IFRC (Uluslararası Federasyon) Statüsü (2024)

PREAMBLE

SECTION I

IFRC

Article1

Membership organisation

Article2

Legalpersonality

Article3

Headquarters

Article4

General object

Article5

Functions

SECTION II

NATIONALSOCIETIES

Article6

Membersofthe IFRC

Article7

Admission

Article8

RightsanddutiesofNationalSocieties

Article9

Cessationof membership

Integrity,ComplianceandSanctions

Article 10

Integrityand compliance

Article10A Article 11

Sanctions

Restrictionofmembership rights

Article 12

Suspension

Article 13

Expulsion

SECTION III

ORGANS OF THEIFRC

Article 14

Organs

GeneralAssembly

Article 15

Definition

Article 16

Composition

Article 17

Functions

Article 18

SessionsoftheGeneralAssembly

Article 19

Quorum

Article 20

Voting

GoverningBoard

Article 21

Definition

Article 22

Composition

Article 23

Functions

Article 24

Procedure

President

Article 25

PresidentoftheIFRC

Vice-Presidents

Article 26

Vice-PresidentsoftheIFRC

SecretaryGeneral

Article 27

SecretaryGeneraloftheIFRC

SECTION IV

CONSTITUTIONALCOMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES OF THE IFRC

Article 28

ConstitutionalCommissionsand Committees

Article 29

FinanceCommission

Article 30

Audit and Risk Commission

Article 31

Youth Commission

Article 32

ComplianceandMediation Committee

Article 33

Election Committee

SECTION V

ELECTIONS ANDAPPOINTMENTS

Article 34

Election of the President, the Vice-Presidents,theNationalSocietymembersof the Governing Board, and the election or appointment of the Chairs and the members of the Commissions and Committees

SECTION VI

FINANCEOFTHEIFRC

Article 35

Financesand property

Article 36

Financialcontributions

Article 37

Budget

Article 38

Audit

SECTION VII

CO-OPERATION

Article 39

RegionalConferences

Article40

Co-operationwiththe ICRC

Article 41

Co-operationwithotherinternational organisations

Article 42

Observers

SECTIONVIII

FINALPROVISIONS

Article 43

Regulations

Article 44

Special provisions

Article 45

Dissolution

Article 46

Interpretationoftexts

Article 47

Amendmentsto the Constitution

Article 48

Entry intoforce

Article 49

Transitional provisions

Characterof the organisation

1

SECTIONI IFRC

Article 1Membership organisation

TheInternationalFederationofRedCrossandRedCrescentSocieties (the “IFRC”) is a membership organisation established by and comprised of the National Societies.

Statusinthe Movement

2

TheIFRCisacomponentoftheInternationalRedCrossandRed Crescent Movement (the “Movement”).

Legal personality

Article 2Legalpersonality

TheIFRCactsunderitsownConstitutionwithalltherightsand obligations of a corporate body with legal personality.

Headquarters

Article 3Headquarters

Unless otherwise decided by the General Assembly of the IFRC (the “General Assembly”) in accordance with Articles 19 and 20, the headquarters of the IFRC is in Geneva, Switzerland.

General object

Article 4Generalobject

Thegeneralobjectofthe IFRCistoinspire,encourage,facilitate,and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by National Societies with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering and thereby contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world.

Functions

1

Article 5Functions

To achieve the general object as defined in Article 4, in conformity with the Fundamental Principles ofthe Movement as contained in the Statutes of the Movement (the “Fundamental Principles”) and in the contextoftheStatutesoftheMovementandtheresolutionsofthe

International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (the “International Conference”), the functions of the IFRC shall be the following:

A.ServicestoNationalSocieties:

a)actasthepermanentbodyofliaison,co-ordinationandstudy among the National Societies and to give them assistance;

b) encourage and promote in every country the establishment and development of an independent, sustainable and duly recognised National Society with a strong local capacity to address vulnerability;

c) assist the National Societies in risk reduction, indisaster preparedness,intheorganisationoftheirreliefactionsandinrelief operations themselves;

d)encourageandco-ordinatetheparticipationoftheNationalSocieties in activities for safeguarding public health and the promotion of social welfare and a culture of non-violence and peace in co­operation with their appropriate national authorities;

e)encourageandco-ordinatebetweenNationalSocietiestheexchange of ideas for the education of children and young people in humanitarian ideals and for the development of friendly relations between children and young people of all countries, and to share good practices for the participation of youth in volunteer services and decision-making processes;

f) assist National Societies to recruit, protect, empower and retain volunteers and members from the population as a whole and to promote awareness and understanding of the Fundamental Principles and ideals of the Movement to them and to the general public; and

g) be the official representative of the National Societies in the international field, among others for dealing with any matters in connection with decisions and recommendations by the General Assembly,andtobetheguardianoftheirintegrityandtheprotector of their interests;

B.Humanitarian activities:

a)bringreliefbyallavailablemeanstoalldisaster-affectedpersons;

b) organise, co-ordinate and direct international relief actions in accordance with the “Principles and Rules for Red Cross and Red CrescentDisasterRelief”adoptedbytheInternationalConference; and

c)bringrelieftovictimsofarmedconflictsandinternalstrife,toassist inthepromotionandthedevelopmentofinternationalhumanitarian lawandtodisseminatethislawandtheFundamentalPrinciples,in accordancewith theagreementsconcluded with othercomponents of the Movement.

2

TheIFRCshallinadditioncarryoutanyotherfunctionsvalidlygiven to it by the General Assembly.

3

TheIFRCshallcarryoutthemandatesentrustedtoitbythe International Conference.

4

In each country the IFRC shall act through or in agreement with the National Society and in conformity with the laws of that country.

Statutory Regions withinthe IFRC

5

There are four statutory regions within the IFRC as specified in theRules of Procedure (the “Statutory Regions”).

SECTION II NATIONALSOCIETIES

Article 6MembersoftheIFRC

Themembershipofthe IFRCshallincludeallNationalSocietiesduly admitted as members as per Article 7 (the “National Societies”), on which the strength of the IFRC and its ability to achieve its general object depends.

Article 7Admission

Admission

1

ANationalSocietybecomesamemberoftheIFRCwhenitisadmitted to the IFRC in accordance with this Constitution and the Rules of Procedure.

Conditionsfor Admission

2

InordertobeeligibleforadmissiontotheIFRC,theapplicantNational Society must:

a) berecognisedbytheInternationalCommitteeoftheRedCross (the“ICRC”)inaccordancewiththeconditionsforrecognition of National Societies set out in the Statutes of the Movement;

b) undertake to respect the provisions of the Constitution and all other statutory texts and decisions of the General Assembly;

c) commit to pay its annual financial contribution to the IFRC in accordance with Article 36.2; and

d) applytothePresidentoftheIFRC(the“President”)intheform and manner set out in the Rules of Procedure

(togetherthe“ConditionsforAdmission”).

Decisionof admission

Provisional admission

3

4

The admission of a National Society is subject to a decision by the General Assembly in accordance with Article 20, whereupon it shall become a member of the IFRC.

Any applicant National Society may be admitted provisionally by the Governing Board until the General Assembly takes a decision. The GoverningBoardshallpresenttheapplicationtotheGeneralAssembly at its first session following the decision of the Governing Board. A National Society admitted provisionally may take part in the work of the IFRC but has no voting right and cannot be elected to any official position in the IFRC.

1

Article8

RightsanddutiesofNationalSocieties

InordertoensurethattheIFRCisabletofulfilthefunctionssetforit, andtoguaranteetheequalrightsofitsmembership,NationalSocieties have the following rights and duties:

Rights

A. Rights:

a)NationalSocieties shall have the right to be represented at and to participate in the work of the General Assembly, with the right to vote;

b)NationalSocietiesmaystandforelectionandnominatecandidates, to all official bodies, commissions and committees of the IFRC;

c)NationalSocietiesmaycalluponandreceivefromtheIFRCanyof theservicesandinformationwhichtheIFRChasthepowerandthe ability to provide, in conformity with its general object, functions, resources, and legal obligations;

d)NationalSocietiesmaysubmit,ontheirowninitiative,intheirname orinthatofagroupofNationalSocieties,proposalstotheGeneral Assemblyandtootherbodies,commissionsandcommitteesofthe IFRC; and

e) National Societies may call upon sister National Societies for supportinaccordancewiththeapplicablerulesofco-ordinationand co-operation.

