative motions can only be proposed, if they are supported by at least a quarter of the delegates with voting rights present.
10. Costs
    IYNF carries the travel costs and the subsistence costs of the Council members, the chair of the Youth Arbitration Commission and the youth member of the Audit Commission. IYNF carries the subsistence costs of all other Full Members’ and Candidate Members’ delegates. The Full Members and Candidate Members carry the travel costs of their delegates.
    

§ 25 – Council

1. The Council meets at least once a year at the end of the financial year.
2. The Council is convened by the Presidium. Invitations including the draft agenda must be sent to all delegates and all Full Members and Candidate Members at least four weeks before it takes place.
3. The Council must be convened within four weeks and meet at the latest within two months, if at least four Full Members require this.
4. The Council members are
   1. the Presidium
   2. one delegate from each Full Member and Candidate Member who must be in a decision-making key position of their organisation
   3. the Secretary General
   4. the youth member of the Audit Commission in advisory capacity
   5. a representative of NFI
5. The Council members have voting rights unless suspended by the GA.
6. Partners and Supportive Members can attend the meeting of the Council as guests.
7. The Council reaches quorum, if more than two fifths of the Council members with voting rights are present.
8. The Council decides on its standing order.
9. Powers and responsibilities
   1. to implement decisions of the GA as far as not assigned to the Presidium,
   2. to examine and control the work of the Presidium between the meetings of GA,
   3. to convene and prepare GA and Extraordinary GA and to decide on its place, date and agenda,
   4. to discuss and decide on the key of delegates for GA with a 2/3 majority according to § 24.3,
   5. to discuss and pass decisions on the budget and annual state of accounts. The budget as well as the annual state of accounts shall be presented to the Executive Board of NFI within one month after Council approval,
   6. to discuss and pass decisions on the annual programme,
   7. to launch the membership review according to the § 20,
   8. to pass decisions on presented motions,
   9. to discuss and decide about the IYNF membership or affiliation to other organisations,
   10. to by-elect Presidium members for resigned members taking into account the limit stated in § 24.2 b,
   11. To elect youth delegates to the Congress of the NFI
   12. to establish and elect Working Groups and set regulations to their work,
   13. to ratify the appointment and dismissal of the Secretary General
10. Motions and proposals towards the Council can be forwarded by
    1. Members
    2. Presidium
    3. Working groups
    4. NFI
11. IYNF carries the full costs of all Council members.

§ 26 – Presidium

1. The Presidium is the elected executive body of IYNF. The Presidium is responsible for running the organisation in between the Council meetings.
2. The Presidium meets as the need arises.
3. Composition and election of the Presidium
   1. The Presidium consists of minimum three and maximum five elected Presidium members plus the Secretary General.
   2. The Presidium has to consist of the President and at least two Vice-Presidents.
   3. Only the elected members have voting rights in the Presidium.
   4. Every Full or Candidate Member can send maximum two members with voting rights into the Presidium.
   5. Before the start of the election procedure, the number of seats in the Presidium to be voted for must be determined.
   6. The composition of the Presidium should follow geographical and gender balance.
   7. The Presidium decides over the division of responsibilities among its members.
4. External legal representation
   1. The President or the Secretary General are legal representatives of IYNF. External legal representation can be carried out also by a Vice-President in case the power is given to him or her by the President or the Presidium.
   2. Only legal representatives or a person with given power of attorney can externally represent IYNF – enter in legal relations and confirm liabilities of IYNF.
   3. Any two Presidium members are entitled to open or close IYNF bank accounts(s). The President or the Secretary General is entitled to order bank transfers and make cash withdrawals. This must comply with regulations passed by the Presidium.
5. The Presidium reaches the quorum, if the invitation has been sent out to all members at least two weeks in advance, and if at least half of the members with voting rights are present.
6. Task and powers of the Presidium
   1. to carry out day-to-day administrative tasks
   2. to decide upon issues specifically unassigned to the GA or Council
   3. to convene the Council meetings
   4. to carry out the decisions of the GA and the Council
   5. to prepare reports and minutes
   6. to prepare and present the budget and the annual state of accounts
   7. to appoint and dismiss the Secretary General for a time-unlimited contract, subject to approval of the Council
   8. to determine the job description for the Secretary General
   9. to employ further Secretariat staff members and prepare their working contracts
   10. to adopt internal regulations for staff and volunteers
   11. to determine and carry out the public relations of the organisation
   12. to represent IYNF towards its external contacts and umbrella organisations
   13. to accept, review and exclude Partners and Supportive Members.
7. Decisions are passed with a simple majority of votes of present Presidium members.
8. The term of office of the Presidium members is two years. Presidium members can be re-elected.

