BY-LAWS OF THE GLOBAL PARLIAMENTARIANS ON HABITAT

 

CHAPTER I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

Article 1.- The provisions of these By-laws have as objectives:

 

I. The strengthening and incorporation of parliamentarians to the Global Group, and

 

II. To establish the basis and guidelines for its organization and functioning.

 

Article 2.- The attributions and activities of the Global Parliamentarians on Habitat will be performed in coordination with the regional councils by continent and with the national groups of parliamentarians on habitat.

 

Article 3.- The name of the group will be GLOBAL PARLIAMENTARIANS ON HABITAT, hereinafter the GLOBAL GROUP.

 

Article 4.- The GLOBAL GROUP is an international and permanent organism, composed in a declarative and not limitative way by the legislators as individuals or as groups from the countries of the world, as well as by those members that have been admitted, whose activities contribute to the accomplishment of the objectives of the Group.

 

Article 5.- The objectives of the GLOBAL GROUP are:

 

I. To disseminate and promote the institutionalization of the recommendations derived from the Declaration of Principles and Commitments of the Global Forum of Parliamentarians on Habitat, as well as the ones derived from the Istanbul Declaration on Human Settlements and the Habitat II Agenda, adopted at the Second United Nations Conference on Human Settlements;

 

II. To promote the drafting, review or updating of the legal bodies that regulate and strengthen the institutional basis for the arrangement of sustainable human settlements and to encourage an adequate housing for all;

 

III. To promote public policies at a local, national, sub-regional, regional and global levels that order and promote with opportunity and effectiveness the sustainable human settlements and the access to an adequate housing for all;

 

IV. To promote the reorganization of administrative structures at all levels of government, specially at the local, provincial and county levels, to establish authorities that observe the legal enactments, and draft and apply public policies regarding sustainable human settlements and housing, promoting the participation of civil society;

 

V. To cooperate with the diverse bodies of government for them to obtain more financial resources, credits and economic and technical assistance, national and international, that support the actions and investments regarding sustainable human settlements, urban development and housing;

 

VI. To perform public consultations, forums, seminars, work shops and investigations in which will participate governmental authorities, parliamentarians, private institutions of investigation and education, and also the non governmental organizations and of social participation, with the objective of knowing and analyzing thoroughly the problems and the needs of the sustainable human settlements and housing at a national, sub-regional, regional and global levels to obtain proposals and consensus in their solution;

 

VII. To promote and negotiate before the governments and political leaders, social and managerial, international organizations, public and private institutions, non governmental organizations and other people involved, the application of the recommendations established in the Declaration of Principles and Commitments of the Global Forum of Parliamentarians on Habitat, as well as those stemming from the Istanbul Declaration on Human Settlements and the Habitat II Agenda, adopted at the Second United Nations Conference on Human Settlements, the development objectives of the United Nations Declaration of the Millennium;

 

VIII. To impulse and promote the incorporation of members to the Group, as well as its permanent operation at a national, sub-regional, regional and global levels in coordination with the regional councils by continent and the national groups of parliamentarians on habitat;

 

IX. To strengthen the national and international cooperation, as a way of national, sub-regional, regional and global integration, to promote sustainable human settlements and adequate housing for all, to contribute to the institutionalization process of laws and public policies in the field of urban planning and in the financing of infrastructure, housing, equipment and public services;

 

X. To establish networks for the exchange of information about legislative, political and institutional experiences, at a national, sub-regional, regional and global levels regarding sustainable human settlements, urban development and housing;

 

XI. To support the issues regarding human settlements, urban development and housing during its discussions at the Parliaments and other national and international forums;

 

XII. To take a leadership position to ensure and promote the political commitment of the governments and the financial support to improve the living conditions of the people, the human settlements and the sustainable development;

 

XIII. To give the highest priority to the development and improvement of the human settlements at the national development plans of the countries;

 

XIV. To promote the equal participation of women in the development process of human settlements, eliminating legal, cultural and social discriminatory barriers, and

 

XV. The ones compatible with the above cited.

 

Article 6.- The term of the GLOBAL GROUP will be indefinite.

 

Article 7.- The permanent central office of the GLOBAL GROUP will be established at the official address of the President of the Board of Directors in turn or any other appointed hereinafter. The GLOBAL GROUP may establish alternative or transitory addresses.