Duties

B. Duties:

a)National Societies agree to act at all times in accordance with the Fundamental Principles and the general object of the IFRC;

b) National Societies agree to work diligently in pursuit of their humanitarian objectives as set out in the Statutes of the International Movement, including minimising the impacts of disaster and disease; strengthening local capacity to address vulnerability; promoting respect for diversity and human dignity; and alleviating the suffering resulting from armed conflict and internal strife;

c)NationalSocietiesagreetoabidebythepolicies,decisionsandrules adopted by the Council of Delegates and the International Conference;

d)NationalSocieties,followingtheprincipleofUnity,agreetorespect the territorial integrity and independence of one another;

e)NationalSocietiesagreetoprovidethenecessarysupporttothe IFRC in the pursuit of its general object and functions;

f) National Societies agree to follow the rules, and comply with the duties and obligations, set out in this Constitution and all other statutory texts of the IFRC, to apply the decisions adopted by the GeneralAssemblyandbytheGoverningBoard,aswellastoadhere to the Statutes and Rules of Procedure of the Movement and to ensurethattheserequirementsareclearlyspecifiedintheirStatutes;

g) National Societies recognize the necessity of ensuring their collective integrity, and agree to co-operate fully with the Compliance and Mediation Committee as well as to take the necessary steps to ensure adherence to the applicable integrity policiesadoptedbythe GeneralAssemblyandanyother standards of integrity required of them, and to comply with the recommendations of the Compliance and Mediation Committee, and the decisions of the President and Vice-Presidents, the GoverningBoard,andtheGeneralAssemblyrelatingtoallegations of a Breach of Integrity;

h)NationalSocietiesagreetoremitonthedatesetoutintheFinancial Regulations an annual financial contribution to the IFRC of the amount approved by the Governing Board calculated using the formula approved by the General Assembly;

i) National Societies agree to contribute to the IFRC-wide reporting and performance management systems, once such a system has been adopted by the General Assembly, and to provide the IFRC with annual reports and audited financial statements;

j)NationalSocietiesagreetoupdatetheirStatuteswherenecessaryto follow any relevant guidance on National Society statutes adopted bytheGoverningBoardortheGeneralAssembly,informtheIFRC, through the Secretary General, of any proposed amendments to their Statutes and of the composition of their main governing and managing bodies; and

(k)NationalSocietiesendeavourtoworkwiththegovernmentoftheir country tostrengthen their legal basein domestic law in accordance with Movement standards,so as to strengthen their auxiliary role in the humanitarian field and to formalize the commitment of national authorities to respect the duty and ability of National Societies to abide by the Fundamental Principles, in particular the principle of Independence.

2

National Societies shall enjoy all the rights granted to them and shall comply with all the duties stipulated in this Constitution.

3

None of the provisions of this Constitution shall limit in any way the NationalSocieties’mandateassetoutintheStatutesoftheMovement

Article 9Cessationofmembership

Dissolution

1

A National Society shallcease to be a member of the IFRC when it is dissolvedandinthecircumstancessetoutinparagraphs2and3below.

Withdrawal

2

Any National Society may withdraw from the IFRC provided it gives the President six months’ written notice of withdrawal.

Expulsion

3

ANationalSocietymaybeexpelledfromthe IFRCbydecisionofthe General Assembly in accordance with Article 13.

Integrity,Complianceand Sanctions

Article 10Integrity and compliance

Standardsof integrity

1

National Societies shall comply with, applicable integrity policies adoptedbytheGeneralAssembly,andthedutiesofNationalSocieties assetoutinthisConstitution.NationalSocietiesshallalsocontinueto fulfil the Conditions for Admission.

Breachesof Integrity

2

Any failure to comply with the policies or duties referred to in paragraph1aboveortofulfilanyoftheConditionsforAdmissionwill beconsideredabreachofintegrity(the“BreachofIntegrity”)andshall bereferredtotheCompliance andMediationCommittee,assetoutin Article 32.

Article10A Sanctions

Breachof Integrity

1

Subject to Article 24, the Governing Board may apply any or a combination of the following sanctions towards a National Society if the National Society is considered by the Governing Board to have committed a Breach of Integrity:

a)recommendaparticularactiontooneormoreNational Societies;

b)render the breach public or make an appeal to the conscience of the world;

c)  terminateanyIFRCsupporttotheNationalSociety;

d)issueawritten warning;

e)  restrictmembership rightsas setout inArticle 11;

f)   suspendorwithdrawacapacityassessmentcertificateissuedto a National Society by the Governing Board;

g)suspend theNationalSociety asset outin Article12;

h)takeanyothermeasureit deems appropriate;

i)    as a last resort, recommend to the General Assembly that the National Society be expelled subject to Article 13.

TheGoverningBoardshallexaminetherecommendationofaPanelof the Compliance and Mediation Committee prior to its application of any of the above sanctions except where membership rights are restricted in the circumstances set out in Articles 11.4 and 11.5.

Measures relating to any individual who holdsaNational Society Leadership Position

2

The following sanctions (or a combination thereof) may be applied if any individual who holds a governance or senior management office within a National Society (“National Society Leadership Position”) fails to step aside from office following a recommendation of the Compliance and Mediation Committee to the respective National Society in accordance with Article 32 and the Rules of Procedure –

Procedure

Grounds for restrictionof membership rights

Consequencesof restriction of membership rights

3

1

2

a) the President and Vice-Presidents may take a decision, which is issued to the National Society, requiring the individual or individuals concerned to step aside from office, and

b) if the individual or individuals have not stepped aside after a decision issued under sub-paragraph (a), the National Society willbeconsideredtohavecommittedaBreachofIntegrityand the Governing Board may apply towards the National Society any sanction listed in, and in accordance with, paragraph 1 (including its suspension).

Upon the recommendation of the Compliance and Mediation Committee,theindividualorindividualsconcerned shallbeconsidered tohavesteppedasidefromanyofficeheldonappointmentorelection withintheIFRCuntilatleasttheinvestigationhasbeenconcludedand the reasons for the recommendation to step aside no longer apply.

The procedures in relation to sanctions may be set out in the Rules of Procedure.

Article 11Restrictionofmembershiprights

InadditiontothesanctionslistedinArticle10A,theGoverningBoard may, after examining the recommendation of a Panel of the Compliance and Mediation Committee, or in the circumstances specified in paragraphs 4 and 5, the recommendation of the Finance Commission,andinaccordancewiththeRulesofProcedure,decideto restrict a National Society’s membership rights where –

a) aNationalSocietyfailstopayitsannualfinancialcontribution in the circumstances specified in paragraph 4;

b) aNationalSocietyfailstoprovideauditedfinancialstatements or accounts in the circumstances specified in paragraph 5;

c) ongoinginvestigationsarebeingconductedbytheCompliance and Mediation Committee;

d) a National Society is considered by the Governing Board to have committed a Breach of Integrity in the circumstances specified in Articles 10.2 and 10A.

Subject to paragraphs 4 and 5, a decision by the Governing Board to restrict a National Society’s membership rights may entail the restriction or suspension of a National Society’s right to –

a) run for any governance position or nominate an individual for any governance position in the Organs or Constitutional Commissions and Committees of the IFRC (the “Statutory Bodies”) or in the advisory bodies of the IFRC;

b)   continuetoholdanygovernancepositionintheStatutory Bodies or in the advisory bodies of the IFRC;

c) voteattheGeneralAssembly.

3

Anindividualholdinganyofficeonappointmentorelectionwithinthe IFRC which emanates from a National Society whose membership rights have been restricted in the manner set out in paragraph 2(b) shall, depending on the decision of the Governing Board, be considered to have stepped aside forthe duration ofthe restriction. In such cases, neither the individual nor any other individual representative of the National Society will be permitted to participate in any meetings or vote in respect of any decisions relating to such office.

Failure to pay annualfinancial contribution, arrears and financialdefault

4

WhereaNationalSocietyfailstopayitsannualfinancialcontribution in accordance with Article 36 and the Rules of Procedure and –

a) has been declared by the Governing Board to be in financial default; and/or

b) is in arrears or in technical default (and has not been granted reliefbytheGoverningBoardfromtheconsequencesofbeing in arrears, or agreed and adhered to appropriate arrangements withtheFinanceCommission, inaccordancewithArticle36);

the National Society’s membership rights shall be restricted, by a decision of the Governing Board, in the manner set out in paragraphs 2(a), (b) and (c).

Failure to submitannual reports or financial statements

5

Where,inaccordancewiththeRulesofProcedure,aNationalSociety fails to provide its annual reports and audited financial statements to the IFRC for three consecutive years without a justified reason, the NationalSociety’smembershiprightsshallberestricted,byadecision of the Governing Board, in the manner set out in paragraphs 2(a) and (b).

Warning

6

TheGoverningBoard,orinthecircumstancesset outinparagraphs4 and 5, the Finance Commission, may issue a written warning prior to the restriction of any membership rights.

Restorationof rights

7

The Governing Board may revoke the restriction of membership rightsimposedonaNationalSocietywhenthereasonsforrestriction

no longer apply.

Suspension

1

Article 12Suspension

TheGoverningBoard,afterexaminingtherecommendationofaPanel formed by the Compliance and Mediation Committee and in accordance with the Rules of Procedure, may decide to suspend a National Society from membership status in the IFRC in the circumstances specified in Articles 10.2 and 10A.

Breachof Integrity

2

In accordance with Article 10A.1, a National Society may be suspended if it is considered by the Governing Board to have committed a Breach of Integrity, including, without limitation:

a)if it ceases to fulfil the Conditions for Admission provided for in this Constitution, in particular if, because of modification, its Statutes are no longer in conformity with the Fundamental Principles;

b)iftheNationalSocietyonitsowninitiativeorunderpressurefrom thegovernmentofitscountrycontravenesanyof theFundamental Principles;

c)if the National Society uses its connection with the IFRC for a purpose which is not in conformity with any of the Fundamental Principles;

d)if the National Society acts contrary to the general object of the IFRC and persistently refuses to comply with its duties under the Constitution.

Consequencesof suspension

3

A suspended National Society shall immediately lose its rights as amember.

4

Anindividualholdinganyofficeonappointmentorelectionwithinthe IFRC which emanates from the suspended National Society shall be considered to have stepped down.

