A Final Draft of a Proposed Revised Constitution was sent to all national associations during December 2005 for review and feedback. Your association’s feedback at this stage is most important in determining the final version to go before the Extraordinary Council.

The World Executive Committee presents this Final Draft before a Final Proposed Revised Constitution is distributed in June 2006. It will be presented for a vote in the Extraordinary World Council Meeting in July 2007.

There will be no amendments accepted at World Council to this Proposed Revised Constitution. The vote will be taken in two parts:

• The Preamble, Basis and Purpose – accept or reject; and
• The rest of the Revised Constitution – accept or reject.

What you will find in this Final Draft of a Revised Constitution:

• Only a Constitution (no Bye-Laws – no need for Bye-Laws as everything included in the Draft Constitution)
• Streamlined and consistent – easier to read
• Language simplified for ease in understanding and in translating
• Preamble, Basis and Purpose written to include the diversity of all associations – every association can find themselves in one or more of these sections
• Clear statement of requirements for affiliation and continuing membership in World YWCA
• Equal number of votes at World Council for all associations
• World Executive Committee name changed to World Board
• World Board will consist of 22 members

The Steering Group of the Governance Task Force worked long distance since October 2004 with a final meeting in September 2005 to finalize and present its recommendations to the World Executive Committee. The Steering Group diligently worked to incorporate the ideas from the returned Questionnaires which responded to the Resolution from WC 2003 as well as to streamline this basic document guiding our World YWCA.

Now it is your turn as Members of the World YWCA! The World Executive Committee wants to hear from all National Associations – will your Association be able to vote to accept this Proposed Revised Constitution? If not, what sections are problems for your acceptance? Why? What would your Association suggest in place of that section which will reflect the viewpoints of majority of our Movement?

Your feedback is needed before March 27, 2006. Use this feedback form for easy response.

Fax form to the World YWCA at +41 22 929 6044 or email juliarty.masson@worldywca.org .

At World Council 2003 member associations called for an Extraordinary Meeting of the World Council in August 2007 to adopt a revised Constitution and Bye-Laws for the World YWCA. The resolution calling for this meeting asked that a Task Force be established to review the values, identity, structure, representation and decision making of the World YWCA. This Extraordinary World Council meeting will take place in August 2007 in Nairobi, Kenya, and after considering and approving a revised Constitution and Bye-Laws, the quadrennial World Council meeting is anticipated to convene under the new Constitution and Bye-Laws.

World YWCA President, Mónica Zetzsche has appointed a Task Force, chaired by Juwita Suwito from the YWCA of Malaysia, and Anita Andersson from the YWCA/YMCA of Sweden and former World President. There are a total of 55 members representing 39 national associations, the World YWCA Executive Committee and staff, and partner organisations. The Task Force met in September 2004 and presented recommendations to the Executive Committee. These recommendations are available for review and feedback from member associations and are contained in a “ Sample Revised Constitution/Bye-Laws and Questionnaire”.

All national associations, including boards, committees, volunteers, staff and members, are encouraged to study and respond to the questionnaire in order to help the Task Force and Executive Committee develop a revised Constitution and Bye-Laws for adoption at the Extraordinary Meeting. The deadline for input is June 15, 2005.

This part of the Members Page is a resource centre for materials to assist your association in participating in this process. Available for downloading are:

• Letter from World YWCA President and General Secretary - English | Spanish

• Sample Revised Constitution/Bye-Laws with Questionnaire - English| Spanish

The documents contained in the following sections will be helpful in providing additional background in evaluating the alternatives.

World YWCA Constitution
The World YWCA Constitution is the basic document being reviewed by the movement.

World YWCA Strategic Plan
The World YWCA Strategic Plan serves as a road map towards realising the shared vision of the YWCA movement of 25 million women and girls in 125 countries.

World Council 2003 Resolutions
These resolutions from the World Council provide the mandate for the Governance Task Force

Terms of Reference for the Governance Task Force
This document provides the purpose, objectives and organisation of the Steering Group and the Consultative Group and the expected outcomes of the task force.

World YWCA Governance Task Force Concept Paper
The Concept Paper explains the role of the Task Force, proposes a process for consultation with the World YWCA movement and national associations, identifies the issues to be considered by the Task Force, and provides an introduction to the issues to be considered.

Standards of Good Management and Accountability in YWCAs

The Standards of Good Management and Accountability in the YWCA have been developed and adapted from similar tools of YWCAs and other non-governmental organisations.
English | Spanish

All documents can be downloaded directly or may be requested from the World Office. The Questionnaire can be filled out by computer and sent electronically to the World YWCA: questionnaire@worldywca.org.