 

 

CHAPTER II

MEMBERS

 

Article 8.- To the effect of these By-laws, the members of the GLOBAL GROUP will be the following:

 

I. PARLIAMENTARIANS. Any legislator as individual in practice of his legislative functions;

 

II. FORMER PARLIAMENTARIAN. Any person ceased in the practice of his charge as legislator;

 

III. ASSOCIATE. Any individual or corporation, professional, academic, authority, entrepreneur or political leader who has no been a legislator, whose activity contributes to support the objectives of the GLOBAL GROUP or whose activities are important in the field of human settlements, urban development or housing, and

 

IV. GROUP. Any group of legislators that requests its incorporation, whose activities contribute to the accomplishment of the objectives of the GLOBAL GROUP.

 

Article 9.- The members of the GLOBAL GROUP will have the following rights and obligations:

 

I. To be convened to the sessions of the bodies of the GLOBAL GROUP;

 

II. To attend the sessions of the General Assembly or, in its case, to the ones appointed by the bodies of the GLOBAL GROUP;

 

III. To accomplish the principles and objectives of the GLOBAL GROUP, as well as the functions or commissions entrusted to it;

 

IV. To give notice in case of not being able to attend the sessions of the General Assembly or of any other body of the GLOBAL GROUP;

 

V. To contribute with any necessary fees to cover the expenses inherent to the activities of the GLOBAL GROUP, and

 

VI. All others established by the By-laws or approved by the General Assembly or the Board of Directors in agreement with these By-laws.

 

Article 10.- The member parliamentarians will also have the following rights and obligations:

 

I. To vote as individuals. In case of member groups one vote will be given to each group;

 

II. To be elected to hold a directive charge in the bodies of the GLOBAL GROUP and to perform it properly;

 

III. To propose issues of agreement in the different sessions of the General Assembly or of the bodies of the GLOBAL GROUP, and

 

IV. All those appointed by the By-laws or approved by the General Assembly or the Board of Directors in agreement with these By-laws.

 

Article 11.- The members, which are former parliamentarians, as associates or groups will also have the following rights and obligations:

 

I. To attend the General Assembly sessions or, in its case, the ones appointed by the bodies of the GLOBAL GROUP, having voice but without vote; with the exception of the President of the Former Parliamentarians Committee and the President of the Consulting Board, who will have voice and vote at the sessions of the Board of Directors and the General Assembly;

 

II. To cooperate with the member parliamentarians in the performance of their rights and obligations, as well as any others that are related, and

 

III. All others appointed by the By-laws or approved by the General Assembly or the Board of Directors in agreement with these By-laws.

 

 

CHAPTER III

SUSPENSIONS

 

Article 12.- A member may be suspended, when he pronounces or acts against the objectives of the GLOBAL GROUP. The suspension, previous audience with the affected member, will be declared by the Regional Council of the respective continent, previous proposal by its President of the Board of Directors or by any member of the Regional Council with right to vote.

 

Article 13.- The decision for the re-admittance of a suspended member will belong to the General Assembly of the Regional Council of the particular Continent and its President will communicate the request for re-affiliation. The General Assembly will deliver and grant its resolution within the next session after the request of re-affiliation by the suspended member, or by the President of the Board of Directors or by any member of the respective Regional Council with right to vote.

While the resolution from the General Assembly is granted, the provisional re-admittance will be in order by agreement of the President of the Board of Directors of the respective Regional Council, in this case the re-admitted member will be eligible to participate in the activities of the GLOBAL GROUP and it will only have voice but without vote while the definitive re-admittance is filled by the General Assembly of the Regional Council.

 

CHAPTER IV

ORGANIZATION

Article 14.- The bodies of the GLOBAL GROUP are:

 

I. The General Assembly;

 

II. The Board of Directors;

 

III. The Consulting Board;

 

IV. The regional councils by continent;

 

V. The permanent, transitory or special commissions;

 

VI. The Former Parliamentarians Committee;

 

VII. The Secretary General, and

 

VIII. The Technical Secretary.

 

Article 15.- The bodies of the GLOBAL GROUP may reunite outside the permanent central office by agreement of the Board of Directors, by its President or by resolution of the own bodies.

 

Article 16.- The By-laws of the bodies of the GLOBAL GROUP will be approved by the own bodies.