5

Any vacancy created by the suspension of a National Society shall be filled by the competent body, committee or commission according to the procedures for appointment or election to such office at its next session.

Reinstatement

6

The Governing Board may revoke the suspension of a suspended NationalSocietywhenthereasonsforsuspensionnolongerapplyand in accordance with the Rules of Procedure.

Appeal

7

A National Society may appeal against the decision in favour of its suspension to the General Assembly. The suspension shall remain valid,however,unless anduntiloverturnedbythe GeneralAssembly.

Expulsion

1

Article13Expulsion

WhentheGoverningBoarddeterminesthatthecontinuedmembership ofaNationalSocietyisagraverisktotheIFRCoritsmembership,the Governing Board may recommend to the General Assembly, as a last resort,expulsionofthatSocietybyadecisionoftheGeneralAssembly inaccordancewithArticle20inthecircumstancessetoutinArticles

10.2and 10A.

Consequencesof expulsion

2

An expelled National Society shall remain liable forall obligations to the IFRC or its membership incurred prior to expulsion.

3

AnexpelledNationalSocietyshallimmediatelyloseitsrightsasa member.

4

Anindividualholdinganyofficeonappointmentorelectionwithinthe IFRC which emanates from the expelled National Society shall be considered to have stepped down.

Readmission

5

ANationalSocietywhichhasbeenexpelledcanreapplytotheGeneral Assemblyforadmissiononcethereasonsforexpulsionnolongerapply and in accordance with the Rules of Procedure.

SECTION III ORGANSOFTHEIFRC

Organs

1

Article 14

 Organs

TheOrgansofthe IFRC,are–

- thosebodieswith governancefunctions,which are:

§ TheGeneralAssembly;

§ TheGoverningBoard;

§ ThePresident; and

- thebodywith executive functions,which is:

§ TheSecretaryGeneral (together the “Organs”).

Standardsof integrityand Breach of Integrity

2

Organs shall comply with applicable integrity policies adopted by the General Assembly. Any failure to comply with such policies will be considered a Breach of Integrity and shall be referred to the Compliance and Mediation Committee.

Procedures

3

TheproceduresoftheOrgansshallbelaiddownintheRulesof Procedure.

GeneralAssembly

Article15Definition

SubjecttotheConstitution,theGeneralAssemblyshallbethesupreme governing body of the IFRC.

Article 16Composition

TheGeneralAssemblyshallbecomposedoftheNational Societies.

1

Article17Functions

TheGeneralAssemblyshall,amongothers,exercisethefollowing functions:

Vision,strategy, policy

a)determinethevisionandstrategyoftheIFRC,andthegeneral policies that govern, the IFRC and the National Societies;

Admission/ Sanctions

b) takedecisionson–

(i) the admission of National Societies and expulsion as set out in Articles 7 and 13 respectively; and

(ii) the application ofany particular action or measure that it deems appropriate towards the Governing Board in caseofaBreachofIntegrityunderArticle14furtherto the examination of the recommendation of a Panel of the Compliance and Mediation Committee;

Election-President

c)electthePresidentof theIFRC;

Election-

Vice-Presidents

d)electthosefourNationalSocieties,onefromeachStatutoryRegion, whichshallbeentitledtoappointaVice-PresidentoftheIFRC(the “Vice-President”);

Election -NationalSociety members of the Governing Board

e)electtheNationalSociety membersof theGoverning Board;

Appointment of Constitutional Commissions andCommittees

f) appoint or elect, as the case may be, members of the Constitutional Commissions and Committees;

Representatives to Movement bodies

g)designatetherepresentativesoftheIFRCtothebodiesofthe Movement;

Otherbodies

h) set up other bodies, including, among others, advisory bodies and bodies with legal status required fortheactivities ofthe IFRC, and to appoint their members;

Designate external auditors

i) designate as external auditors, on the recommendation of the GoverningBoard,afirmofinternationallyrecognisedindependent auditors;

Budget

j) ontherecommendation ofthe GoverningBoard–

(i) approvethebiennialplans,budgetsandfinancialreports of the IFRC, and

(ii) adopttheauditedfinancialstatementsoftheIFRC;

Auditor’s report

k)takenoteofthe reportofthe external auditors;

Statutory financial contributions

l)approve, on the recommendation of the Governing Board and the Finance Commission, the formula for fixing the financial participation of National Societies, and to take note of the annual scale of contributions of the National Societies approved by the Governing Board and calculated using the said formula;

Constitution, Rules of Procedureand other regulations

m)amendthe Constitutionandthe RulesofProcedureandadopt any other regulations necessary for the implementation of the Constitution;

Reports

n)considerthereports oftheGoverningBoardandSecretary General andofallbodiessetupbytheGeneralAssemblyanddischargethe Secretary General and the Governing Board on its delegated activities;

Proposals fromNational Societies and bodies

o)decideontheproposalspresentedbyNationalSocieties,the Governing Board and other bodies of the IFRC;

p) ratify general agreements concluded with the ICRC or any other international organisation or institution that create obligations for National Societies;

Transfer of the headquarters

Suspension andexpulsion

q) decideonthetransfer of theheadquartersoftheIFRC; and

r) hearanappealfromaNationalSocietyinaccordancewithArticle

12.7 and/or upon the recommendation of the Governing Board, decide on the expulsion of a National Society in accordance with Article 13.

Delegationof powers

2

TheGeneral Assembly may not delegate to anotherbody ofthe IFRC thepowersdefinedinparagraph1ofthisArticle,withtheexceptionof the following, which are hereby delegated to the Governing Board between sessions of the General Assembly and until the General Assembly decides otherwise:

a) set up bodies, including, among others, those with legal status, required for the activities of the IFRC, and to appoint their members;

b)decideon the reportsof bodiesset upbytheGeneralAssembly;

c)decideonproposalspresentedbyNationalSocietiesorotherbodies of the IFRC;

d)   designate the representatives of the IFRC to the bodies of the Movement; and

e) determine,inurgentsituationswhichrequireafastpolicydecision, the general policies that govern the IFRC and the National Societies, which shall be decided upon at the next General Assembly.

Financial implications

3

Before the General Assembly takes decisions involving expenditure, theSecretaryGeneral,afterhavingconsultedtheFinanceCommission, shall submit a report to it on the administrative and financial implicationsofanysuch proposal. Iftheexpenditureproposed cannot becoveredbythe budget,nocommitmentinthisrespectcanbemade before the General Assembly has taken the necessary measures to make available the additional funds required.

Ordinary sessions

1

Article 18

SessionsoftheGeneralAssembly

The General Assembly shall meet in ordinary session once every two years.Such sessionsshallnormallybeheldwheretheheadquartersof the IFRC are located. Such sessions may, when so decided by the Governing Board, be held solely through, or in combination with, telecommunicationsoranyotherelectronicorvirtualmeanson

condition that these means allow the full participation of all General Assembly members.

2

A session of the General Assembly shall be held in the same place as and before the International Conference when the latter has been convoked.

Change of placeofthe session

3

In exceptional circumstances, the President, in consultation with the Secretary General and with the agreement of the majority of the members of the Governing Board, may change the place and/or the dates of the session of the General Assembly.

Extraordinary sessions

4

AnextraordinarysessionoftheGeneralAssemblyshallbeheldinthe sameplaceasandbeforeanyextraordinarysessionoftheInternational Conference when the latter has been convoked.

5

Extraordinary sessions of the General Assembly may also be held on the initiative of the President in agreement with the majority of the membersoftheGoverningBoardorontheinitiativeofatleastthirty-five percent of the National Societies. Extraordinary sessions may, when so decided by the Governing Board, be held through or with telecommunications,oranyotherelectronicorvirtualmeansassetout in paragraph 1.

1

Article19Quorum

WiththeexceptionofthequorumrequiredtoamendtheConstitution, to transfer the headquarters of the IFRC and to dissolve the IFRC, decisions taken at an ordinary or extraordinary session of the General Assembly shall be valid only with a quorum of fifty percent of the National Societies.

2

The quorum required to amend the Constitution, to transfer the headquartersortodissolvetheIFRC,shallbesixty-fivepercentofthe National Societies.

3

ShouldlessthanfiftypercentoftheNationalSocietiesbeinattendance at any ordinary or extraordinary session, the General Assembly shall be re-convened after at least 24 hours have elapsed. At such session, decisions shall be validly taken with a quorum of twenty-five percent of the National Societies.

4

Should the provisional or adopted agenda include the admission of NationalSocietiesortheexpulsionofNationalSocieties,theadoption ofthebiennialbudget,thetransferoftheheadquartersoftheIFRC,the electiontothepositionsreferredtoinArticle34,thedissolutionofthe IFRC or amendments to the Constitution, another session shall be convenednotlessthanforty-fiveandnotmorethanninetydaysafter

theoneprecedingit.Atsuchasession,decisionsshallbevalidlytaken with a quorum of twenty-five percent of the National Societies.

Article20Voting

1

EachNationalSocietyrepresentedattheGeneralAssemblyshallhave one vote.

By consensus

2

Decisions of the General Assembly shall be taken by consensus with the exception of the elections of the President, Vice-Presidents, the National Society members of the Governing Board and the Chair and members of the Youth Commission.

Consensus shall be understood to mean the absence of any objection expressed by a delegation and submitted by it as constituting an obstacle to the taking of the decision in question.