§ 27 – The Audit Commission

1. The Audit Commission of NFI is simultaneously the Audit Commission of IYNF.
2. The Audit Commission consists of five auditors. Four of the auditors are elected by the Congress of the NFI. The GA elects one auditor, subject to approval by NFI Congress.
3. The Audit Commission examines all the books and accounting of IYNF. The Audit Commission reports to the Council and GA as well as to the Presidents' Conference and the Congress of NFI.

§ 28 – The Youth Arbitration Commission

1. The Youth Arbitration Commission is the appealing body in membership issues and is responsible for disputes between:
   1. Full and/or Candidate Members
   2. Full or Candidate Members and organs of IYNF
   3. Organs of IYNF and NFI.
2. IYNF GA and NFI Congress are excluded from all disputes.
3. In the case of disputes between Member Organisations or organs of the NFI and IYNF, a common meeting of both Arbitration Commissions with common standing orders is to be proposed to the Arbitration Commission of the NFI.
4. Composition and election
   1. The Arbitration Commission consists of five members elected by the GA. Each Full or Candidate Member can have only one representative in the Arbitration Commission.
   2. Members of the Arbitration Commission should be persons of high moral and personal integrity. Members of the Arbitration Commission must be independent and not involved in the arbitrated issue.
   3. The GA elects separately the Chair as the fifth member of the Arbitration Commission.
5. The Arbitration Commission decides in appealing and arbitration cases.
6. Arbitration Procedure
1. The Arbitration Commission acts upon the written application of an organ or Member Organisation involved in a dispute. The application must be accompanied by the declaration of the consent with the decision of the Arbitration Commission; thus the decision becomes binding to the party of the dispute. The arbitration starts when all parties sign their consent with the decision of the Arbitration Commission in written form.
2. The Chair selects three members of the Arbitration Commission to each arbitration case taking into consideration § 28 4.b.
3. It shall be guaranteed that all of the disputing parties will have a say during the arbitration process.
4. It is possible to appeal against the Arbitration Commission’s decision to the next regular GA within three months after the pronouncing of the decision by written notice addressed to GA handed to the Secretariat.
7. Appealing procedure
   1. The Arbitration Commission decides in Appealing procedure in cases when a Member Organisation appeals to it in against the results of the Membership Review or Exclusion.
   2. The GA is represented in Appealing procedure by the Presidium.
   3. The rules of the Arbitration Procedure are used according to the Appealing Procedure.
8. The Congress decides upon the rules of arbitration and appealing.
9. The Arbitration Commission passes decisions with a simple majority of votes.

§ 29 – Secretary General

1. The Secretary General is a non-elected member of the Presidium.
2. The Secretary General leads the Secretariat. The basis of the Secretary's General responsibilities and tasks is laid in:
   1. resolutions and regulations taken by IYNF organs
   2. job contract and job description

§ 30 – Working Groups

1. The Council can establish and elect Working Groups and set the field of their work.
2. The Council sets regulations to the working methods of the Working Groups.
3. The established Working Groups support the work of the Presidium.

V. Assets and economy

§ 31 – Budget

1. The work of IYNF is financed through its Budget. This is composed of IYNF's own resources, membership fees, revenues from its own undertakings, the Youth grant of NFI, and grants and donations from institutions and individuals.
2. The Presidium proposes a yearly budget to be decided upon by the Council.

§ 32 – Annual State of Accounts
The Presidium prepares the Annual State of Accounts, subject to approval of the Council. The Annual State of Accounts is controlled by the Audit

§ 33 – Assets
Neither Members nor third parties have a claim towards the assets of IYNF or parts of it. IYNF assets cannot be limited and can only be used for purposes of the organisation.

VI. Dissolution

§ 34 – Dissolution of the Organisation

1. The organisation can only be dissolved in case GA especially convened for this purpose decides so.
2. In the case of dissolution the IYNF assets go to NFI with specific purpose of their youth work.
3. The GA convened according to 1a) reaches its quorum when more than half of the Full Members and more than half of the delegates with voting rights are present at the verification of mandates.
4. IYNF is declared dissolved, if at least three-quarters of the delegates with voting rights present and at least three-quarters of the Full Members present vote in favour of the dissolution.
5. In case of dissolution the GA must appoint a liquidator whose task is to close the organisation according to §34.2. The liquidator takes over the powers and responsibilities of IYNF organs. The work of the liquidator is controlled by the Audit of NFI.