 

 

 

CHAPTER V

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

 

Article 17.- The General Assembly reunited as Global Forum of Parliamentarians on Habitat is the supreme body of the GLOBAL GROUP and it is composed by the total amount of registered members. Special guests or observers are allowed to attend its sessions, previously proposed by any member of the GLOBAL GROUP or by the Board of Directors, in agreement with its President.

 

Article 18.- The General Assembly will have the following functions:

 

I. To review and approve by agreements, recommendations, resolutions, or declarations according to the case, any issue or project in connection with the objectives of the GLOBAL GROUP;

 

II. To approve and modify its By-laws;

 

III. To elect or ratify the members of the Board of Directors;

 

IV. To appoint the presidents of the permanent commissions and the President of the Former Parliamentarians Committee;

 

V. To approve the fees that the members should contribute for the functioning of the GLOBAL GROUP;

 

VI. To approve the activities and financial report, as well as the working schedule and the budget for the bodies of the GLOBAL GROUP; with the exception of the budget of the regional councils by continent which they will approve;

 

VII. To ratify the incorporation of special and transitory commissions approved by the Board of Directors, and

 

VIII. All those compatible with the above cited.

Article 19.- The General Assembly will hold its regular session at least every two years in the place appointed by notice of meeting of the President of the Board of Directors or by the majority of its members.

 

Article 20.- The agenda of the meeting, the issues of agreement, recommendations, resolutions or declarations submitted to the consideration of the General Assembly should correspond to the issues of the agenda approved by the Board of Directors. The issues of agreement proposed by the members may be considered if they are received by the President of the Board of Directors in a term no less than 120 days before the regular session. The General Assembly may agree to include new issues by the vote of one half of the attending members.

 

Article 21.- In special circumstances, the Board of Directors may decide on the change of place and date of the meeting of the General Assembly or may determine not to celebrate it. In case of emergency the President of the Board of Directors may take this decision; it will be communicated to the cited Board.

 

Article 22.- For the General Assembly to validly be in session it is required to deliver the notice of meeting 60 days prior to its celebration and it will perform with the attending members.

 

Article 23.- The session of the General Assembly will be installed by the President of the Board of Directors and in his absence, by the Alternate President or by one of the vice-presidents or by whom, previous agreement with the rest of the members of the cited Board, may appoint, according to article 35 of these By-laws.

 

Article 24.- The General Assembly will appoint its Board of Directors, composed by a President, who will be the President of the Board of Directors, an Alternate President, who will be the Alternate President of the Board of Directors, five vice-presidents, who will be the presidents of the regional councils by continent, a Secretary and an Adjunct Secretary, who will be those from the Board of Directors of the GLOBAL GROUP; or in their absence, by those appointed by the General Assembly.

Each country will appoint a national counselor who will be the liaison with the General Assembly and the Board of Directors of the GLOBAL GROUP, with the regional councils by continent and with the bodies of the group.

The Board of Directors will have coordination, organization and leadership functions during the sessions of the General Assembly.

 

Article 25.- The voting for all kind of agreements, recommendations, resolutions or declarations of the General Assembly will be by simple majority, except when the By-laws are modified, in which case it is required to have the vote of three quarters of the attending members. In case of a tie the vote will be taken again for one more time, if still the outcome is a tie the President of the Board of Directors will have the deciding vote.

 

Article 26.- The voting will be held following the alphabet by country and after by member groups in the same way, or by general casting of the votes.

As record of the session a minute of the meeting will be drafted by the Secretary.

 

 

CHAPTER VI

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

Article 27.- The Board of Directors is the highest authority when the General Assembly is not in session and it is the executive body of the GLOBAL GROUP.

 

Article 28.- The Board of Directors will have the following functions:

 

I. To convene the regular and special sessions of the General Assembly;

 

II. To authorize the participation of special guests or observers to the sessions of the General Assembly, as well as in the activities of the bodies of the GLOBAL GROUP, only with the right to voice;

 

III. To draft or request the Secretary General the drafting of the working documents on the issues contained in the agendas, to be distributed in time and to serve as basis for the performance of the bodies of the GLOBAL GROUP;

 

IV. To prepare the activities and financial report, as well as the working schedule and the budget proposed by the GLOBAL GROUP for its approval by the General Assembly;

 

V. To support the efficient performance of the bodies of the group;

 

VI. To maintain a close relationship with the legislative and governmental bodies, as well as with those individuals and corporations, national and international with whom the GLOBAL GROUP is related;

 

