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1: NAME – HEADQUARTERS – DURATION

1: General

STATUTES

Article 1 - Name

  1. Under the name « Geneva International Model United Nations » or « GIMUN » has been founded in 1999 a non-profit association under art. 60 and onwards of the Swiss Civil Code, corporately organized, and politically and religiously independent.

  2. GIMUN is bilingual: English – French.

  3. Communication within GIMUN is in French or English without distinction or in both if possible. The official documents written by GIMUN for the United Nations Organization (hereafter “UNO”) are written in English.

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Article 2 - Headquarters

The association’s headquarters are in Geneva.

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Article 3 - Duration

The duration of GIMUN is unlimited.

2: GOALS

2: Goals
Article 4 - Purpose

  1. The association has the following purpose :
    a. To promote the aims and objectives of the UNO and therefore contribute to the UNO’s work via its consultative status in the Economic and Social Council.
    b. To organise realistic academic simulations of UN conferences, organs, agencies and any other multilateral negotiation forum for students worldwide at university level or equivalent.
    c. To promote, alongside the objectives and aims of the UNO, those of Geneva as a place of peace and multilateral democracy, as well as cultural exchange.
    d. To complete the formation of its members by bringing a practical dimension to their theoretical knowledge.

  2. It can also take measures to facilitate the participation in its activities to people in difficult financial situations.

  3. To meet these purposes, the association uses all useful means, including, for instance :
    a. Collaborating with associations sharing similar purposes.
    b. Engaging itself in every activity that is necessary and useful in the pursuit of its social goal and working at an individual and local level as with national and international partners.

3: MEMBERS

3: Members
Article 5 - Members

  1. Any student or former student of the University of Geneva, the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (hereafter “IHEID”) or any other institution considered as an university or Institute of Higher Education can become a member, under the condition that they abide to GIMUN’s goals and that they:
    a. demonstrate a real interest for the activities of the association
    b. share the values of the association
    c. demonstrate substantial engagement and a necessary availability.

  2. The adhesion requests of new members must be addressed in written form to the Executive Board at least 7 days before the annual General Assembly or an extraordinary General Assembly.

  3. For extraordinary General Assemblies, adhesion requests can be done during the General Assembly. Members are admitted as a result of the absolute majority of the members who attend or are
    represented in the General Assembly.

  4. In order to be considered as such, every member must
    pay a 1 CHF annual membership fee.
    a. Executive Board and Advisory Board members
    are exempted from this membership fee.

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Article 6 - Honorary members

On proposal of two of its members, the General Assembly can give the title of honorary member of the association to any physical or legal person having done a particular favour for the association. These members can be consulted by and / or invited to the General Assembly, but cannot claim to have rights within it. They do not have the right to vote.

4: RESIGNATION – LOSS OF MEMBERSHIP STATUS

4: Resignation
Article 7: Resignation of members

Any member can resign from the association at any time simply by writing a letter or an e-mail to the Executive Board.

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Article 8: Loss of membership status

Membership status ends 12 months after the exmatriculation from the University of Geneva, the IHEID (or any other Higher Institute for Education). A member can keep membership after this period of time, without having the right to vote, if a written justification by letter or e-mail is addressed to the Executive Board. The General Assembly will vote on this request, according to the aforementioned article 5, par. 2. This does not apply to members of the Advisory Board, who can be members with voting rights even after their exmatriculation from a Higher Institute of Education.

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Article 9 - Exclusion of a member

  1. In the absence of any contrary statutory article, a member who wrongs the interests of GIMUN or contravenes these statutes can be excluded from the association, by proposal from the Executive Board and by a decision of the General Assembly at a majority of three quarters of its present or represented members.  Any exclusion will be motivated, but there will be no possibility to appeal.

  2. A member who commits an offence within theGIMUN, in particular by damaging in any way whatsoever the physical, mental or moral integrity ofone of the members or by belittling him will beexcluded, by proposal from the Executive Board andby a decision of the General Assembly at a majority ofthree quarters of its present or represented members.Any exclusion will be motivated, but there will be nopossibility to appeal.

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5: Organisation

5: ORGANISATION

Article 10 - Organs of the association

The organs of the association are the General Assembly (hereafter “GA”), the Executive Board, the Advisory Board and the auditors.