Ifnoconsensus or elections

2A

Ifconsensuscannotbereachedorinthecaseofelections,decisionsof the General Assembly shall be taken by a simple majority vote of the National Societies present and voting except -

-in the circumstances set out in Articles 20.3 to 20.5 inclusive,whereadecisionshallbetakeninthemannerset out in those Articles; or

-     asotherwiseprovided intheConstitution.

Absolute majority

3

An absolute majority of the National Societies present and voting is required to elect the President.

Qualified majority of sixtypercent

4

Aqualifiedmajorityofsixty percent oftheNational Societiespresent andvotingisrequiredtoadmitNationalSocieties(Article7)andexpel National Societies (Article 13), to reconsider a decision previously takenatthesamesessionoftheGeneralAssembly,toclassifyamatter as an important matter, and to decide on any matter classified by the General Assembly as an important matter.

Qualified

5

Aqualifiedmajorityofseventy-fivepercentoftheNationalSocieties

majority of

presentandvotingshallberequiredtoamendtheConstitution(Article

seventy-five

47)totransfertheheadquartersoftheIFRC(Article17.1(q))andto

percent

dissolvetheIFRC(Article45).

National

6

WithinthecontextoftheConstitution,theterm“NationalSocieties

Societies

presentandvoting”shallmeanNationalSocietiespresentandvoting

presentand

fororagainst.NationalSocietiesabstainingfromvotingareconsidered

voting

asnothavingvoted.IntheeventthattheRulesofProcedureprovide

thataNationalSocietymayexercisethevoteremotelybythemeans

ofasecureelectronicmechanism,aNationalSocietyshallbedeemed “present and voting” if it exercises its vote in such a manner.

GoverningBoard

Article21Definition

The Governing Board is the body which governs the IFRC betweensessions of the General Assembly.

Composition

1

Article 22Composition

TheGoverning Boardshall becomposed of :

a)the President;

b)thefourVice-Presidents;

c)theexofficio Vice-President;

d)twentyNationalSocieties;

e)theChair oftheFinanceCommission;

f)the Chair ofthe Audit and Risk Commission;

g)theChair ofthe YouthCommission.

Status of membersofthe Governing Board

Codeof conduct

2

3

MembersoftheGoverningBoardshallactasmembersofacollective body of the IFRC, and shall be influenced in their decisions only by the interests of the IFRC when the Governing Board carries out the responsibilities assigned to it by the Constitution and by the General Assembly.

EverymemberoftheGoverningBoardshallupholdandadheretothe ethical standards and values of the IFRC and sign and comply with a code of conduct which sets out an ethics and behaviour framework (whichincludes, without limitation, the regulation of conflicts of interest, a requirement to act in accordance with the Fundamental Principles,todemonstratethehigheststandardsofpersonalintegrity,

andtoact ingoodfaith andin thebestinterests of theIFRC).

Article23Functions

TheGoverningBoardshallexercisethefollowingfunctions :

1

a)decideonanymatterassignedordelegatedtoitbytheConstitution or by the General Assembly;

b)appointand dismisstheSecretary GeneraloftheIFRC;

c)define andapprovethosepoliciesthatareinternalonlytothe IFRC andwhicharepresentedtoitbytheSecretaryGeneral,andinurgent situations, determine the general policies of the IFRC and the National Societies in accordance with Article 17.2(e);

d)interpretthedecisionsoftheGeneralAssembly,advisethePresident and give guidance and support to the Secretary General in implementing the decisions of the General Assembly;

e)monitor on behalf of the General Assembly the implementation of the mandates entrusted to the IFRC by the International Conference;

f)draw up theprovisionalagendaof theGeneral Assembly;

g)submitadviceandproposalstotheGeneralAssemblywhenso requested by the latter or on its own initiative;

h) submit to the General Assembly the proposed members of the Election Committee, approve electoral standards for campaigning and objective criteria for governance positions submitted to it by theElectionCommitteeandhearanappealagainstadecisionofthe ElectionCommittee,inaccordancewithArticles33.2(a),(b)and

(i)respectively;

i)study any questionsrelating to the implementation ofthe functions oftheIFRC,andsubmitadviceandproposalsinthisrespecttothe General Assembly;

j)recommend to the General Assembly as external auditor a firm of internationally recognised independent auditors;

k) examine the reports on activities as well as the financial and budgetaryreportsandreportsonfinancialriskmatterspresentedby the Secretary General, the Finance Commission or the Audit and Risk Commission, and

(i) recommend, for final approval by the General Assembly, thebiennialbudget,plansandfinancialreportsoftheIFRC, including on the recommendation of the Finance Commission, the formula for fixing the financial participation of National Societies,

(ii) approve, on the recommendation of the Finance Commission, the annual scale of contributions of National Societies (calculated using the formula approved by the General Assembly under Article 17.1); and

(iii) endorse and recommend for adoption by the General Assembly, the audited financial statements of the IFRC;

l)ratify general agreements concluded with the ICRC and any other international organisation or institution not requiring General Assembly ratification as set out in Article 17.1(p);

m) provisionallyadmittheNational Societies;

n) decideontheapplicationofanyparticularactionormeasurethatit deemsappropriatetowards anyof theStatutoryBodies(exceptthe GoverningBoardandtheGeneralAssembly)incaseofaBreachof Integrity under Articles 14 or 28 further to the examination of the recommendation of a Panel of the Compliance and Mediation Committee (except where the Compliance and Mediation Committee is implicated in the Breach of Integrity);

o) decideontheapplicationof,andapply,sanctionstowardsNational Societies as set out, and in the circumstances specified, in Articles 10.2, 10A, 11, 12 and 13;

p)approvetheselectionofcandidatesforappointmenttothepostsof (or equivalent to) Deputy and Under Secretaries General or Directors;

q)   approve the outline structure of the Secretariat of the IFRC proposed by the Secretary General;

r) approvethe certification of National Societies proposed by the Compliance and Mediation Committee in accordance with the capacityassessmentprocessadopted bytheGoverningBoard; and

s) decideupon,furthertoconsultationwiththeFinanceCommission, anyrequestbyaNationalSocietyforreliefunderArticle36.5from the consequences of being in arrears, and whether to declare a National Society in default under Article 36.6.

ThefunctionsoftheGoverningBoardanditsmembersmaybefurther described in the Rules of Procedure or any manual, guidance or other document adopted by the General Assembly from time to time.

2

TheGoverningBoardshallreporttotheGeneralAssemblyonthe accomplishment of its functions.

Financial implications

3

The Governing Board must not take decisions involving expenditure notincludedinthebudgetbeforetheSecretaryGeneralandthe

Finance Commission have submitted a report to it justifying the administrative and financial implication of any such proposal. If the expenditure proposed cannot be covered, no commitment in this respect can be made before the General Assembly has taken the measures to make available the additional funds required.

Emergency authorisation

4

IfintheopinionoftheGoverningBoardanemergencyexistsanditis impossible or impracticable to convoke a session of the General Assembly,theGoverningBoardisauthorised,subjecttoArticle44,to takesuch measures as it deems necessaryto deal with theemergency. DecisionssoreachedbytheGoverningBoardshallbereportedtoand discharged by the General Assembly at its next session.

5

If the Governing Board decides that there is an emergency affecting the IFRC, the Secretary General shall as soon as is practicable thereafter inform all National Societies that the Governing Board has decided that an emergency exists, stating the natureof the emergency and all decisions and actions taken by the Governing Board to deal with it.

1

Article24Procedure

TheGoverningBoardshallmeetinordinarysessionfourtimesayear, whenconvenedbythePresident.Inaddition,anextraordinarysession of the Governing Board may also be convened by the President on his/her own initiative, whenever requested by a majority of its members,orasotherwiseprovidedbytheConstitutionortheRulesof Procedure,andmayalsodosoattherequestoftheSecretary General.

2

ThedecisionsoftheGoverningBoardshallbevalidwithaquorumof sixty percent of its members.

TheGoverningBoard takesits decisionsby consensus.

Ifconsensuscannotbereached,decisionsoftheGoverningBoardshall be taken by –

a) a simple majority vote of the members present and voting (whereintheeventofatiethePresidentshallhavethecasting vote) unless sub-paragraph (b) applies; or

b) a qualified majority of sixty percent of the members of the Governing Board, in the event of a decision to suspend or to recommend expulsion of a National Society.

3

ThePresidentmayinviteanypersontoattendthemeetingsofthe Governing Board as an observer.

President

Article 25PresidentoftheIFRC

1

ThePresidentisthehighestpersonalityofthe IFRC.ThePresidentshallbe responsible to the General Assembly for ensuring that the IFRC pursues its generalobjectandexercisesitsfunctionsasdefinedintheConstitution.The President acts under the authority of the General Assembly and of the GoverningBoardtoguidetheaffairsoftheIFRC,includingtheactivitiesof the Secretary General, in conformity with the decisions of the General Assembly and the Governing Board.