VII. To promote the dissemination and information of the activities, works and decisions taken by the GLOBAL GROUP;

 

VIII. To rule on the amendments to the By-laws proposed by any of the member parliamentarians or by the bodies of the GLOBAL GROUP, to submit it to the decision of the General Assembly;

 

IX. To incorporate and compose the transitory and special commissions necessary for the accomplishment of the objectives of the GLOBAL GROUP and to appoint their presidents, proposing their ratification to the General Assembly, and

 

X. To appoint the Secretary General and the Technical Secretary of the GLOBAL GROUP.

 

Article 29.- The Board of Directors is composed by:

 

I. A President;

 

II. An Alternate President;

 

III. Five vice-presidents, who will be the presidents of the regional councils by continent;

 

IV. The President of the Consulting Board;

 

V. The President of the Former Parliamentarians Committee;

 

VI. The presidents of the permanent, special and transitory commissions;

 

VII. A Secretary;

 

VIII. An Adjunct Secretary;

 

IX. A Treasurer, and

 

X. An Adjunct Treasurer.

The members of the Board of Directors should belong to different countries of the world, being allowed up to three members from one country.

 

Article 30.- To validly host a session it is required the attendance of at least one third of the total amount of members, and the agreements, recommendations, resolutions or declarations will be adopted by a simple majority of the attending votes.

 

Article 31.- The substitution of the definitive vacancies in the election charges of the Board of Directors will be proposed by the corresponding national legislative body and will last the necessary time to conclude their term.

For the substitution of the President the procedure will be the one described in article 35 of these By-laws.

The vice-presidents of the Board of Directors of the GLOBAL GROUP will be substituted by any of the vice-presidents from the regional councils of the continents.

 

Article 32.- The Board of Directors will hold a regular session at least once a year, previous notice of meeting with 60 days of anticipation by its President, and in case of a special session by request of its President or by a minimum of one half of its members.

A minute of its sessions will be drafted as minute by the Secretary.

 

Article 33.- Requirements for the charge of President or Alternate President of the Board of Directors:

 

I. To be a member parliamentarian of the GLOBAL GROUP with all its rights, and

 

II. To belong to a commission of human settlements, urban development, housing or its equivalent in his country’s parliament.

The President of the Board of Directors will be elected for a 2 year period, with the possibility of being reelected in the same charge up to two consecutive times. The rest of the members may also be reelected for the same position up to two consecutive times; although in case of being elected for a different charge in the Board of Directors, they may be reelected successively.

 

Article 34.- The President of the Board of Directors will have the following functions:

 

I. To be the legal representative of the GLOBAL GROUP and, in its case, grant special instructions;

 

II. To convene and lead the works of the regular and special sessions of the General Assembly and of the Board of Directors;

 

III. To address the official communications, especially those related to the legal representation of the GLOBAL GROUP;

 

IV. To propose the activities and financial report, as well as the working program and budget for their approval by the General Assembly;

 

V. To procure the adequate application of the By-laws and of the internal regulations of the bodies of the GLOBAL GROUP;

 

VI. To execute the agreements, recommendations, resolutions or declarations of the General Assembly;

 

VII. To establish a coordination between the GLOBAL GROUP and the regional councils by continent;

 

VIII. To act as authorized spokesman to disseminate the agreements, recommendations, resolutions or declarations approved by the General Assembly and by the Board of Directors, and

 

IX. All those delegated to him by the General Assembly, the Board of Directors or established by the By-laws.

 

Article 35.- In case of absence, temporary separation, resignation, cease of the charge of parliamentarian or death of the President, his attributions will be performed by the Alternate President, in his absence, by one of the five vice-presidents of the Board of Directors, elected by simple majority among the members of the cited body; this decision will be communicated to the General Assembly.

The Alternate President of the Board of Directors, will have the functions established in article 36 of these By-laws, with the support of the President of the cited Board.