6: General Assembly

6: GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Article 11 - Competences of the GA

  1. The GA is the supreme organ of the association.

  2. Its tasks and competences are all the ones that are not expressly attributed to another organ; including for instance:
    a. To define the means to use to reach the goals defined under art. 4
    b. To elect the Board and the auditors
    c. To determine the amount of contributions
    d. To approve the executive report of the Board and to give him discharge
    e. To approve the accounts presented by the treasurer and to give him discharge
    f. To approve the report from the auditors and to give them discharge
    g. To pronounce the exclusion of a member in accordance to art. 9
    h. To modify the statutes
    i. To pronounce the dissolution of the association

  3. The GA meets at least twice a year​ generally once atthe end of each academic semester,​ when convenedby the Board, on convocation of the Board, generally 4 to 8 weeks after the closing ceremony of the AnnualConference. The following rules apply:
    a. The GA is convened at least 10 days before the day of its meeting; the agenda is attached to the notification to attend.
    b. Proposals other than those from the Board must be communicated in written form 7 days before the GA.
    c. Every member or the association has a voice at the GA except for Alumni and Honorary Members.
    d. The decisions of the GA are taken at the simple majority of the present and represented members, save as otherwise provided in the present statutes.
    e. An extraordinary GA can be convened by the Board or on request of one fifth of the members of the association.
    f. The dispositions applying to development of the annual GA apply to the development of the extraordinary GA as well.
    g. The minutes, signed by the president, must be established at every GA.

  4. Save as otherwise provided, the President of the association acts as President of the GA. For decisions regarding the competences and the election of the Board, the GA elects, if possible, an honorary member as President of the GA, at the beginning of the session.

  5. Every member of the association except for the members who have a function to which they have been elected by the members of the GA (President, etc.) can be represented at the General Assembly by another member at the condition of a written act indicating the identities of the representative, the represented member and the duration of the representation.
    a. The act must be dated and signed by the represented person.
    b. The act does not need to contain the specific instructions from the represented member.
    c. One person can only represent one single member.
    d. The act must be a letter or an email.

7: Executive Bord

7: EXECUTIVE BOARD

Article 12 - Composition / Missions of the Board

  1. The Executive Board is composed of at least 6 members :
    a.The President,
    b.The Vice-President,
    c.Two Secretaries-General,
    d.The Public Relations Director,
    e.The Treasurer.

  2. The members of the Board are elected by the GA for a duration of one year, renewable. If no new Board is elected, the GA decides about the future of the association according to the clauses concerning the suspension of the activities of the association. At least three members, alumni or honorary members can also submit a new Board.

  3. The Executive Board is opening applications for newmembers by publishing the information aboutrecruitment. The executive Board evaluates theapplication and interviews selected candidates.candidates are then presented to the GeneralAssembly and chosen by majority of voices.

  4. The GA can decide to adapt the number of Boardmembers to its needs and projects. All executive and administrative tasks of the association must be doneby the Board, including :
    a. Establishing the budget and managing the finances of the association
    b. Proposing to budget to the General Assembly,
    c. Proposing the admission and exclusion of members at the GA,
    d. Scheduling annual priorities,
    e. Attributing the domains of competences of each board member,
    f. Discussing the allocation of resources of the association at the GA,
    g. Convening General Assemblies and preparing the subjects to discuss,
    h. Assuring the safeguarding of official documents of the association, including the foundation act and the statutes,
    i. Hiring salaried employees or representatives for specific tasks depending on the needs of the association.

  5. An absolute majority of the Board members is necessary to validate the deliberations and decisions. The decisions are taken by the simple majority of the Board members. Each member has one voice. In case of equality, the President’s voice is determining.

  6. GIMUN is legitimately represented by each of theBoard members.The Executive Board’s President isnot hierarchically superior to other Board members.

  7. The GA can decide to adapt the number of Boardmembers to its needs and projects.

  8. The treasurer is responsible of holding the counts. He must submit them once a year at the GA

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Article 13 - Resignation / Revocation of a Board member

  1. Resignation of a Board member
    a. Every Board member can resign from their position with three months’ notice, addressed to the GA in a simple letter (priority post) or email.