Functions

2

ThePresidentshall :

a)conveneandpresideoverthesessionsoftheGeneralAssemblyandthe Governing Board;

b)present tothe General Assemblyareviewof thestate oftheIFRC;

c)present to the Governing Board and General Assembly the report of a firm of internationally recognised independent auditors;

d)co-ordinatetheworkofthegovernancebodies,commissionsand committees of the IFRC;

e)representtheIFRCinitsrelationswiththeothercomponentsofthe Movement and with other international organisations and institutions;

f) have the ability to call upon the Vice-Presidents and the Chair of the Finance Commission, to assist him/her individually or collectively, in his/her functions;

g) have the ability to take a decision collectively with the Vice-Presidents, which is issued to a National Society, requiring an individual or individualswhoholdaNationalSocietyLeadershipPositiontostepaside from office in accordance with Article 10A.2;

h)carryoutanyotherfunctionentrustedbytheGeneralAssemblyorbythe Governing Board.

The functions of the President may be further described in the Rules of Procedure or any manual, guidance or other document adopted by the General Assembly from time to time.

Delegation

3

ThePresident maydelegatea partof the functionsunder thisArticle to any of the Vice-Presidents.

Replacement during a meeting

4

ThePresidentmaychargeoneoftheVice-Presidentswithreplacinghim/her during a meeting or part of a meeting.

Vacancy in the office of thePresident

5

IntheeventofavacancyarisingintheofficeofthePresidentorthePresident beingunabletocarryouthis/herfunctions,theGoverningBoard,atitsnext ordinarysession,shalldesignateaVice-PresidentwhoshallserveasActing PresidentuntilthenextsessionoftheGeneralAssembly.Atthissessionthe General Assembly shall elect the President to fill the vacancy for the remaining period of the current term of office. Until the designation of a Vice-President as Acting President by the Governing Board the ex-officio Vice-President shall fulfil this function. In the event that there is a vacancy intheofficeoftheex-officioVice-President,theGoverningBoardshallhold an extraordinary session of the Governing Board at its earliest opportunity to designate a Vice-President as Acting President until the next session of the General Assembly.

Vice-Presidents

Composition and role of the Vice-Presidents

1

Article 26

Vice-PresidentsoftheIFRC

The Vice-Presidents of the IFRC comprise of the four elected Vice-Presidents (one from each Statutory Region), and the ex officio Vice-President. The Vice-Presidents of the IFRC shall support the President and maybecalleduponindividuallyorcollectivelybythePresidenttoassistin the execution of his/her functions. They participate in the sessions of the General Assembly in their personal capacity.

Ex-officio Vice-President

2

ThePresidentofthe NationalSocietyofthecountryinwhichthe IFRC has its headquarters or his/her designated representative appointed from and by the governing body of that Society shall be ex officio Vice-President.

Functions

3

TheelectedVice-Presidentsshall:

a) ensure communication on governance matters between the General Assembly, the Governing Board and the National Societies in their Statutory Regions;

b) promote the decisions of the General Assembly and Governing Board, particularly in their Statutory Regions; and

c) in close coordination with the Secretary General, support National Societies in their Statutory Regions and globally with integrity challengesasrequestedbytheNationalSocietyitselfortheCompliance and Mediation Committee.

Regional Conferences

4

Inregardstotheregional conferencesintheir StatutoryRegionstheelected Vice-Presidents shall serve as chairs of the relevant preparatory bodies.

Measures relatingtoan individual

5

TheVice-Presidentsshallhavetheabilitytotakeadecisioncollectivelywith thePresident,whichisissuedtoaNationalSociety,requiringanindividual

orindividualswhoholdaNationalSocietyLeadershipPositiontostepaside from office in accordance with Article 10A.2.

6

The functions of the Vice-Presidents may be further described in the Rules of Procedure or any manual, guidance or other document adopted by the General Assembly from time to time.

Appointment

1

SecretaryGeneral

Article 27

SecretaryGeneraloftheIFRC

The Secretary General shall be appointed by the Governing Board, for a period of up to four years, renewable. The contract between the IFRC and the Secretary General shall be drawn up by the Governing Board in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Rules of Procedure, any applicable conditions set by the General Assembly and the labour law governing the IFRC.

Functions

2

TheSecretaryGeneral,asdefinedinArticle14istheChiefExecutive Officer of the IFRC and carries out the following functions:

a)implementthedecisionsoftheGeneralAssemblyandtheGoverning Board;

b) be responsible for the administration of the approved budget and the preparation of a report of the accounts, in accordance with Articles 37.6 and 38;

c)direct the Secretariat and be responsible for the execution of the workentrusted to it;

d)establishthestructureoftheSecretariat,thegeneraloutlineofwhich shall be subject to the approval of the Governing Board;

e) organise the different services of the Secretariat in accordance with the decisionsoftheGeneralAssemblyandoftheGoverningBoard;appoint the staff of the Secretariat, keeping in mind the principles of equitable gender balance and fair geographical distribution; and when necessary terminate the engagements of such staff;

f)make appointments to the posts of (or equivalent to) Deputy and Under Secretaries General, such as Directors, after obtaining the Governing Board’s approval of the candidates selected by him/her;

g) in the absence of the President or as otherwise agreed appropriate, represent the IFRC in its relations with other components of the Movement and with other international organisations and institutions;

h)be the authorised representative of the IFRC in relation to third parties and courts of law for all transactions whatsoever, including transactions executed in notarial form relating to the acquisition, administration and expenditure of the resources of the IFRC;

i)assurethe executionofthefunctionssetoutinArticle5,includingdirect relief actions or other actions decided upon by the General Assembly or the Governing Board. In exceptional or urgent circumstances, the Secretary General shall take all appropriate measures after consultation with the National Society concerned to the extent possible;

j) carry out any other function assigned to him/her by the Constitution orentrusted to him/her by the General Assembly or the Governing Board;

k) report on the activities of the IFRC to the General Assembly and to the Governing Board;

l) keep the President and Vice-Presidents, as appropriate, closely informed in carrying out his/her functions; and

m) establish relations with those National Societies or organisations recognised as auxiliaries to the public authorities in the humanitarian fieldwho acceptand respectintheiractionthe FundamentalPrinciples, eventhoughtheymaynotbecomponentsoftheMovementormembers of the IFRC.

3

TheSecretaryGeneralshallexofficiobesecretaryoftheGeneralAssembly andoftheGoverningBoardand,unlesstheConstitutionprovidesotherwise, ofallbodiessetupbytheGeneralAssemblyandtheGoverningBoard.The Secretary General may delegate these functions to other officials of the Secretariat.

Participation in the General Assemblyand theGoverning Board

4

TheSecretaryGeneralparticipatesinthesessionsoftheGeneral Assembly and the Governing Board.

5

TheSecretaryGeneralshallbeassistedintheimplementationofhis/her

executivetaskby aSecretariat.

SECTIONIV

CONSTITUTIONALCOMMISSIONSANDCOMMITTEESOFTHE IFRC

Article 28

ConstitutionalCommissionsand Committees

Constitutional Commissions and Committees

1

TheConstitutionalCommissionsandCommitteesoftheIFRCare:

§ TheFinance Commission;

§ TheAudit and Risk Commission;

§ TheYouth Commission;

§ TheComplianceandMediationCommittee;and

§ TheElectionCommittee;

(togetherthe “CommissionsandCommittees”).

Theyhaveadvisory orsuch otherfunctionsas set outin this Constitution.

Standardsof integrityand Breach of Integrity

2

Commissions and Committees shall comply with applicable integrity policiesadoptedbytheGeneralAssembly.Anyfailuretocomplywithsuch policieswillbeconsidereda Breachof Integrityandshallbereferredtothe Compliance and Mediation Committee (except where the Compliance and Mediation Committee is implicated in the Breach of Integrity, where the failure shall be directly referred to the Governing Board).

Procedures

3

ProceduresoftheCommissionsandCommitteesshallbelaiddowninthe Rules of Procedures.

Composition

1

Article 29FinanceCommission

TheFinanceCommissionshall becomposedof :

- aChair; and

- five members.

TheChairandfourmembersshallbeappointedinapersonalcapacitybythe GeneralAssemblyonpresentationofcandidatesbytheElectionCommittee; and one member shall be appointed by the Governing Board from amongst its members.

Functions

2

TheFinanceCommission shallhavethefollowing functions:

a)

giveadviceon allfinancialmattersaffectingtheIFRC;

b)

commentontheperiodic financialreportsofand onthebudgetdrawn up by the Secretary General;

c)

receivefromtheAuditandRiskCommissionthereportoftheexternal auditors, and to comment on the same to the Audit and Risk Commission;

d)

comment on the handling and investment of available funds and to make recommendations to the General Assembly and the Governing Board on any financial measures which it deems appropriate;

e)

reviewperiodicallytheformulaforfixingthefinancialparticipationof NationalSocietiesforsubmission,throughtheGoverningBoard,tothe General Assembly for approval, and every two years to establish the annual scale of contributions of National Societies (calculated using theformulaapprovedbytheGeneralAssemblyunderArticle17.1)for submission to, and approval by, the Governing Board;

f)

establish the annual financial contributions of National Societies applying for membership (calculated using the formula approved by theGeneralAssemblyunderArticle17.1)priortotheapplicationbeing considered by the General Assembly;

g)

hearappeals from National Societiesin accordancewith Articles 36.3 and36.4,toacquaintitselfwitharrearsinpaymentofannualfinancial contributions by National Societies, to comment on a National Society’s request for relief under Article 36.5 from the consequences of being in arrears and express its views to the Governing Board on whetheraNationalSocietyshouldbedeclaredindefaultinaccordance with Article 36.6;

h)

assisttheGoverningBoardinapplyingandimplementingthedecisions of the General Assembly on the financial management of the IFRC; and

i)

bringallegationsofBreachesofIntegritytotheComplianceand Mediation Committee, in consultation with the President.