 

Article 36.- The vice-presidents of the Board of Directors will have the following functions:

 

I. To perform the legal representation of the GLOBAL GROUP;

 

II. To act as authorized spokesmen for the dissemination of the agreements, recommendations, resolutions or declarations approved by the General Assembly and by the Board of Directors;

 

III. To negotiate among the members the adequate and timely fulfillment of the agreements, recommendations, resolutions or declarations from the bodies of the GLOBAL GROUP;

 

IV. To represent the GLOBAL GROUP, in agreement with the President, the Alternate President and the rest of the members of the Board of Directors, in official presentations;

 

V. To participate at the sessions and works of the permanent, transitory or special commissions;

 

VI. To temporary substitute the President and the Alternate President of the Board of Directors during their absences and to take charge of the resolution of pending issues, according to an election among the members of the Board of Directors, and

 

VII. All those entrusted by the General Assembly, the Board of Directors or by the President of the Board of Directors.

It will be a requirement in order to be Vice-president, to be a member parliamentarian of the GLOBAL GROUP with all his rights.

 

Article 37.- The Secretary and the Adjunct Secretary of the Board of Directors will have similar functions to those referred by articles 60 and 63 of these By-laws, within the scope of attributions of the Board of Directors.

 

Article 38.- The Treasurer of the Board of Directors will have the following functions:

 

I. To administer, in agreement with the President of the Board of Directors and with the Secretary General, the financial resources of the GLOBAL GROUP, approved by the General Assembly;

 

II. To coordinate, compose and disseminate the previous budget and the financial report of the GLOBAL GROUP and perform its presentation before the Board of Directors and the General Assembly;

 

III. To follow the expenses according to the programmed budget of the GLOBAL GROUP and negotiate before the President of the Board of Directors and the Secretary General the modifications resulting during the practice of his activities;

IV. To coordinate, compose and disseminate, with the support of the Secretary General, the rules and procedures of the budget of the GLOBAL GROUP and promote its presentation before the Board of Directors and the General Assembly;

 

V. To establish in coordination with the President of the Board of Directors and with the Secretary General, the statistical regulations to follow the control of expenditures in the budget of the GLOBAL GROUP, as well as the application of rules and procedures, and

 

VI. To establish and operate, with the support of the Secretary General, a file for the surveillance and consulting of the accounting documentation.

 

Article 39.- The Adjunct Treasurer will work in coordination with the Treasurer and, in its case, will temporary substitute him.

 

 

CHAPTER VII

CONSULTING BOARD

 

Article 40.- The Consulting Board is the support and guidance body of the activities of the GLOBAL GROUP.

The Consulting Board will be composed exclusively by the former presidents and former alternate presidents of the Board of Directors, as well as those former presidents of the regional councils by continent of the GLOBAL GROUP.

The Consulting Board will have a President, five vice-presidents corresponding to each one of the continents, a Secretary and an Adjunct Secretary.

Its functioning will be established according to article 32 of these By-laws.

 

Article 41.- The Consulting Board will have the following functions:

 

I. To support the GLOBAL GROUP and its bodies, to reach their objectives and accomplish their functions;

 

II. To give advise and support to the GLOBAL GROUP and its bodies;

 

III. To perform investigations, conferences, seminars and studies related to the principles and objectives of the GLOBAL GROUP;

 

IV. To draft publications related to its works, as well as to promote and disseminate the principles and objectives of the GLOBAL GROUP;

 

V. To coordinate and exchange experiences with the regional councils by continent and with the national groups of parliamentarians on habitat, and

 

VI. All those in agreement as advisory and consulting body of the GLOBAL GROUP.

 

Article 42.- The functions of the members of the Consulting Board will be held, according to articles 34, 36, 37 and all those in connection of these By-laws.

The members of the Consulting Board will be elected for a period of two years, being able to be reelected successively.

 

 

CHAPTER VIII

REGIONAL COUNCILS BY CONTINENT

 

Article 43.- The regional councils by continent of the GLOBAL GROUP are:

 

I. Regional Council for the African Continent;

 

II. Regional Council for the American Continent;

 

III. Regional Council for the Asian Continent;

 

IV. Regional Council for the European Continent, and

 

V. Regional Council for the Oceanic Continent.

 

Article 44.- The bodies of the regional councils by continent are:

 

I. The General Assembly of Members;

 

II. The Board of Directors;

 

III. The Consulting Board;

 

IV. The permanent, transitory and special commissions;

 

V. The Former Parliamentarians Committee;

 

VI. The Secretary General, and

 

VII. The Technical Secretary.

 

Article 45.- The presidents of the board of directors of the regional councils by continent, will be the vice-presidents of the Board of Directors of the GLOBAL GROUP.

 

Article 46.- The incorporation, composition, objectives, organization and functioning of the regional councils by continent will be ruled by their respective By-laws.

