Statutes of the International Dalit Solidarity Network
| 1. Name and Status |
| 1.1 The name of the organisation is: The International Dalit Solidarity Network (IDSN). The Secretariat of IDSN is based in Copenhagen, Denmark. |
| 1.2 IDSN is an organisation as defined by the laws of the country in which the secretariat is located, and is governed by the applicable laws of that country, including in relation to employment conditions. It can establish ad hoc structures in other countries. |
| 1.3 IDSN is a non-partisan and non-profit membership organisation dedicated to work for the elimination of caste discrimination. No part of its net income shall accrue to the benefit of any organisation or individual. |
| 2. Interpretation of the term ‘Dalit’ |
| 2.1 Interpretation of ‘Dalit’: In this document the term Dalit shall be interpreted as meaning members of the communities formerly known as untouchables, and/or ‘Scheduled Castes’, and shall also include members of other communities suffering from similar forms of discrimination based on work and descent. |
| 3. Purposes |
| 3.1 The purposes of IDSN are: |
| 3.1.1 To work for the global recognition of Dalit human rights and contribute to the fight against caste discrimination, and other forms of discrimination based on work and descent around the world, by raising awareness and building solidarity. |
| 3.1.2 To advocate Dalit rights - seeking to influence policies of governments and international bodies and institutions; and to monitor enforcement and implementation of anti caste discrimination measures. |
| 3.1.3 To facilitate Dalit rights interventions at various levels internationally, including at the Commission of the European Union and European Parliament, United Nations (UN), the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and related forums. |
| 3.1.4 To create and maintain a resource base and forum that facilitates and strengthens solidarity and representative functions especially at the United Nations, the ILO and other related multilateral bodies, financial institutions like the IMF, WTO, the World Bank (WB), Asian Development Bank (ADB) and bilateral bodies. |
| 4. Members |
| 4.1. The Members of the Network shall be classified into the following categories: |
| 4.1.1 Members |
| These consist of the national campaigns/federations in ‘caste countries’ and the Dalit solidarity networks/platforms in other countries. All these bodies must demonstrate a genuinely representative role within their country, acceptable to the other IDSN members. All members are required a) to endorse the aims and objectives of IDSN b) to provide members for the IDSN Working Groups; c) to sponsor their representatives at Council meetings (in the case of solidarity networks/platforms); d) to assist in carrying out IDSN action plans; e) advise on and support fund raising initiatives; and f) to undertake other responsibilities as the Council may request. |
| 4.1.2 Associates – International |
| These shall consist of three types of organisations, international human rights bodies, international non-governmental development organisations and international faith bodies. Such organisations will need to endorse the aims and objectives of IDSN. They will receive the same information as members. They are expected to provide participants for IDSN working groups and to support the IDSN action plan. |
| 4.1.3 Associates – National |
| These shall consist of national bodies or organisations (who are members of national platforms or networks), who wish to be linked to IDSN and whose application is accepted by the council. They will also need to endorse the IDSN aims and objectives, and will be expected to provide members for IDSN working groups, and will receive some information. |
| 4.1.4 Obligation of members |
| All members shall seek to advance the interests of the Network and shall avoid any action which might discredit or damage IDSN or interfere with its aims. |
| The members and associates shall not be held personally responsible for debts or liabilities incurred by the IDSN. |
| 5. Subscribers |
| These will include all other organisations and institutions who wish to receive information from IDSN. Subscribers shall be proposed by one IDSN council member. Subscribers may be invited to join IDSN Working Groups as resource persons or advisors. Subscribers may be encouraged to pay an annual fee which will contribute to the general running costs of the organisation. |
| 6. Governing structure |
| 6.1 The constituent bodies of IDSN are the Council, the Executive Group and the Secretariat. |
| 6.2 Council and Executive Group members shall not be remunerated for tasks carried out as an IDSN council or Executive Group member, except to cover expenses incurred in this connection |
| 7. The Council |
| 7.1 The Council of IDSN will consist of one representative from each of the members with the exception of the NCDHR in India, which will have two representatives. The Council shall invite those International Associate bodies, which have demonstrated a particular commitment or which have a special area of expertise to attend all or part of Council meetings, and any advisors who have a particular contribution to make. Only members have the right to vote. |
| 7.2 The Council shall meet at least once a year to receive reports from staff, share information and develop the IDSN future programme. The Council shall establish and have oversight of such Working Groups, and other specific initiatives, as may be required. It is expected that all Associate Members, national and international, will participate in at least one Working Group. The Council is the highest governing and decision-making body of IDSN. |
| 8. The Executive Group |
| The Executive Group of four members shall be appointed annually by the Council. An Executive Group member may serve a maximum of three approximately one-year terms. The Executive members shall elect among themselves a Chairperson and a Vice-Chair. Each of the Executive Group members shall be responsible for one of the following portfolios: fundraising, administration, personnel matters and policy. The member for policy will normally be from a South Asian country, or one of the other countries affected by caste discrimination. The Executive Group is responsible for the activities of IDSN between Council meetings with its decisions always subject to Council mandate and overall policy direction. As and when appropriate a representative of an International Associate can be asked by the Council to serve as an Executive Group member. The Executive Group shall meet no less than twice a year. The IDSN Coordinator is an ex-officio member of the Executive Group. |
| 9. Consultations |
| The IDSN will hold Consultations, normally every two years and usually on a theme identified by the Council, and will be open to all members, associates and subscribers. The purpose of such consultations shall be for communication and information sharing rather than decision-making. |
| 10. The Secretariat |
| 10.1 The IDSN secretariat undertakes the daily work in accordance with Council policies and work priorities. The Secretariat works on a co-operative basis and under the direction of the Executive Group. |
| 10.2 The IDSN Coordinator is responsible for the day-to-day work of the secretariat and reports to the Executive Group. The Coordinator has the overall responsibility for keeping accounts and drafting budgets. |
| 11. Financial responsibility |
| 11.1 The chairperson and the vice chair, and an Honorary Treasurer, if appointed, are authorized to sign for the organisation. This responsibility may be delegated to the IDSN Coordinator for daily operations |
| 11.2 Financial reports are submitted to the Executive Group on a quarterly basis. Annual audited financials statements are presented to the Council. |
| 11.3 The financial year of the IDSN follows the calendar year. |
| 12. Amendment of Statutes |
| 12.1 The present statutes were approved by the Council of IDSN at its meeting in Brussels on 15 September, 2003. The statutes are subject to review by the Council by the end of 2004. The Executive Group is responsible for preparing the review. |
| 12.2 The IDSN statutes may be amended only by the vote of a two third majority of all Members, either present or who have given written consent at a duly constituted Council meeting. Any amendment shall require that a minimum of two months notice has been given for which at least a two months notice has been given. |
| 13. Bylaws |
| The Council shall have power to promulgate such bylaws as it may consider necessary for the effective operation of the IDSN within the framework of these statutes. |
| 14. Dissolution |
| The IDSN may be dissolved only upon the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the Council members. Any assets and funds remaining after the satisfaction of the debts and liabilities must be returned to funding partners of IDSN, unless the funding partners agree to transfer remaining funds to other organisations supporting the fight against caste discrimination globally. |
| Adopted September 16 2003 in Bruxelles by the IDSN Council. |
