INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF PEDIATRIC
AND ADOLESCENT GYNECOLOGY

ACTUAL STATUTES

1. STATUTES

An association designated as the ”Federation Internationale de Gynecologie Infatile et Juvenile” or ”International Federation of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology” (FIGIJ), an official branch of FIGO, was founded in Lausanne, Switzerland on February 5 th 1971.

Article I

The aim of the Federation is :

- To promote research in the field of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology and to enforce the knowledge thereby acquired into practice, with the objective of improving health, welfare and fertility of future female generation.

- To improve and diffuse university and post-graduate teaching of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology.

- To maintain regular contacts and exchange information among several members of the Federation :

a) By organizing a world congress every three years.

b) By encouraging the organization of national and international meetings on the subjects associated with Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology.

c) By ensuring that the data of these scientific meetings (congresses and symposia) do not overlap one another.

Article II

The Federation is a non-profit organization and has no political, religious our other affiliation.

Arcticle III

The Federation is composed of :

- National organizations :

On an equal basis : Specialists in gynecology and/or pediatrics of a country who wish to improve their knowledge of Infantile, Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology may join the organization, to enforce this knowledge into practice and diffuse it within their country. They exhort the authorities and the Ministry of Health to contribute moral and financial support to the study and practice of Infantile, Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology. They become members of the FIGIJ according to Article III.

- Individual members :

Physicians with an interest in Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology, residents of countries where it has not been possible to form a national organization can join the FIGIJ directly.

- Associate members :

Health care professionals who entertain an interest in the aim of the FIGIJ and who wish to be associated, can become associate members of the FIGIJ.

Article IV

The Federation is presided by a President, who is its representative in foreign contacs and who chairs the Executive Committee. The General Assembly is presided by the President of the FIGIJ.

The Executive Committee consists of :

- The President

- The Vice-President

- The Secretary General

- The Treasurer

- and 5 members.

The President or the Secretary General can invite other members of FIGIJ to the sessions.

The Executive Committee can create committees if necessary.

Article V

The duties of the Treasurer consist of maintaining the financial accounts of the Federation up-to-date and controlling payment of subscriptions by the national organizations and the individual and associate members, as well as by the congresses which the Federation undertakes to support.

The Secretary General is responsible for the administration, for preparing the work of the committee on all important issues, for keeping records of the Federation, and for compiling the minutes of all meetings, which he/she co-signs with the President.

Article VI

The Executive Committee determines the annual budget, decides on the resources available and prepares the agenda for the general assembly, and is responsible for admission of new members.

It meets whenever it is convenient or during the world congresses by the President, preferably during one of the congresses supported by the Federation within a 3 year interval.

The General Assembly consists of :

- Members of the national organizations

- Individual members

- Associate members

The following will have voting rights in the General Assembly :

- The members of the Executive Committee, National Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecological Societies with one vote up to 50 full members, 2 votes for 50-100 full members and 3 votes for over 100 full members (to be nominated by the national organization) and one for each country, for those countries which are not represented as National organizations and have individual members.

- Associate members have no voting rights.

Article VII

The members of the Executive Committee are elected by secret vote by the General Assembly for a period of three years. The President and the officers of the Executive Committee are elected by the elected members of the Executive Committee. The President must be a gynecologist and can be re-elected once. The other members can be re-elected.

Article VIII

Nominees may be made through the national committee or organization or individual full members supported by 2 other full members. Applications for membership should reach the Secretary General at least one month before the next General Assembly. In case of resignation of one or more members of the Executive Committee, the Executive Committee nominates and votes for the new member(s). The General Assembly receives the report of the President, Secretary and Treasurer. The General Assembly takes decisions by simple majority of the voting members. Its sessions are to be held once every three years during the congress.

Article IX

The official language is English.

Article X

International meetings should not interfere with the world congress of the FIGIJ. The world congress of the FIGIJ must be held every three years. Candidates for world, European or other continent congresses under auspices of the FIGIJ must declare their candidacy by written request to the Secretary General at least three months before General Assembly.