 

 

CHAPTER IX

PERMANENT COMMISSIONS

 

Article 47.- The permanent commissions compose the technical specialized bodies of the GLOBAL GROUP, with undefined term of existence and will have to their charge the issues related to their own appointed name, as well as the analysis, study and judgment of the agreements, recommendations, resolutions or declarations within their attributions.

The permanent commissions will be composed by member parliamentarians that request it to the Board of Directors of the GLOBAL GROUP or to the Presidency of the corresponding Permanent Commission.

 

Article 48.- The permanent commissions of the GLOBAL GROUP will be the following:

 

I. Sustainable Human Settlements;

 

II. Urban Development;

 

III. Housing;

 

IV. Public Services, and

 

V. Metropolitan Zones.

 

Article 49.- The permanent commissions will be composed by:

 

I. A President;

 

II. Five vice-presidents, corresponding to each one of the presidents of the permanent commissions of the regional councils by continent;

 

III. A Secretary;

 

IV. An Adjunct Secretary, and

 

V. All those members of the GLOBAL GROUP invited by the commissions or that have requested their acceptance.

 

Article 50.- The meetings of the permanent commissions will be public or private when determined by the commission. They could host informative hearings, attending by their invitation, representatives of groups, advisors, experts or any person which the commissions consider able to share their knowledge or experience on the respective matter.

The permanent commissions will take their decisions by a majority of votes of the attending members. Their President will have the decisive vote in case of a tie.

As record of the sessions, a minute will be prepared by the Secretary and it will be submitted to the Board of Directors of the GLOBAL GROUP.

 

Article 51.- The permanent commissions will session at least once a year and will inform the results to the Board of Directors of the GLOBAL GROUP.

 

Article 52.- The permanent commissions will render through their respective presidents, an annual report during the regular session of the General Assembly of the GLOBAL GROUP.

 

Article 53.- The board of the permanent commissions will be elected by the General Assembly of the GLOBAL GROUP or by the President of each one of the commissions, this decision will be communicated to the Board of Directors of the GLOBAL GROUP.

The reelection of its members and the composition of its bodies is stated by articles 33 and 49 of these By-laws.

 

 

CHAPTER X

TRANSITORY AND SPECIAL COMMISSIONS

 

Article 54.- The temporary transitory and special commissions, will be incorporated by resolution of the Board of Directors when it considers appropriate to study or perform a specific duty, a President, five vice-presidents, one by each continent, one Secretary and an Adjunct Secretary will be appointed to perform such function.

For the composition and functioning of these commissions the ruling articles will be article 47, 50 to 53 and all those in connection in these By-laws.

Article 55.- The transitory and special commissions will present their periodical reports to the Board of Directors, which will evaluate it in case it considers necessary, regarding the performance of the special commission or in case it considers it appropriate to end its works, the resolution will be communicated to the respective commission.

 

 

CHAPTER XI

FORMER PARLIAMENTARIANS COMMITTEE

 

Article 56.- The Former Parliamentarians Committee will have the following functions:

 

I. To support the GLOBAL GROUP and its bodies in order to reach their objectives;

 

II. To serve as advisor and consultant at request filed by the GLOBAL GROUP or by any of its bodies;

 

III. To perform investigations, seminars and studies related to the principles and objectives of the GLOBAL GROUP;

 

IV. To publish its works, and to promote and disseminate the principles and objectives of the GLOBAL GROUP;

 

V. To exchange experiences with the former parliamentarian committees of the regional councils by continent and with the national groups of parliamentarians on habitat, and

 

VI. All those others relevant for the advice and consultation of the GLOBAL GROUP and its bodies.

 

Article 57.- The Former Parliamentarians Committee is composed by:

 

I. A President;

 

II. Five vice-presidents, corresponding to each one of the presidents of the former parliamentarians committees of the regional councils by continent;

 

III. A Secretary;

 

IV. An Adjunct Secretary;

 

V. A Treasurer, and

 

VI. An Adjunct Treasurer.

 

Article 58.- The members of the Former Parliamentarians Committee will be appointed by their President, with the exception of the vice-presidents, which will have similar requirements and functions to the ones referred in articles 33, 34, 36 to 38 and all those in agreement with these By-laws, within the attributions of the Former Parliamentarians Committee.

