By-Laws of the CoNGO Committee on Sustainable Development

 

The purpose of the NGO Committee on Sustainable Development is monitor the implementation of commitments included in the Agenda 21 and other agreements adopted at United Nations meetings that pertain to sustainable development as defined by the UN Conference on Environment and Development (the Earth Summit):

 

*Develop proposals and recommend strategies for effective participation of national and local governments, partners in civil society and individuals in maintaining sustainable human communities, protecting living plants and animals, and promoting sustainable use of natural resources;

 

*Be knowledgeable about sustainable development issues under discussion or expected to be discussed by United Nations organizations;

 

*Focus attention and promote the programs of the United Nations Commission for Sustainable Development, the UN Environment Programme, the Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat) and all other relevant Commissions and other bodies;

 

*Promote and facilitate the exchange of knowledge and the dissemination of information on these issues within the NGO community and to the general public.

 

Membership

 

1. Regular Membership: Membership in the Committee is open to Non-Governmental Organizations in consultative status with ECOSOC. These members shall be eligible to vote and hold office.

 

2. Associate Membership: Any NGO having a formal relationship with the United Nations may become an Associate Member. Such members will not en entitled to hold office or vote on matters of policy.

 

3. An organization may become a member by submitting an application to a Chairperson or Secretary.

 

Officers

 

1. The officers of the NGO Committee on Sustainable Development shall be: two Co-Chairpersons; Secretary; and Treasurer. Such officers shall be elected for a term of two years, and no person shall be elected to the same office for more than two consecutive terms.

 

2. No member organization may hold more than one office. For purposes of this paragraph, the ‘office’ includes member-at-large of the Executive Committee.

 

 

 

Executive Committee

 

1. The officers with up to four elected members-at-large shall serve as the Executive Committee. Members at large shall serve for a term of two years. No person shall be elected for more than two consecutive terms.

 

2. Members-at-large may be regular or associate members of the committee.

 

3. The responsibility of the Executive Committee shall be to carry on the business of the Committee between meetings. The members of the Committee shall be kept informed of the activities of the Executive Committee through a report from the Chairpersons at each regular meeting of the Committee.

 

Subcommittees

1.The Committee may establish Subcommittees or Working Groups as needed; the chairpersons, in consultation with the Executive Committee, shall appoint a member of the Committee to serve as Chairperson of each Subcommittee. The Chairperson of a Subcommittee will be a member, ex officio, of the Executive Committee.

 

Duties of Officers

 

1. The Chairpersons shall convene and preside over meetings, promote the general effectiveness of the Committee, and maintain communication with other NGO Committee, and with representatives of the UN system. The Chairpersons shall represent the Committee when required.

 

2. Each Co-Chairperson shall act on behalf of the other Chairperson as appropriate.

 

3. The Secretary shall keep minutes of the meetings of the Committee, a record of the membership, and a record of attendance at meetings. The Secretary shall arrange for distribution of the minutes in advance of the meeting at which they will be approved.

 

4. The Treasurer shall receive and disburse funds as determined by the Executive Committee and shall be responsible for the maintenance of accounts.

 

Elections

 

1. A Nominating Committee shall be appointed by the Chairpersons, in consultation with the other officers, not less than two months prior to the election at the Annual Meeting. The report of the Nominating Committee shall be circulated in writing to all regular members of the NGO Committee at least three weeks prior to the meeting at which the election is to take place. The Nominating Committee shall not nominate representatives of organizations represented by members of the Nominating Committee.

 

2. The election of officers and members of the Executive Committee shall take place at an Annual Meeting each year. Elected officers shall take office immediately.

3. Election of officers and procedural matters shall be decided by the vote of the majority of member organizations voting.

 

4. A ballot by mail may be taken in the event that a meeting of the Committee is not possible in the absence of a quorum.

 

Meetings

 

1.The Committee shall meet periodically, at least four times a year. The Committee shall hold an Annual Meeting during the month of October.

 

2. A quorum shall consist of representatives of at least ten of the regular member organizations, whichever is fewer.

 

3. Recommendations of statements of position to be submitted to ECOSOC or any of its subsidiary bodies may not be made in the name of the Committee. Joint statements by the member organizations may be submitted over the names of those organizations who wish to become signatories to the statement.

 

 

Amendments

Proposed amendments to these Bylaws shall be submitted to the Chairpersons in time for consideration by the Executive Committee and for written circulation to each member 

Organization not less than ten days prior to the date of the proposed adoption. An amendment shall be adopted only after discussion in a plenary meeting of the Committee and upon the affirmative vote of two-thirds of those representatives of member organizations present and voting.