  2. Revocation of a Board member
    a. On proposal of 2 members of the Board or of one third of the association’s members that have paid their subscriptions, the Board or the GA can propose the revocation of a Boardmember.
    b. The person subject of revocation cannot takepart in this vote.
    c. The decision of revocation can only be voted ifall Board members are present and has to beapproved by their unanimous vote.
    d. If there is no unanimity amongst the Boardmembers, the decision must be taken by the GA. The revocation is valid as a result of a qualified majority of three quarters of the present of represented voting members of theGeneral Assembly. 

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Article 14 - New Board proposal

If, during the duration of the mandate, one or all Boardmembers resign or, if the Executive Board’s mandateis over, the following dispositions apply:
      a. The Board puts at least one person in charge of coordinating, uniting and facilitating the election of the new Executive Board ​which will takeover of the association’s activities. It is usually the role of the President of the Executive Board.
      b. While organising the elections, the Executive Board will:
          i. Make a public call for applications.
          ii. Offer a clear application procedure.
          iii. Interview each applicant under the following condition:

              1. One of the interviewers must have worked in the position         the candidate applied to.
         iv. Issue an Interview report and a minute for each candidate interview,  made available to the GA at least 10 days before it is conveyed. Such documents must assess the candidate’s skills and competences in relation to the position they applied for.
         v. Share the CV, motivation letters and Application Form of every applicant with the GA.
         vi. Advise, if needed, candidates to modify their application.
         vii. Inform the GA and the Advisory Board if and why one of the aforementioned conditions can not be respected.
      c. The New Executive Board is elected for a one year mandate during the General Assembly. The vote will respect the following features:
         i. Each present or represented member under article 11 paragraph 5 has a right to vote.
         ii. Members can not vote for the Executive Board election if they have been elected during the GA in which the election is taking place.
            1. They can vote on every other issues.
            2. Exceptions are new members that run for a position within the Executive Board.
         iii. The members will anonymously write ona ballot paper the full name of the candidates they wish to vote for.
         iv. They must write only one name perposition.
         v. They can vote for any person at any position, even if they are not an applicant.
            1. The applicant's position choices are indicative but should not restrain members from voting freely.
            2. Non GA members can be voted if they are eligible to become members.
         vi.There must be as many ballot papers as voting members.
            1. A blank ballot paper will mean abstention.
        vii. The vote rapporteur, elected by simple majority by the GA at the beginning of the Assembly, will count the votes.
           1. The rapporteur can not be a candidate or a member of the Executive Board.
       viii. Applicants will be elected at a simple majority vote after the first voting round.
       ix. In case of equality, the GA will vote again for the specific position and the specific applicants concerned.
       x. If needed, the president of the Executive can ask for a show of hands vote.
      d. The GA seeks to avoid, as much as possible, that a person assumes the same function several consecutive years.
      e. Candidates apply individually and are voted for individually.

8: ADVISORY BOARD

8: Advisory Board
Article 15 - Composition/Mission

  1. The Advisory Board is made of maximum twenty people.

  2. The members of the Advisory Board are elected on proposal of the Advisory Board and of the Executive Board by the GA for one year, renewable.

  3. The condition to become a member of the Advisory Board is to have contributed in a significant way to GIMUN in the past, not to be a member of the Executive Board.

  4. The Advisory Board is ruled by a President and a Vice-President elected for one year, renewable jointly by the members of the Advisory Board and of the Executive Board.

  5. The Advisory Board’s principle role is to advise and assist the Executive Board. In particular, the Advisory Board assumes the functions of the Executive Board in exceptional circumstances and to ensure the transition from one Executive Board to the next. To do so, it holds regular discussions with the Executive Board and organises specific work groups. The Advisory Board is in contact with the alumni to inform them on the former’s developments and continuous contributions. Its members meet at least two times a year upon initiation of its President, the Executive Board or the GA.

  6. The Advisory Board can, in collaboration with theExecutive Board and the GA, plan and organise longterm projects.

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Article 16 - Competences

  1. The Advisory Board has no decisional power.

  2. The advice from the Advisory Board is consultative and does not bind the Executive Board.

  3. The Advisory Board’s moderator is elected by the Advisory Board and the Executive Board (simple majority of the members of both boards brought together); the Advisory Board helps the Executive Board by advising the latter on the long-term.