 

 

CHAPTER XII

SECRETARY GENERAL

 

Article 59.- The Secretary General is the administrative support body in charge to follow the agreements, recommendations, resolutions or declarations of the GLOBAL GROUP and should coordinate, in its activities with the Board of Directors. The Secretary General may be a member parliamentarian, former parliamentarian or any person distinguished in the accomplishment of the principles and commitments of the GLOBAL GROUP.

 

Article 60.- The Secretary General will have the following functions:

 

I. To support the President of the Board of Directors in the performance of his attributions, as well as the bodies and officers of the GLOBAL GROUP;

 

II. To draft the working program, the budget and the activities report, with the support of the Technical Secretary and the Treasurer of the Board of Directors, and to present it to the President of the Board of Directors;

 

III. To manage, in coordination with the President of the Board of Directors and the Treasurer, the financial resources of the GLOBAL GROUP;

 

IV. To receive and distribute among its members, in coordination with the Board of Directors, the issues of agreement, recommendations, resolutions or declarations proposed for the analysis or debate;

 

V. To prepare the issues, in coordination with the President of the Board of Directors, that will be examined during the sessions of the General Assembly and the Board of Directors;

 

VI. To advise the General Assembly, the Board of Directors and the bodies of the GLOBAL GROUP in the preparation of their agenda, and in the drafting of the working documents of the issues to be discussed;

 

VII. To draft the minutes of the General Assembly and to register them at the corresponding minutes book, previous authorization of the Board of Directors;

 

VIII. To follow, in coordination with the Board of Directors, the agreements, recommendations, resolutions or declarations from the bodies of the GLOBAL GROUP, and

 

IX. All those in agreement as coordination and support body for the administration, advise and consultation of the GLOBAL GROUP.

 

Article 61.- The Secretary General will dispatch at the permanent office of the GLOBAL GROUP and in its case, at the place determined by the President of the Board of Directors.

The Secretary General will be elected by the Board of Directors by proposal of its President for a period of two years with the possibility of being reelected successively.

The election of the Secretary-General will take effect during the World Forum under way, with the result known by the end of the event, with the approval of the Board for the issuance of their appointment.

 

 

CHAPTER XIII

TECHNICAL SECRETARY

 

Article 62.- The Technical Secretary is the technical support body of the GLOBAL GROUP.

The Technical Secretary may be a parliamentarian, former parliamentarian or person distinguished in the accomplishment of the principles and objectives of the GLOBAL GROUP.

 

Article 63.- The Technical Secretary will have the following functions:

 

I. To technically support the President of the Board of Directors in the accomplishment of his attributions, as well as the rest of the bodies and officers of the GLOBAL GROUP;

 

II. To deliver the documentation for the celebration of the regular and special sessions;

 

III. To verify the accreditation of special guests and observers that participate at the sessions of the General Assembly;

 

IV. To timely disseminate, in coordination with the Board of Directors and the Secretary General, the agreements, recommendations, resolutions or declarations adopted by the bodies of the GLOBAL GROUP and to promote their dissemination among its members;

 

V. To hold a Registry of the members of the GLOBAL GROUP;

 

VI. To hold the files of the GLOBAL GROUP;

 

VII. To assist the Secretary General and the Treasurer of the GLOBAL GROUP in the performance of their attributions;

 

VIII. To register the attendance of the members of the General Assembly of the GLOBAL GROUP, and

 

IX. All those appointed by the Board of Directors or provided by these By-laws.

 

Article 64.- In case of temporary absence of the Secretary General, the Technical Secretary will undertake his functions.

The Technical Secretary will be elected by the Board of Directors by proposal of its President for a period of two years, being able to be reelected successively.

 

 

TRANSITORY

 

First.- To cease the effects of the By-laws of the Global Parliamentarians on Habitat adopted at the Global Parliamentarians on Habitat Conference on Human Settlements and Development held in Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico, on January 30th, 1998.

 

Second.- These By-laws will be in force from the date of their approval by the General Assembly reunited as Global Forum of Parliamentarians on Habitat.

 

Third.- The Consulting Board referred by articles 40 to 42 of these By-laws, will be progressively incorporated as the former presidents and alternate presidents of the Board of Directors, as well as the presidents of the regional councils compose it.

In the beginning the Consulting Board will be represented by the first former President of the Board of Directors of the GLOBAL GROUP.

These By-laws are approved by the General Assembly of the Global Parliamentarians on Habitat, in the African Continent in 2005.