1. Name

Global Young Greens Network (in short, GYG network or simply GYG) is a non-profit global organisation.

2. Definition

The GYG is a world-wide network of young green activists and organisations committed to the GYG objectives and the GYG statement of principles and endorsing the Global Greens Charter (see annex), and founded in Nairobi, January 2007.

3. Membership

Every young person of the age of 35 and under or any Youth organisation defining itself as “green” is invited to join the network and participate in its activities. The network, its facilities and activities are open to everybody, unless excluded from participation by the Congress. Individuals and organisations can be temporarily excluded from participation in the network by the Steering Committee if they act against the letters or spirit of the GYG.

4. Organisational Structure

The GYG aims to keep its structure flexible and open to changes. Thus only the basic structure will be described in the following. Activists and members are invited to expand and adapt the network according to their needs and according to the principles of the GYG. Project and issue-based leadership are given priority. The formal structures of the GYG network have mainly two tasks: ensure overall coherence, coordination and guidance and provide backup when other grassroots structures fail to work. The GYG network is based on two main pillars:

a) people-to-people contacts

b) a web-based community

Regular activities in the first pillar can include seminars, exchanges, regional and interregional projects, internships, summer camps, campaigns as well as the statutory meetings and any other useful tools.

Regular activities in the second pillar can include interaction, discussion, decision-making, common work, lobbying and learning via web-based tools, inter alia email-lists, wikis, knowledge and data bases, e-seminars and any other useful tools.

The regions are the backbone of the GYG. They assure the link between the international and the national level. They are the first contact point for interested newcomers and the main implementing mechanism.

4.1 Organisational principles in GYG

GYG aims at consensus decision making. If a total consensus is impossible, there will be an attempt to form a consensus on decision making procedure. If also this fails, in a case where it is deemed of extreme importance for the functioning of GYG, decisions will be taken with a two thirds majority. This applies both during the Congress and within the Steering Committee. If consensus is not achieved, the person or people not in agreement can choose to stand aside. Standing aside means the people do not take part in that decision and are not responsible for the consequences.

GYG aims at gender and regional balance in all its bodies and decision making procedures.

If consensus is not achieved every person participating as a registered delegate in the congress has one vote. Large organizations are limited to a maximum number of votes of 4.

4.2 The Congress

The Congress is the highest decision-making body of the GYG. It is the only body of GYG to issue political statements on behalf of GYG. It aims at meeting at least every third year. It is convoked by decision of the Steering Committee. This decision will be communicated and published at least six months in advance of the Congress by the Steering Committee to the GYG members and the public. Every Green activist is invited to join the Congress. The Congress aims at gender balance. It is not possible to delegate votes. The Congress decides in particular about:

the broad political guidelines and basic documents of the network

the discharge of the Steering Committee

the main activities and work programme

common campaigns that carry the GYG logo

The Congress also decides on the composition of the next Steering Committee.

All decisions taken by the other GYG bodies can be revoked by the Congress.

4.3 The Steering Committee (SC)

The Steering Committee is the second highest decision-making body. It is steering the network and financially responsible for the GYG. It takes decisions in between the Congresses in order to carry out the decisions of the Congress. The Steering Committee is not allowed to issue political statements on behalf of GYG. The Steering Committee is responsible of communicating with the Global Greens. It takes financial decisions including the annual budget (January 1st to December 31st) within the framework set by the Congress. The SC publishes every year in January a report of its activities and decisions of the last year and a plan of activities for the running year and submits both to discussion by the network. The Steering Committee decides on acceptance and expulsion of members. It meets at least once a year in person. Further meetings and decision making can take place by other means for instance telephone or video conferences and email. The SC can form further bodies in order to carry out specific tasks, such as an organisational committee to carry out administrative tasks or preparation teams for major activities like the Congress or campaigns..

The Steering Committee can set up and appoint the board of legal entities for the exclusive purpose of fund raising.

If a member of the Steering Committee needs to be replaced before the next Congress, the regional federation of the region the person who dropped out is originated in will appoint a replacement.

The Steering Committee is to be balanced regionally. The Steering Committee should have no more than 4 members from each region. At the founding Congress 4 regions were present. Within the Steering Committee gender parity has to be ensured.

The steering committee will try to minimize the ecological footprint as much as possible

4.4 The Working Groups (WG)

There are mainly three sorts of WG:

a) Thematic Working Groups (for instance on ecology, fair trade, gender, peace etc.)

b) Technical Working Groups (for instance web-support, babelpool, fundraising, development of the network)

c) Ad-hoc (often time-limited) Working Groups (for instance activity-, campaign- or issue-centred)

Every Green activist is invited to found or join a WG. Each WG can decide on a more detailed internal structure and division of tasks. WG can be dissolved or re-organised by decision of the Steering Committee.

5. Legal Representation of the Organisation

All documents legally binding the organisation need to be, except in cases of special mandates, signed by two members of the Steering Committee who do not originate in the same region.

The Steering Committee acts for the organisation as plaintiff or defender in juridical cases and is represented in them by a member of the Steering Committee.

6. Changing the Statutes and Disbanding the Organisation

All proposals for disbanding the organisation will come from the Steering Committee or 20 member organisations.

The Congress or the Steering Committee decides the way the organisation will disband and fulfil its obligation.

The assets after the disbanding will be donated to a legal person with similar goals as the disbanded organisation.

The decision to disband the organisation can only be taken with a four-fifth majority by congress.

The statutes can be changed by congress with the same voting methods stated in article 4.1. Proposals for changing the statutes must be published in four languages by the steering committee a minimum of four weeks prior to congress. This excepts amendments made during the congress as the result of discussion.

ANNEX.: Manifesto and Statement of Principles and Global Greens Charter (as decided by Congress on 19.th January 2007)