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CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS OF THE ASSOCIATION AGAINST
WOMEN EXPORT
Founded 2000
PREAMBLE:
We the citizens of Nigeria resident at home and
abroad, being aware of our responsibility to our
country
and strongly determined to contribute towards her
social, economic, educational, technological and
political development, do hereby establish this
document as the charter and constitution of the
Association Against Women Export.
Background: Exploitation of women and Children for
prostitution is on the increase worldwide and
more so in developing countries. One of the countries
ravaged by this cankerworm is Nigeria,
particularly Edo State where the deplorable economic
conditions have forced many women and children
into prostitution in Europe and the other parts of the
world.
"No one shall be held in slavery or servitude, slavery
and the slave trade
shall be prohibited in all their forms."
Article 4, Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Article 1. Name: This organization shall be called"
ASSOCIATION AGAINST WOMEN EXPORT. And
could be addressed by the acronym "AAWE".
Article 2. Who we are.
AAWE is a charitable association of men and women of
goodwill and integrity committed to the
eradication of all forms of commercialization and
trafficking in humans as well providing charitable
assistance to victims and others at risk from the evil
trade.
Article 3. Legal Status: AAWE will be incorporated as
an international Not-for-Profit Organization in
the State of Texas, USA. The Corporation is organized
for charitable and educational purposes and
shall thereafter apply for tax exempt status within
section 501(c)(3) and any other relevant section(s) of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1954.
Article 4. Mission Statement:
AAWE is deeply committed to taking appropriate
measures to eliminate all forms of trafficking in
humans, the exploitation of women generally, and Edo
women and children in particular. Bearing in
mind the great contribution of women to the welfare of
the family and to the development of society in
general, our overall objective is to assist in
empowering and uplifting women through self-awareness
and education.
In order to achieve the overall aim of the
Association, AAWE shall carry out the following:-
1. involve community leaders, institutions, the law
enforcement agencies and legislatures, media
and the hotel and tourist industries in the fight
against prostitution and commercial traffic in
women and children.
2. involve men and mobilize communities at the
grassroots level in this battle against the
dehumanizing exploitation of women and children.
3. identify, support and liaise with social
activists and other organizations with similar
objectives to
fight this modern slave trade.
4. lobby governments to enact appropriate laws and
policies, which explicitly criminalize the
trafficking in human beings.
5. influence decision-makers and government
functionaries at all levels in the effected regions
and
countries of the world to put sexual exploitation
and trafficking against all persons, and
especially against women and children, higher on
their list of priorities for action.
6. Establish funds and programs that will assist in
the protection, repatriation, rehabilitation and
reintegration of victims or survivors of
commercial sexual exploitation into society where they
can serve their immediate families and
communities with dignity.
7. Offer scholarships and educational grants to
facilitate vocational training and skills development
programs for indigent children as an early
intervention to stop them becoming prostitutes.
ARTICLE 5 - BYLAWS
Section 1- No individual member can make decision that
will be binding on the association without due
authority or delegation by the President acting in
conjunction with the Executive committee.
Section 2. The activities or functions of the
Association will be carried out on democratic
principles.
Section 3. That the nature and authorized function of
the organization, together with provisions for
proper disposition of residual assets and liabilities
upon dissolution, will be established in the
Constitution and Bylaws
Section 4. That the organization is self-sustaining
and can solicit for funds for activities to facilitate
the
achievement of its lofty objectives
Section 5. The organization is and shall be a
financially self-sustaining, non-governmental
organization,
incorporated or not, and constituted, established, and
operated by individuals acting exclusively outside
the scope of any official capacity as officers,
employees, or agents of the government.
Section 6.) The organization will carry indemnity
insurance adequate enough to cover activities in
which it is involved.
Section 7) Individual members or their agents may
become personally liable for their own actions,
which falls outside the scope of their authority or
outside the constitution.
Section 8) Individual members may not become
personally liable if the assets of the association are
insufficient to discharge all liabilities of the
association upon dissolution, bankruptcy, or
insufficiency of
funds.
Section 9. The property of this association shall
consist of such articles as may properly come into its
possession. The Treasurer shall account for the
property or any officer who is assigned such
responsibility in accordance with sound business
practices.
Section 10. A historical file consisting of the
following permanent records will be maintained by the
recording Secretary.
a. Original Constitution with all the current
revisions.
b. Original Bylaws with all current revisions.
c. Records of approval of Constitution and Bylaws and
all amendments thereto.
d. Articles of association if incorporated as a non
profit organization.
d. Current list and addresses of officers and members.
e. Copy of last audit.
Section 11. All records of this association, excluding
permanent files and the uncompleted checkbook,
will be cut off at the end of the calendar year, held
at least three years after which time they may be
destroyed. The checkbook will be placed with related
records when it is completed.
