Draft Constitution of the African Civil Society Organisation (ACSO)

PREAMBLE

African Civil Society Organisations adhering to the present constitution,

• Expressing their commitment:

• To the Sirte Declaration on the creation of an African union,
• To the African Charter on Human and People's Rights,
• To Resolution CM 1352 of June 1991 on the creation of National OAU Associations,

• Considering the urgent need to promote a supported and coordinated non-governmental participation to the efforts of the economic, political, cultural and social integration of the African continent by local institutions and communities,

• Determined to contribute statutorily to the hatching of a new Panafrican ideal which should be the regenerating and inspiring breath of African inter-state institutions,

• Particularly determined to promote an outstanding contribution of the African Civil Society in the edification of the United States of Africa (USAF),

• Faithful to Mother Africa, to the spirit of her strong unity and to her dynamic traditions,

• Confident of a prosperous and bright future for this continent,

Decide as follows:

Title I: Creation and name

Article 1. There is created in Africa an Organisation of the African Civil Society (in French

Organisation de la Société Civile Africaine, OSCA) abbreviated ACSO.

Article 2. a) ACSO is a continental confederation of federations of the African Civil Society.

b) Its duration is unlimited.

Article 3. The headquarters of ACSO is in …………..(town, country)………. It can be transferred

to any other place in Africa following a decision of an extraordinary General Assembly.

Title II. Objectives

Article 4. ACSO has as objectives to:

1. Orientate, harmonise and coordinate the activities of member federations.
2. Conduct the putting in place of common programs for its members.
3. Promote and animate the emergence of a united African people working efficiently for the political, economic, social and cultural integration of the continent.
4. Promote and reinforce solidarity and fraternity among Africans on the continent and in the diaspora.

1. The establishment and execution of a common program of action for member federations.
2. Participation in actions initiated by the OAU or, in a similar situation, the United States of Africa (or whatever the case may be) aimed at fostering the political, economic, social and cultural integration of African States.
3. The promotion and permanent animation of an efficient partnership between the OAU or, if the case may be, the United States of Africa (or whatever the case may be), Africa non-governmental and socio-economic organisations.
4. Participation in all actions geared towards reinforcing the solidarity and fraternity between Africans on the continent and those in the diaspora.
5. Direct contribution to efforts aimed at relieving the multiple ills plaguing Africa such as: conflicts and wars, illiteracy, hunger, diseases, poverty, environmental degradation, etc.

Title III. Membership

Article 6.

1. Full members:

Any federative continental association from the civil society, represented in 36 (2/3) African countries that requests membership, pays its membership dues and contribution indicated in the Internal Rules and Regulations, can become a full member.

   b. Associate members

Any Panafrican Association bringing together Africans in the diaspora and non-African friends of Africa, that requests membership and fulfils the conditions indicated to this effect, in the Internal Rules and Regulations can become an associate member of ACSO. Associate members contribute to the realisation of the ideals of ACSO.

   c. Honorary members

Honorary members are physical or moral personalities proposed by the Executive Bureau and accepted by the General Assembly, by virtue of the resources, moral, intellectual, material, financial and others, that they contribute to the activities of ACSO or to the general pursuit of the ideals of the OAU and, as the case may be, the United States of Africa.

Title IV. Organisation

Article 7. As a confederative body of federations already existing at the continental level, ACSO is made up of the following structural organs: the General Assembly, the Executive Bureau, Regional Representatives, Resident Representatives and the Diaspora Branch.

Article 8. The General Assembly

1. The General Assembly is the supreme organ of ACSO. It is made up of:

1. all the members of the Executive Bureau;
2. a continental representative of each member Federation;
3. regional and resident representatives of the Confederation
4. regional representatives of member organisations
5. representatives of Associate Members
6. representatives of the Diaspora Branch.

2. The General Assembly meets once in two years in ordinary session, on the convocation of the Delegate General. It meets in extraordinary session on the convocation of the Delegate General or on written request of 2/3 of full members.
3. The General Assembly elects the Executive Bureau, defines and orientates the activities of ACSO.
4. Election modalities of the General Assembly are democratic. Details of election procedures are indicated in the Internal Rules and Regulations. In any case, any full member has a right to vote.
5. Representatives of Associate Members participate in the General Assembly session but do not take part in elections.

Article 9. The Executive Bureau

1. ACSO is run by an Executive Bureau of 11 (eleven) members made up of:

• A Delegate General
• A Vice Delegate General
• A Secretary General
• A Vice Secretary General
• A General Treasurer
• Five Regional Representatives
• A Representative of the Diaspora Branch.

• Members of the Executive Bureau are elected for a 5 (five) year mandate renewable (once for the Delegate General).

Members of the Executive Bureau offer full time services to the Confederation

Article 10. a) The Delegate General represents the Confederation in Civil life and before the law. He runs the Confederation. He gives account to the General Assembly of the state of the African Civil Society. In case of unavailability, he is substituted in his functions and prerogatives by the Vice Delegate General.

b) The Vice Delegate General assists the Delegate General in his functions at the head of the

confederation.

c) The Secretary General is responsible for all the secretarial duties and archives of the

Confederation.

• The General treasurer is responsible for the assets of the Confederation.
• The attributions of the other members are presented in the Internal Rules and Regulations.

Article 11. Regional Representatives

Regional Representatives are the coordinators of ACSO activities in their respective regions (West Africa, North Africa, East Africa, Central Africa and Southern Africa).

Article 12. Resident Representatives

National member organisations of ACSO elect a Resident Representatives. He can be assisted by one or two assistants.

b) A quorum is not required on the second convocation of the same session.

c) Representatives of Associate members can participate in the sessions of the Executive Bureau as

observers.

Title V. Resources

Article 14. The resources of ACSO come:

Article 15. ACSO will open at least one bank account. Bank withdrawals will be done with the joint signatures of the Delegate General and the General treasurer.

Article 16. The resources of the organisation will be used to support common programmes of members on the one hand and members themselves on the other.

Title VI. Miscellaneous dispositions

Article 17. Notwithstanding the dispositions of article 6, section a, founding member organisations of ACSO, as well as these who shall have adhered to ACSO before the year 2002, have three years from the day of the Constitutive Assembly, to fulfil the obligation of representation in at least 2/3 of African countries.

Article 18. The Internal Rules and Regulations can be modified by the ordinary or extraordinary Assembly on condition that the propositions for modification are transmitted to members at least 2 (two) months in advance.

Article 19. Dispositions on disciplinary actions are indicated in the Internal Rules and Regulations.

Article 20. The interpretation of this constitution lies within the competence of the General Assembly and, in between two General Assemblies, that of the Executive Bureau.

Article 21. This Constitution can only be modified by the General Assembly with a 2/3 majority of full members. Propositions for modification have to be transmitted to full members at least 3 (three) months before the General Assembly session.

Article 22. a) Notwithstanding the dispositions of articles 2, section b, ACSO can be dissolved by a vote of an extraordinary Assembly having this as the sole point on the agenda. The proposition of dissolution should have been transmitted to full and associate members at least 12 (twelve) months before the holding of the said General Assembly.

b) In the case of dissolution, the funds and assets of the Organisation are handed over to the OAU or, as the case may be, the United States of Africa, after liquidation of all its eventual debts.

Done in ........on ..... 2000.