Reporting

3

The Finance Commission shall report on its work to the Governing Board and the General Assembly.

Authorityof the Chair

4

TheChairoftheFinanceCommissionshallhavetherighttoobtainfromthe Secretary General all information and documents related to financial matters.

5

The Chair of the Finance Commission shall advise the President and theSecretary General on all financial matters affecting the IFRC.

Composition

1

Article 30

Audit and Risk Commission

TheAudit and RiskCommission shall becomposed of :

-aChair; and

-sevenmembers,

appointed in a personal capacity by the General Assembly on presentation of candidates by the Election Committee.

Functions

2

TheAudit andRisk Commissionshall havethe following functions:

a) giveadviceonallauditand riskmattersaffectingtheIFRC;

b) assessthescopeandeffectivenessofthesystemsestablishedbythe Secretary General to identify, assess, manage and monitor risks;

c) reviewareas ofrisk, majorcases offraud and corruption, irregularities, and legal claims that could have a significant financial, reputational or other impact impeding the IFRC and advise the Secretary General accordingly;

d) receive and review the reports of the internal and external auditors, commentonthesametothePresident,SecretaryGeneralandGoverning Board;

e) oversee the implementation of the audit recommendations by the Secretary General;

f) bring allegations of Breaches of Integrity to the Compliance and Mediation Committee, in consultation with the President;

g) recommend,inconsultationwiththeChairoftheFinanceCommission, the appointment of the external auditors to the Governing Board; and

h) approve,inconsultationwiththeChairoftheFinanceCommission,the audited financial statements and recommend their endorsement by the Governing Board for adoption by the General Assembly.

Reporting

3

The Commission shall report on its work to the Governing Board and theGeneral Assembly.

Authorityof the Chair

4

The Chair of the Audit and Risk Commission shall have the right to obtain from the Secretary General all information and documents related to audit or risk matters.

5

TheChairoftheAuditandRiskCommissionshalladvisethePresidentand the Secretary General on all risk matters affecting the IFRC.

Composition

1

Article 31Youth Commission

TheYouth Commissionshall becomposed of:

- aChair; and

- eightmembers,two fromeach ofthefourStatutory Regions,

elected in a personal capacity by the General Assembly on presentation of candidates by the Election Committee.

Functions

2

TheYouthCommissionshallhavethefollowing functions:

a)adviseonallmattersconcerningyouthandyouth-relatedactivities throughout the IFRC;

b)promote and assess the implementation of the youth strategy or policy decidedbytheGoverningBoardortheGeneralAssembly,aswellasto consider and study as requested by the Board matters of policy development in the area of youth;

c)review and suggest revisions of the youth strategy or policy to the Governing Board or the General Assembly (as the case may be) for adoption;

d)seek youth opinions on the implementation of relevant IFRC policies and to ensure that those opinions are communicated to the Statutory Bodies of the Movement;

e)advisetheSecretaryGeneralintheimplementationoftheyouthpolicy and all other policies and strategies as they relate to youth within the Movement; and

f)   bringallegationsofBreachesofIntegritytotheComplianceand Mediation Committee in consultation with the President.

Reporting

3

TheYouthCommissionshallreportonitsworktotheGoverningBoardand General Assembly.

Authorityof the Chair

4

The Chair of the Youth Commission shall have the right to obtain from the Secretary General all relevant information and documents necessary to enable the Youth Commission to fulfil its functions.

5

The Chair of the Youth Commission shall advise the President and theSecretary General on all issues affecting youth in the Movement.

Article 32

ComplianceandMediation Committee

Composition

1

TheComplianceandMediationCommitteeshallbecomposed of:

- aChair;and

- twelvemembers (three from eachof thefourStatutory Regions),

appointedinapersonalcapacitybytheGeneralAssemblyonpresentation of candidates by the Election Committee.

Submissionof allegations

3

AllegationsofaBreach ofIntegrityoranydisputemaybebroughttothe attention of the Chair of the Compliance and Mediation Committee by any National Society, the General Assembly, the Governing Board, the President, or the Secretary General.Commissions and Committees may also bring allegations to the Compliance and Mediation Committee in consultation with the President. The Compliance and Mediation Committee may initiate its own review of a potential Breach of Integrity basedoncriteriaadoptedbytheGoverningBoardandwithnotificationto

the President.

Compliance and Mediation Panel

4

The Chair shall review any potential Breach of Integrity or dispute referredtoinparagraph3 inaccordancewiththeRulesofProcedureand ifaninquiryismeritedshallensurethatapanelofthreetofivemembers is formed to consider the potential breach or dispute with due regard to the principles of fair geographical representation, and equitable gender balance as well as any potential conflict of interest and to carry out the functions set out in paragraphs 2(d) and 2(e).

Reporting

5

TheComplianceandMediationCommitteeshallreportonitsworktothe General Assembly and Governing Board.

Authorityof Chair

6

7

In addition to paragraph 3, the Chair of the Compliance and Mediation Committee –

a) shall advise the Secretary General and the President on the handling of compliance and integrity issues as requested;

b) shallnotifytherelevantNationalSocietyorStatutoryBodyofallegations received against it; and

c) mayconsultinformallywiththerelevantNationalSocietyorStatutory Body in order to endeavour to resolve the matter.

TheSecretaryGeneralshallsupporttheCommitteeinitswork,inparticular by making relevant information available.

Article 33ElectionCommittee

Composition

1

TheElectionCommitteeshallbecomposed of:

- aChair; and

- sixmembers,

allseventobeappointedinapersonalcapacitybytheGeneralAssembly on the proposal of the Governing Board.

With respect to four of the seven members, there shall be one from a National Society from each of the four Statutory Regions.

Functions

2

TheElectionCommitteeshallhavethefollowing functions:

a)developelectoralstandardsfortheappointmentandelection process and campaigning for approval by the Governing Board;

b)draw up objective criteria for the positions of President and Vice-President or for any of the other positions (such as education and professional Red Cross and Red Crescent experience), to be approved by the Governing Board at least one year before the relevant election;

c) review against the relevant criteria the applications of all candidates for governance positions (ad personam and National Societies);

d)notifytheGoverningBoardofanycandidatesorholdersofany governance position which the Election Committee considers are ineligible against approved criteria;

e)establish,afterconsultationwiththeGoverningBoard,alistof proposalsofcandidatesfortheFinanceCommission,theAudit and Risk Commission and the Compliance and Mediation Committee, for appointment by the General Assembly, and establish a list of candidates for the Youth Commission for election by the General Assembly;

f)   monitorandoversee allelectionstogovernance positions;

g) announcethe resultsofelectionstogovernance positions;

h) bring allegations of Breaches of Integrity to the Compliance and Mediation Committee in consultation with the President; and

i) receive and review allegations, or initiate its own review, of a potentialbreachoftheelectoralstandardsorapotentialcaseof ineligibility against the objective criteria required for a particulargovernanceposition(beforeappointmentorelection or when the individual or National Society holds office), and decide upon, whether or not there has been a breach of the electoralstandardsortheobjectivecriteria,asthecasemaybe, and the consequences and sanctions of any such breach, in accordance with procedures adopted by the Governing Board. ThereshallbearighttoappealtotheGoverningBoardincases where the individual or National Society already holds office and in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Rules of Procedures.

3

WhencarryingouttheElectionCommittee’sfunctions,theCommittee shall:

(a) ensure that, by means of the development of campaigning standards, equal opportunities for consideration of all candidates are guaranteed;

(b) receive all applications for the posts of President, Vice-Presidents and members of the Governing Board (individuals and National Societies), and inform the National Societies about the process;

(c) establish an election timetable and receive all the applications of candidates for the Finance Commission, Audit and Risk Commission, Youth Commission and Compliance and Mediation Committee, and submit a list of candidates for appointment(orelectioninthecaseoftheYouthCommission) by the General Assembly;

(d) ensurethatcandidatesproposed,orholdersofanygovernance positionreflecttheagreedcriteriaassetoutinparagraph2(b) above,theRulesofProcedureandthattheprinciplesregarding a fair geographical distribution and equitable gender balance are followed;

(e) arrange secret ballots, where possible by means of a secure electronicvotingmechanism,fortheelectionofthePresident, of the National Societies entitled to appoint a Vice-President, of the National Societies seeking to be members of the Governing Board and of the Chair and members of the Youth Commission.

Reporting

4

TheElectionCommitteeshallreportonitsworktotheGeneralAssembly and Governing Board.

Authorityof the Chair

5

TheChairoftheElectionCommitteeshalladvisethePresidentandthe Secretary General on all electoral matters affecting the IFRC.

SECTION V ELECTIONSANDAPPOINTMENTS

Article 34

Election of the President, the Vice-Presidents, the National Society  membersoftheGoverningBoard,andtheelectionorappointmentofthe Chairs and the members of the Commissions and Committees

Periodicity

1

Elections shall be held in ordinary sessions every four years. The appointmentsbytheGeneralAssemblyofthemembersoftheFinance Commission,AuditandRiskCommission,ComplianceandMediation Committee and Election Committee and the election of the members oftheYouthCommissionshallbemadeinordinarysessionseveryfour

years, not coinciding with elections of the President, Vice-Presidents and National Society members of the Governing Board. The appointment by the Governing Board of the fifth member of the FinanceCommissionshallbeheldinordinarysessioneveryfouryears, at its first session after the General Assembly session in which the National Society members of the Governing Board are elected.