ARTICLE 6 - OFFICERS AND GOVERNING BODY
Section 1. Elected officers of the organization shall
be the President, Secretary General, Treasurer,
and Financial Secretary. Elected officers will serve
for the term of two year. If an elected officer
resigns
prior to an election to replace him/her, then the
Executive Committee will appoint a replacement until
the next general membership meeting.
Section 2. Duties of Officers: The duties of the
officers shall be as follows:
(a) The President:
The president of the Executive Committee shall
have supervision over the policy and business of
AAWE. He or she shall preside at meetings of the
Executive Committee and shall acts as the
Chairman of the General Conference of all
members. The President shall guide the association
in making policy decisions and shall work closely
with the executive committee in making such
decisions. In conjunction with the other
executive committee members the president shall plan,
conduct and host all the social functions as well
as the Fund raising drive aimed at achieving the
objective of AAWE.
In the absence of secretary General, The
President shall delegate the actual minute taking to
the Financial Secretary in the first instance, or
to any other member of the executive Committee.
(b) The Secretary General:
The Secretary General shall be responsible for
executing and conducting all the routine
business of AAWE and shall maintain a record of
all actions taken and keep proper Minutes of
meetings of the Executive Committee. He shall act
as the secretary at the general Conference
of all members and keep proper minutes of
meetings of that conference as well as at Executive
committee meetings.
It is also the duty of the Secretary General to
issue conference communique, keeps records of
all current members, publish the annual
membership roster and maintain close relationship with
the members of the association.
(c) The Treasurer :
The Treasurer shall be
responsible for all funds belonging to AAWE. The
Treasurer must maintain proper accounts and must
submit at each executive committee
meeting and to each general conference, a
comprehensive financial statement covering the
preceding period together his or her
recommendations regarding the future financial policy
and
plan of the association.
The treasurer shall prepare a budget for the approval
of the executive committee and shall plan all fund
raising activities of the association. He or she shall
receive all funds paid to the club and disburse such
funds as authorized by the executive committee,
maintain records of all transactions and report all
transactions as required. The Treasurer shall provide
the financial Secretary with copies of all
transactions and shall submit all records to the
financial secretary to enable the latter carryout
audits
and prepare form 900 for the IRS.
d. Financial Secretary:
The Financial secretary shall carry out an annual
audit of the revenues and expenditures of the
association. He shall keep a separate book of account
that details all transactions of the Association.
He also has the responsibility to prepare Form 990 in
such a way that will facilitate the information that
will allow the IRS to determine that the association
continues to fulfill the requirements for its
tax-exempt status.
He shall also take minutes of meetings in absence
of Secretary General.
Section 3. Nominations, elections, terms of
office, and duties are as outlined in the Bylaws.
Elected officers of the organization will be
elected at the first general membership assembly.
Officers will be elected by a majority vote of
the members present.
Section 4. Ad hoc committees may be appointed by
members or by the Executive committee for a
particular purpose from time to time. Where applicable
such committee will serve for a term of two year
or until their task is completed which ever comes
first
Section 5. The organization shall be administered in
accordance with this approved Constitution and
the Bylaws of the organization under the supervision
of the Executive committee.
Section 6. The Executive committee will consist of the
elected officers and/or chairperson(s) of Ad-
hoc Committee by invitation. The Executive committee
will be presided over by the President or in the
absence of the President, another member of the
elected Executive committee selected by the other
executive members present.
Section 7. The Executive committee shall carry out the
Mission statement of this organization by
approving the transaction of its routine business in
accordance with the approved Constitution and
established policies that are necessary for the
governance this Association.
ARTICLE 7 - MEMBERSHIP -
Section 1. Membership in this organization shall be
voluntary and shall be opened to all Edos and
friends of Edos with a special interest in fulfilling
the objectives of the association. Membership will be
assigned to any person who has fulfilled applicable
membership requirements.
Section 2. Application for the Executive shall review
membership Board based on the criteria to be set
up for that purpose.
Section 3. The membership dues of this organization
shall be of an annual amount to be determined
by the Executive committee. No dues shall be refunded
upon departure or reassignment of any
member.
Section 4. The Constitution and Bylaws shall be
available for review by all members and will be
binding
on all members after such review.
ARTICLE 8. METHOD OF FINANCING
Section 1. The revenue necessary to pursue the
objectives of this organization shall be derived from
the dues paid by members, from donations made to the
association, and from revenue producing
activities entered into by the association. All
revenue producing activities shall have prior approval
of the
Executive committee.
Section 2. The Association's accounting records shall
be kept and subjected to annual audits in
accordance with standard accounting practices.
