Panafrican Women `s Association:

Statutes

§ Section 1 Name:
Association's name is PAWA, Pan-African Women Association in Norway.
PAWA was founded in 2003 and is currently only active in Oslo

§ Section 2 Objectives
PAWAs objectives are:
- To create meeting places for panafrican women in Norway.
- To create networks and promote academic exchanges between members.
- To increase the contact between members.
- To contact other African societies in Norway and be familiar with their activities.
- To prepare panafrican women's rights and obligations in the Norwegian society.

§ Section 3 Organization
PAWA is an Oslo-based association that brings together women of African Background.
The organization works to create meeting places for panafrican women in Norway, networking, and promote academic exchanges between members.
Organization addresses the health and social problems as well as the integration/inclusion issues and wants to function as bridge between panafrican women and the Norwegian authorities to exchange important information. We aim to raise awareness among women about their panafrican integration opportunities and responsibilities in the Norwegian society. We see the necessity of Pawas role as a link between Norwegian authorities and panafrican women.

We find that our members have many common issues in relation to knowledge about their own and their children's situation. Our experience is that public bodies have joy and advantage of being able to deal with an organization in meeting with these women, to promote the necessary measures for the group.

§ 4 Membership
PAWA is an umbrella organization for all African women organizations in Norway. In addition, there is a league that is for all Panafrican women over 18 years registered in the Norwegian population and who have paid their dues.

§ 5 The Board of Directors

The committee is headed by a board that is responsible for the annual meeting (AGM). The Board consists of 6 members. The Board distributes tasks between different members groups that are represented on the board. The chair calles for board meetings which is mandatory for all the Board members. A third of the board members are required for summoning meetings.

§ Section 6 Options
Leader is elected every 2 years. The other board members elected for 2 years with a rolling mechanism. It elects two deputies to the Board for 1 year at a time. At first, the period of 1 year. Annual meeting select an election committee consisting of three members. Committee elected for 1 year at a time. Members of the Board cannot while sitting in the committee.

§ Section 7 Board Decisions
Board decisions are determined by the majority, in case of vote equality leaders vote is crucial.
Only the Board may speak on behalf of the association.
- Members must have the approval of the Board before they can express themselves publicly.
- The Board must appoint a responsible press correspondent.

§Section 8 Annual meeting
The annual meeting is the associations' highest organ and is held once a year.
All members have meeting and voting rights.
The Board determines the time for the annual meeting, and members are notified in writing at least 4 weeks in advance.
Suggestions to the candidates or issues to be set up on the agenda must be presented to the leader no later than 4 weeks before the annual meeting.
The Program agenda and any amendments in the constitution are made available to members no later than 2 weeks before the annual meeting.
Decisions made in annual meetings are passed by the majority. From here, exempt certificate changes require 2/3 of the votes.
To vote over certificate changes, a minimum of 2/3 of PAWAs members must be present.
Annual meetings may demand a written ballot; the leader then has to appoint a count corps.
Annual meeting only takes up cases that are on the program agenda.
The newly elected board are active only immediately after the meeting.
Annual meeting agenda will include the following points:
1. Election of Chairperson.
2. Annual report by the leader.
3. Audited accounts.
4. Budget for the coming year.
5. The determination of the dues.
6. Election of chairman. (Every 2 years max. Total 4 years).
7. Election of directors, (every 2 years).
8. Election of deputies to the Board.
9. Features of the election.
Extra Ordinary Annual Meeting held if:
a) The Board approves this.
b) At least ¼ of the members express in writing a desire for this.
The extraordinary Annual Meeting only take up cases that are put on the program agenda sent to members 14 days before the meeting.

§ Section 9 Funding
The Agency activities are financed through subscriptions and government grants.
Other sources of funding; items. Monetary support, gift, volunteer ... must not be in conflict with the association's purpose or independent nature.
Membership dues are determined by PAWAs members then stipulated by the Board.
This contingent will cover the expenses that PAWA has for journals, administration and the operation of PAWA.
Payments of dues take place once a year.
PAWA keeps its own accounts. The Fiscal year follows the calendar year.

§ Section 10 Resolution
Association may be dissolved by ballot among the members and that by the majority.

§ Section 11 Confidentiality
Members and all who have offices in PAWA has secrecy about members/support members' personal circumstances and the association's internal affairs.

§ Section 12 exclusion
Members that actively violate the associations' objectives or brings private disputes in PAWA will be excluded.
An excluded member can request to have their case heard at the annual meeting or at an extraordinary annual meeting.

§ Section 13 mandate to go out in PAWAs name
Board members represent the Association externally. In case of conflicts, the board's majority decision will apply. Only after a written consent can Members and support members publicly represent PAWA.

On contact with the press, politicians and other associations, the Board must be contacted before the meeting of these can take place.