Termof office

2

Theterm ofofficeof all elected and appointed positions isfouryears. It begins at the close of the session of the General Assembly or Governing Board at which the incumbents have been elected/appointedandexpiresatthecloseofthesessionoftheGeneral AssemblyorGoverning Boardwhichelects/appointstheirsuccessors.

President

3

The General Assembly elects the President in a personal capacity. A personwhohasservedtwofour-yeartermsasPresidentisnoteligible to stand again for election.

Vice-Presidents

4

The General Assembly elects four National Societies, one from each ofthefourStatutoryRegionsestablishedinaccordancewiththeRules ofProcedure,forthepurposeofeachofthemappointingamemberof theirNationalSocietytothepostofVice-Presidentforaperiodoffour years. Once appointed, the Vice-Presidents shall serve in a personal capacity.

National Society membersofthe Board

5

TheGeneralAssemblyelectstwentyNationalSocietiesasmembersof the Governing Board, respecting the principles of fair geographical distribution and equitable gender balance as set out in the Rules of Procedure.ANationalSocietyelectedmemberoftheGoverningBoard shall appoint one individual to serve as its representative on the Governing Board. The appointed individual should normally not be changed during the elected Society’s term of office. The National Societies of which the President or the Vice-Presidents are members must not be proposed for candidature to, and shall not be eligible as members of, the Governing Board.

Rotation

6

Any National Society elected for the purpose of appointing a Vice-President or a National Society member of the Governing Board and having served two consecutive four-year terms in either capacity or combinations thereofis not eligibleto stand againforelectionuntil a further four-year term has elapsed.

Chair and membersofthe Finance Commission, Audit and Risk Commission, Youth Commission, and

Compliance

7

The General Assembly shall appoint the Chair and four members of theFinanceCommission,andtheChairandmembersoftheAuditand RiskCommissionandtheComplianceandMediationCommittee,and shall elect the Chair and members of the Youth Commission. The GoverningBoardshallalsoappointoneofitsmemberstobeamember of the Finance Commission. Any person who has served two consecutive four-year terms as Chair or as member of any of these bodies shall not be eligible to stand again for appointment or election (asthecasemaybe)asChairorasmemberofsuchbodyuntilafurther

four-yeartermhaselapsed.

andMediation Committee

Election Committee

8

TheGeneralAssemblyshall,ontheproposaloftheGoverningBoard, appoint the Chair of the Election Committee and six members. Any personwhohasservedtwoconsecutivefour-yeartermsasChairoras memberoftheElectionCommitteeshallnotbeeligibletostandagain for appointment as Chair or as member of such body until a further four-year term has elapsed.

Principles of fair geographical distribution andequitable gender balance

Objective eligibility criteria

9

10

The principles of fair geographical distribution and equitable gender balanceshallbetakenintoaccountbyNationalSocietiesandStatutory Bodies in connection with the nomination, and the appointment or election (asthe casemay be) of all governancepositionsin anyof the Statutory Bodies, and as further specified in the Rules of Procedure.

The objective criteria for governance positions established by the Election Committee and approved by the Governing Board in accordance with Article 33.2(b) must be complied with by National Societies and/or individuals holding any office on appointment or election within the IFRC, throughout the term of their office.

Where in accordance with a decision of the Election Committee, a National Society and/orindividual holding any officeon appointment or election within the IFRC is unable to satisfy, and is therefore in breach of, such objective criteria, the National Society and/or individual shall be considered to have stepped down where no appeal hasbeeninstitutedwithintheperiodset outintheRulesof Procedure.

In such post-appointment or post-election cases, the National Society and/ortheindividualconcernedmayappealagainstthedecisionofthe Election Committee to the Governing Board in accordance with the Rules of Procedure.

Procedures

11

Theprocedures relating to elections or appointments may beset out in the Rules of Procedure.

SECTION VI FINANCEOFTHEIFRC

Article 35Financesandproperty

Civil liability

1

TheIFRCshallbesolely responsible,to the exclusionoftheNational Societies, for all its transactions and commitments.

Resources

2

The regular resources of the IFRC shall consist of contributions from National Societies and income derived from investments.

Propertiesand unrestricted resources

3

Within the limits laid down by its general object and functions the IFRC shall acquire, own, dispose of and administer any property. It mayacceptunrestrictedcontributionsandassistanceinanyformfrom National Societies, individuals, governments and other public or private bodies.

Earmarked resourcesand real estate

4

The IFRC may accept as an agent or trustee funds or property earmarked for particular use provided that such use is within the general scope of its activities, general object and functions. It may accept any conveyance of real estate for its use or benefit.

Reserves

Procedures

5

6

The IFRC may constitute and manage any reserves or other funds for its staff or for any of its activities.

TheproceduresrelatingtothefinancesoftheIFRC(including,without limitation,financialcontributions,financialreportingrequirements,

budgetandauditprocedures)maybesetoutintheRulesofProcedure.

Financial year

1

Article 36Financialcontributions

Thefinancialyearshall runfrom1 Januaryto31December.

Statutory financial contribution s

2

EachNationalSocietyshallpayanannualfinancialcontributiontothe IFRC in accordance with the scale of contributions established by the Finance Commission, approved by the Governing Board and calculatedusingtheformulaapprovedbytheGeneralAssemblyunder Article 17.1, and within such time-limit as may be prescribed by the General Assembly.

Appeals

3

AnyNationalSocietywhichconteststheannualfinancialcontribution approved by the Governing Board shall have the right to appeal immediately to the Finance Commission. However, such an appeal (whethersuccessfulornot)shallnotinvalidatetheobligationofpaying the uncontested part of the annual financial contribution within the time-limit fixed by the General Assembly.

Arrangemen ts for payment of the contribution

4

Any National Society unable, for any reason whatsoever, to pay its annual financial contribution may refer this matter to the Finance Commission in order to obtain appropriate arrangements enabling the National Society to pay it in conformity with the conditions fixed by theFinanceCommission.Wheresuchanarrangementhasbeenagreed by the FinanceCommission, aNational Society that is inarrears orin technical default shall automatically be relieved from the consequencesofbeinginarrearssetoutinArticle11.Suchreliefshall be in place for the period of the arrangement in which the National Society complies with the conditions fixed by the Finance Commission.WheretheNationalSocietyisdeterminedbytheFinance Commissiontonolongercomplywiththeconditionsfixedbyit,the

relief shall be retracted with immediate effect.However, such an arrangement(whethersuccessfulornotandwhetherreliefisinplace

Requestfor relief

5

ornot)shallnotinvalidatetheobligationofpayingtheannualfinancial contribution.

AnyNationalSocietyinarrearsorintechnicaldefaultandunable,due to compelling and exceptional grounds, to pay its annual financial contribution may, in accordance with the Rules of Procedure, make a request to the Governing Board for relief from the consequences of being in arrears set out in Article 11. The Governing Board shall consult with the Finance Commission prior to making its decision. However, such a request (whether successful or not) shall not invalidate the obligation of paying the annual financial contribution nor bear any consequence upon a National Society’s ability to be declared in default.

Report to the Governing Board, arrears and

declaration in default

6

IfaNationalSocietydoesnotpaytheamountinaccordancewith paragraphs 2, 3 or 4 of the present Article -

-     theFinanceCommissionshallreportthemattertothe Governing Board; and

-the Governing Board shall receive the recommendation of the Finance Commission and shall decide whether or not to grant anyrequestforrelieffromtheconsequencesofbeinginarrears and/or declare the National Society in default or not,

inaccordancewiththeRulesofProcedure.

Consequenc es of failure to pay the contribution

7

In addition to the potential sanctions listed under Article 10A, the consequences of a failure to pay the annual financial contribution, including the consequences of being in arrears or a declaration in default are set out in Article 11.

Financial obligations

8

AnyNationalSocietywhichhaswithdrawn,whichhasbeensuspended or expelled or which has been declared in default or has arrears shall remain liable for payment of its annual financial contribution for the financial year during which any of the foregoing steps were taken, of any arrears of previous years and of any other debt to the IFRC.

Preparation of budget and financial statements

1

Article37Budget

The Secretary General shall draw up the budget of the IFRC in consultationwiththeChairoftheFinanceCommission.TheSecretary General shall also prepare a report on the accounts relating to the precedingfinancialyearandsubmitthesedocumentstotheGoverning Board for study and to the General Assembly for approval.

Approvalof budget and

2

TheGeneralAssemblyshall examineandeverytwo years:

financial statements

a) adopt the audited financial statements and approve the financial reports and plans covering the previous two financial years recommended by the Governing Board;

b)approvethebudgetforthenexttwofinancialyearspresentedbythe Secretary General and recommended by the Governing Board.

3

The Governing Board shall examine every year the annual report of the previous financial year, presented by the Secretary General.

4

In those years in which the General Assembly does not meet the Governing Board shall review the budget for the following year, and, if exceptional circumstances exist, adjust that budget in the light of those circumstances.

Financial measures

5

Subject to the provisions of Articles 17.3, and 23.3, the General Assembly, or failing it the Governing Board, may decide on any financial measures which may appear advisable, and shall take into considerationsuchrecommendationsasmaybemadebytheSecretary General or the Chair of the Finance Commission.