9: AUDITORS

9: Auditors
Article 17 - The auditors

  1. Two auditors are elected by the GA for one year, renewable.

  2. Their task is to check and approve the counts and to present their report at the annual GA.

  3. Controls are made three times a year. The first control takes place during the first two weeks of the UNIGE spring semester, the second one between the end of the Annual Conference and the consecutive General Assembly, the third one during the two weeks of the UNIGE fall semester.

  4. By a signed and dated declaration, the auditors certify the accounts were correctly kept, meaning that the following elements were fulfilled:
    a. Transactions have been logged in an internal document until the day before the control.
    b. Transactions have been logged in thedocument addressed to the Commission de Gestion des Taxes Fixes until the day before the control.
    c. The accounting documents must be printed, indexed and classified.
    d. The GIMUN bank accounts and cash account balances comply with what is reported in the internal accounting documents, as with those addressed to the CGTF.

  5. The declarations are presented to the GA immediately following the controls they concern. The GA confirms the reception of the declarations with the signature of the President and the GA minute taker.

10: FINANCING

10: Financing
Article 18 - Resources 

  1. GIMUN’s resources are :
    a. The subscriptions of the members, minimum CHF 1. —
    b. eventual contributions of the members,
    c. donations and bequests,
    d. subventions which could be granted to the association,
    e. income from events organized by the association, from the marketing of the publication or the products, and
    f. Income from the social wealth.

  2. The financial year lasts from April 30 of the current year to April 29 of the following year.

  3. The Board unanimously chooses at least one of its members to have signatory power for bank documents. The signature can be individual or collective, upon unanimous decision of the Board. The obligations of the association are guaranteed by its wealth and by the subscriptions of its members.

 

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Article 19 - Responsibility

The members of the association are not personally liable for corporate debts that are secured by assets of the association. The expenses caused to the association by a member whose acts violate the current laws and customs will be the entire responsibility of this member.

11: STATUTES

11: Statutes
Article 20 - Modification and language of the statutes

  1. Any modification of the statutes must be approved by the GA at a majority of three quarters of the present of represented members.

  2. The French version of these statutes shall be the authoritative text. Any translation shall only have an indicative value.

12: SUSPENSION - DISSOLUTION OF THE ASSOCIATION

12: Dissolution
Article 20 - Modification and language of the statutes

  1. Any modification of the statutes must be approved by the GA at a majority of three quarters of the present of represented members.

  2. The French version of these statutes shall be the authoritative text. Any translation shall only have an indicative value.

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Article 21 - Suspension of the association

The GA can suspend the activities of the association for an undetermined duration by a decision of three quarters of its present or represented members. At this majority, the GA can establish the conditions and modalities by which the activities of the association can be resumed.

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Article 22 - Dissolution of the association

  1. The GA can dissolve the association by a vote at the majority of three quarters of the present or represented members.

  2. The association is dissolved forthwith if its activities have been suspended during more than ten years.

  3. The eventual balance of assets after the liquidation must be attributed to an association with similar goals.

13: FINAL DISPOSITIONS

13: Final Dispositions
Article 23 - Final provisions

  1. For any question not specifically ruled in these statutes, the articles 60 and onwards of the Swiss Civil Code apply in an auxiliary manner.

  2. Any dispute concerning the interpretation or execution of these statutes will be brought to the competent court of the Canton of Geneva, Swiss law being applicable.

​Article 24 - Entry into force

These statutes have been adopted by the GA on May 29, 2020.

 

1 - Relations with the UNO

GIMUN is a non-governmental organization with the special consultative status at the Economic and Social Council of the UN (hereafter "the Council ").

GIMUN acts in conformity with the rules established by the Resolution 1996/31 of the Council.

 

2 - Relations with the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (IHEID)

The IHEID is the principal and official partner of GIMUN and the latter constantly refers to this partnership for advertising purposes by using the IHEID logo on its materials for advertising purposes or on its letters.

This cooperation between the IHEID and GIMUN is ruled by a convention duly signed by both parties. Each party can revoke this cooperation by informing the other party of its withdrawal from the convention one year in advance.

14: ANNEXES & PRIVILEGED PARTNERS

14: Annexes
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