Section 3. The Executive committee shall expressly
approve all expenditures for the operation of this
organization and shall ensure that all disbursements
are within the purpose for which this organization
was established, in accordance with sound business
practices, and within the budget.
Section 6. The organization year shall run from
January to January. The fiscal year and the
membership year shall run from January to December.
ARTICLE 10 - ACTIVITIES
Section 1. This Association will conduct activities
that support the purpose of the AAWE which
include, but not limited to, sponsorship, fundraising
ceremonies, raffles, lottery, and solicitation of
funds
to support the purpose of the association. Other
activities, which will be conducted in accordance with
the purpose of the association, include purchasing and
presenting materials, awards and gifts, hosting
of dinners, receptions, and other similar socials
events necessary to support or achieve the mission
statements of the association.
Section 2. All fund raising activities by AAWE shall
promote the positive image of women and children
in general and of the Edo (Nigerian) woman in a
particular.
Section 3. AAWE shall offer, accept and enjoy the
moral and financial support of organizations or
groups with the ultimate goal of fostering a better
life for women and children who are at risk from
exploitation and prostitution.
ARTICLE 10 - MEETINGS AND QUORUMS
Section 1. The Annual General Meeting shall be held
each summer or at times as deemed necessary
by the Executive committee. Election to the Executive
committee shall be held at the Annual general
Meeting. At each meeting, the treasurer will render a
financial status report. A quorum of at least half of
the members present will be required for any issue
called to vote.
Section 2. Executive Committee meetings. The
Executive Committee shall meet regularly as
required to facilitate the achievement of the
objectives of AAWE. The Chairperson or President
shall designate the date, medium and time of the
meeting. A quorum shall consist of a simple
majority of the voting members of the Executive
committee. The vote of the majority of the
quorum shall prevail as the resolution of that
meeting.
Section 3. Special meetings of the Executive committee
may be called at the request of any
committee member with the due consultation with the
Chairperson or President unless it is for the
removal of that President.
Section 4. State of the Art methods of conducting
meetings such as e-mail, Group chat, video
conferencing or others shall be acceptable as
medium of communication and meetings.
ARTICLE 11 - ADOPTION AND AMENDMENTS OF THE
CONSTITUTION.
Section 1. Adoption.
a. All activities and functions of this organization
shall be in accordance with this constitution as duly
adopted or amended.
b. This constitution shall become effective upon
adoption by a majority vote of the voting members
present at in a duly constituted meeting of the
general membership. Once adopted or amended this
constitution shall then supersede all previous
constitutions and amendments.
Section 2. Amendments.
(a) A member desiring to propose an amendment to this
constitution shall submit the proposed
amendment in writing or by e-mail with his/her
signature to the Executive committee for consideration
and appropriate action.
(b) Notice of amendments to the Constitution must be
given to the Executive committee of AAWE
before it can be presented for a vote at a regular or
general meeting of the all members.
(c ) Amendments to the constitution must be approved
by:
1) Majority vote of the members of the Executive
committee present and voting in a duly constituted
regular or special meeting of the Executive committee,
and by ;
2) Majority vote of the members present and voting in
a duly constituted, regular or special meeting of
the general membership.
Article 12. AMENDMENT Of BYE-LAWS
Bylaws may be amended by a majority vote of the
Executive committee present and voting in a
duly constituted meeting. A member desiring to
propose an amendment shall present it in
writing or by e-mail with his/her signature to
the Executive committee. The Board must consider
the proposed amendment at the next meeting.
ARTICLE 13 - DISSOLUTION
Section 1. Upon dissolution of the association by an
affirmation vote of a majority of the general
membership, without any provision to meet again in the
future, all funds in the treasury at the time will
be used to meet any outstanding debts, liabilities, or
obligations. The balance of these assets will be
disposed of in a manner consistent with all state and
local laws and as determined by the members.
This liquidation may not result in a personal
liability on part of individual members.
This Constitution and Bylaws was approved by the
Executive committee at a regular meeting
held on the .......day of ..... 2001. In witness
whereof the following officers affixed
their signatures.
President: Rosaline Osemetiti Okosun
Secretary General: Johnson Edionwe
Treasurer: Cynthia Enahoro
Financial Secretary: Hilary Evbayiro
Signature of Members .
Members should adopt the constitution by apending
their names to this attached form and
e-mail to Rosaline Etiti Okosun
I, .................. of .....................
( Full legal name ) ( Address with countryand Zip
code)
hereby adopt this document as the charter and
constitution of the Association Against Women Export (
AAWE)
1.Rosaline Etiti Okosun
2.Cynthia Enahoro
3.Joy Guobadia
4.Hilary Evbayiro
5.Johnson Edionwe
6.Obas J. Ebohon
7.Ben Imhonde
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Association Against Women Export (AAWE)