The organizing committee of the world, European or continental congresses must pay economy travel and hotel expenses and the registration fee for the President and Secretary General of the FIGIJ. Also, when the FIGIJ organizes a congress or symposium, the organizers must pay to the treasurer of the FIGIJ 1000 USD in advance and 1000 USD after the end of the congress.

2. FIGIJ MEMBERS OF FIGO

The FIGIJ in an integral part of the ”International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics” (FIGO).

Article I

The FIGIJ advises the FIGO in matters related to Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology.

Article II

It is also responsible for arranging scientific programs and research pertaining to Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology during the world congresses of the FIGO, in full agreement with this organization. FIGIJ is represented in FIGO by the President or the Secretary General. The traveling and hotel expenses of the FIGIJ representative to the FIGO meeting must be covered by the FIGIJ.

3. ADMISSION OF NEW MEMBERS AND EXCLUSION OF OTHER MEMBERS FROM THE FEDERATION

Article 1

Organizations or associations which were not members of the Federation at the time of its founding may be admitted provided :

a)  They submit a written request to the President of the FIGIJ accompanied by a copy of their statutes, showing that the latter complies with the requirements of the FIGIJ.

b)  They accept the FIGIJ's statutes.

c)  They pay their subscripition fee every year.

Gynecologists and Pediatricians may submit written requests to the President to become individual members of the FIGIJ provided :

- No national organization exists in their country.

- They accept the Federation's statutes.

All health care professionals who are interested in the aim pursued by the FIGIJ may submit a request to the President to become associate members, accompanied by the promise to accept the Federation's statutes and also pay the same subscription fee in advance.

The decision to admit or refuse a new member lies within the Executive Committee, which is not required to give the reason for its decision.

Article II

The status of a member of the Federation can be lost :

a) By giving notice of resignation.

b) By vote of the General Assembly on a report from the Executive Committee, on a 2/3 majority of the delegates present who have voting rights :

In particular, any organization, individual or associate member who, by reason of his attitude, conduct or inclinations, is considered to have harmed the honor or the interests of the Federation, or whose behavior reflects discredit on the profession must be excluded from the Federation.

Members may also be excluded if they have not participated in the FIGIJ congresses for more than 5 years or those who have not paid their dues for more than 3 years.

4. SUBSCRIPTION

Article 1

Each national organization and each individual member must pay an annual subscription fee to the Federation.

Article II

The amount of the annual subscription paid by national organizations, and other members, will be proposed by the Executive Committee and approved by the General Assembly.

Article III

The income if the FIGIJ must cover :

a) Secretarial costs.

b) The costs of publishing an information bulletin for the FIGIJ members.

c) Traveling and accomodation expenses (see article 2/IV).

d) In certain limited cases expenses are incurred to allow members from poorer countries to attend one of the congresses organized by the FIGIJ.

5. AMENDMENT OF THE STATUTES AND DISSOLUTION

Article I

The draft amendment to the statutes must be submitted by the Executive Committee or by one tenth of the members of the Federation.

It must be submitted to all FIGIJ members at least three months before the General Assembly. The text of the proposed changes must be sent by the Secretary General to each national organization and to each individual member, at least two months before the next General Assembly.

At the General Assembly which is asked to amend the statutes, at least half of the members with voting rights must be present. If this number is not present, a second General Assembly must be convened the next day. This second assembly can reach valid decisions whatever the number of members present.

In all cases, the statutes may be amended only by a 2/3 majority of the voting members present at the General Assembly.

Postal voting is not permitted.

Article II

The decision to dissolve the Federation must be taken by the General Assembly, convened for this purpose and composed of at least 2/3 of the members with voting rights.

If this quorum is not present, the Assembly must be reconvened within 6 months. This second Assembly, meeting in extraordinary session, can reach valid decisions whatever the number of members present. In all cases the dissolution may be decided only by a 2/3 majority of the voting members present at the General Assembly.

In the event of the dissolution being decreed legally or judicially, the General Assembly must designate one or more commisioners for the task of windling up the Federation's assets. This dissolution will become effective only after approval of the final accounts by 2/3 of the Federation's members, who are to be conculted in writing.