Administrati on and executionof the budget

6

TheSecretaryGeneralwhoisresponsiblefortheadministrationofthe approved budget shall:

a)implement the budget as adopted, ensuring the payment of contributions and, depending on the needs, defraying the expenses authorised;

b) receive and hold all funds paid to the IFRC for whatever purpose, be accountable for these funds to the General Assembly and the Governing Board, and dispose of them in accordance with the budget adopted; and

c)decide on the handling and investment of the available funds after consultation with the Chair of the Finance Commission.

1

Article38Audit

Atthe close ofeach financial year,theaccounts ofthatyear :

a)shallbemadethesubjectofareportpreparedbytheSecretary General; and

b) shall be audited and reported upon by a firm of internationally recognised independent auditors to be designated by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Governing Board.

2

These reports shall refer to the budget and accounts of the IFRC and shallalsocovertheuseoffundsentrustedtotheIFRCinthecapacity

ofagentortrustee.

SECTION VII CO-OPERATION

Article 39RegionalConferences

Definition

1

ARegionalConferenceisameetingoftheNationalSocietiesofa Statutory Region with the purpose of:

§ promotingco-operation,networkingandpartnershipsamongst theNational Societies of the regions;

§ identifyingcommonhumanitarianconcerns andissues;

§ striving to achieve common strategies of implementation with regard to decisions of the General Assembly, the Council of Delegates and the International Conference;

§ makingproposalstotheGoverningBoardonmattersrelatedto the General Assembly and the Statutory Bodies of the Movement.

Timing

2

InprincipleaRegionalConferenceshallbeheldineachStatutory Region once every four years.

Reportsfrom theSecretary General

3

The Secretary General shall provide a report for the approval of the Governing Board on the agenda and the administrative, technical, financialandotherimplicationsofforthcomingRegionalConferences. He/she shall also present a report on the results of any Regional Conference held.

Secretariat assistance

4

TheSecretaryGeneralshallassistthehostNationalSocietyin organising and holding a Regional Conference.

Applicable rules

5

ARegionalConferenceshallbeheldinconformitywiththe Constitution and the Rules of Procedure.

Article 40

Co-operationwiththe ICRC

The IFRC shall maintain close contact with the ICRC. It shall co­operate with the latter in matters of common concern in accordance with the Statutes of the Movement and the agreements concluded between the IFRC and the ICRC.

Article 41

Co-operationwithotherinternationalorganisations

The IFRC shall co-operate within the terms of the Constitution with international,intergovernmentalandnon-governmentalorganisations, as it deems appropriate.

Article42Observers

The Governing Board and, if it is not in session, the President may, after consultation with the members of the Governing Board and in conformitywiththeRulesofProcedure,inviteobserverstoparticipate in sessions of the General Assembly.

SECTION VIII FINALPROVISIONS

Article 43Regulations

1

TheGeneralAssemblyshallenactbyasimplemajorityallregulations or rules relating to procedure and other matters as may be necessary for the implementation of the Constitution as well as for the accomplishment of the tasks of the IFRC.

2

Within the framework of the Constitution and of the Rules of Procedure in force, and subject to the approval of the General Assembly,theGoverningBoardandotherbodiesoftheIFRCmayalso draw up such regulations or rules as are necessary for the accomplishment of their respective tasks.

3

The General Assembly may, in a manner consistent with the Constitution, at any time amend such regulations or rules by a simple majority.

Article 44Specialprovisions

1

When, for any reason beyond its control, the General Assembly is prevented from meeting and thereby from electing the President, the National Societies to appoint the Vice-Presidents or, the National Society members of the Governing Board, or from appointing or electing (as the case may be) the Chairs and members of the Commissions and Committees, those serving at that time shall be authorised to continue to perform their function until the end of the next session of the General Assembly.

2

When, for any reason beyond its control, the Governing Board is prevented from meeting, anddecisionsareindispensableordesirable, andiftheSecretaryGeneralispreventedfromconsultingthePresident orVice-Presidentsatthetimewhenthesessionshouldhavebeenheld, the Secretary General shall take such steps as may be necessary to secure a decision by consulting the other members of the Governing Board by the most rapid means available. In this event, the Secretary General shall put each question in one and the same form to all the members of the Governing Board, and in such a manner that each question can be answered by a simple “yes” or “no”. Decisions shall thenbetakenbyasimplemajorityoftherepliesreceivedandshallbe valid if the number of such replies attains the quorum provided for in Article 24.2. Such decisions shall come into force at the expiry of a period of twenty-one days from the date of dispatch of the last communication.

Thesameproceduremaybeappliedatanytimeforanyimportantand urgent question for which a decision of the Governing Board is requiredandwhichcannotbepostponeduntiltheforthcomingregular meeting of the Governing Board.

3

Whencircumstancesnolongermakeitpossibletoobtainthedecisions mentionedinparagraph2ofthepresentArticle,theSecretaryGeneral shall,inexceptionalcases,andinorderthattheworkoftheIFRCmay becarriedon,takedecisionsonallmattersthatarenormallywithinthe competenceoftheGoverningBoard.Beforetakingsuchdecisions,the SecretaryGeneralshallconsult,insofarasitispossible,thePresident, the Vice-Presidents and any members of the Governing Board who remain accessible and shall keep them informed of the action taken.

4

Assoonascircumstancespermit,theSecretaryGeneralshalltakesteps to enable the President to convene the Governing Board. When the Governing Board meets, the Secretary General shall submit to it a report on all measures he/she has taken sincethe last ordinarysession of the Governing Board. At the same session, the Governing Board shall consider, if the question arises, the convocation of the General Assembly, in particular for the purpose of holding elections.

Article 45Dissolution

Further to a decision on the dissolution of the IFRCtaken by the General Assembly in accordance with Articles 19.2and 20.5, the net assets of the IFRC, after settlement of the debts, will be transferred to a body with legal capacity set up by the Governing Board with the purpose of endowing the capital of the IFRC if reconstituted within a yearfromtheeffectivedateofitsdissolution,orofdistributingthe

assetstoany bodyororganisationtheobjectsof whichareas closeas possible to those of the IFRC.

Article 46Interpretationoftexts

Any question or disagreement concerning the interpretation or application of the Constitution which for any reason is not settled by the General Assembly shall be referred to the Governing Board and then submitted again to the General Assembly for its final decision.

Article 47AmendmentstotheConstitution

The provisions of the Constitution may only be amended by the GeneralAssemblyinaccordancewithArticles19.2and20.Proposals to amend the Constitution may be put to the vote in accordance with suchArticlesonlywhensubmittedbyaNationalSocietysupportedby at least five National Societies, or by the Governing Board.

Article 48Entryintoforce

SubjecttoArticle49thisConstitution shallcomeintoforceattheend ofthe24^thsessionoftheGeneralAssembly,25October2024,atwhich time the former Constitution shall stand repealed.

Article 49Transitionalprovisions

AuditandRisk Commission

1

Notwithstanding Articles 30.1, 34.1, and 34.2 and Rule 35A.2 of the Rules of Procedure (a) the Chair and five members of the Audit and Risk Commission appointed in 2024 by the General Assembly shall remainin appointmentuntiltheir fouryear term expires(at the endof theGeneralAssemblyin2028),and(b)twoadditionalmembersofthe Audit and Risk Commission (one of whom is independent of the MovementandbothofwhomsatisfythecriteriasetoutinRule35A.2 of the Rules of Procedure) shall be appointed in 2026 by the General Assemblyuntiltheirtermexpires(attheendoftheGeneralAssembly in2028),whereuponaChairandsevenmembersoftheAuditandRisk Commission will be appointed by the General Assembly in 2028 in accordance with Articles 30 and 34 and Rule 35A.2 of the Rules of Procedure.

If,beforetheGeneralAssemblysessionin2028,thereisavacancyof one of the members of the Audit and Risk Commission appointed by theGeneralAssemblythecriteriasetoutinRule35A.2oftheRulesof Procedure must be satisfied in order for a candidate to be eligible for membership of the Audit and Risk Commission.

Election Committee

2

NotwithstandingArticles 33.1,34.1,34.2 and34.8andRule35A.5 of theRulesofProcedure(a)theChairandfourmembersoftheElection Committee appointed in 2024 by the General Assembly shall remain in appointment until their four year term expires (at the end of the General Assembly in 2028), and (b) two additional members of the ElectionCommittee(bothofwhomareindependentoftheMovement andsatisfythecriteriasetoutinRule35A.5oftheRulesofProcedure) shall be appointed in 2026 by the General Assembly and shall remain in appointment until their term expires (at the end of the General Assembly session in 2028),whereupon a Chair and six members of theElectionCommitteewillbeappointedbytheGeneralAssemblyin 2028 in accordance with Articles 33 and 34 and Rule 35A.5 of the Rules of Procedure.

If,beforetheGeneralAssemblysessionin2028,thereisavacancyof one of the members of the Election Committee appointed by the General Assembly (a) the General Assembly shall appoint a member who is independent of the Movement to fill up to one such vacancy, whosetermshallexpirein2028;and(b)anycandidatemustsatisfythe

criteria set out in Rule 35A.5 of the Rules of Procedure in order to be eligible for membership of the Election Committee.