established 11 January, 2007, New York, NY
1. The name of this organization is the NGO Committee on Migration
The NGO Committee on Migration is constituted as a Committee of the Conference of Non Governmental Organizations (CONGO) in Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). This Committee was formed in New York in 2006 at the urging of various non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the United Nations ECOSOC, in light of the United Nations General Assembly Resolutions 59/241 and 60/227, the Secretary General’s report of 18 May 2006, the Civil Society Hearings held on 12-13 July 2006, and the United Nations General Assembly high level segment devoted to global migration issues, 13-14 September 2006.
2. Authority and Purpose
The purpose of the NGO Committee on Migration is to encourage the promotion and protection of migrants and their human rights, in accordance with the United Nations Charter. This is accomplished by: a. Facilitating cooperation among its member organizations for the exchange of information, education and awareness and for substantive discussions on the issues and policies related to all facets of global migration under United Nations consideration.
b. Encouraging UN bodies and agencies to include migration policies and issues in their planning and social policy considerations.
c. Acting as a forum which raises awareness of migration in a human rights framework.
d. Cooperating with UN departments, bodies, organizations and agencies to raise public awareness about the frameworks on migration in order to promote, protect, and defend the human rights of migrants.
e. Recommending appropriate policies for migration issues, in cooperation with UN bodies and consistent with UN frameworks.
3. Membership
a. Member: A representative of a non-governmental organization in consultative status with ECOSOC or a representative of a non governmental organization associated with the UN Department of Information upon payment of dues to the Treasurer may become a Member of the Committee, be eligible to vote and hold office. In the event that more than one representative of the same non- governmental organization belongs to the Committee, only one vote may be cast per NGO organization.
b. Supporting Member: A representative of a non-governmental organization, civil society or an academic institution having no status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) or the United Nations Department of Public Information (DPI), a concerned individual, or a person affiliated with a United Nations programme or agency may become a Supporting Member.
Such a member may attend meetings, serve on ad hoc committees or subcommittees, but shall not hold office or vote on Committee business.
4. Membership Dues
The membership year of the NGO Committee on Migration shall be January 1 through December 31. Membership dues shall be let by vote of two-thirds of the Executive Committee. Payment
of membership dues shall constitute membership and shall entitle members to receive notices and other materials as determined by the Executive Committee. Yearly dues shall be payable
at the beginning of the fiscal year. A notice of delinquency shall be sent to members who have not paid dues by March 1. Failure to pay by March 15 shall declare the member as not in good standing.
5. Meetings
a. The Exec Com shall meet at least four (4) times a year.
b. The Chairperson, in consultation with the other officers, shall call all plenary meetings of the NGO Committee on Migration to take place on the second Thursday of every month from 11:30
am to 1:00 pm during the NGO program year, (usually from September through June) unless circumstances related to the calendar require adjustment.
c. Voting at general meetings shall be by majority except at the request of any Member Organization on a specific question, providing a quorum is present. A quorum shall consist of at
least one-third of the Member Organizations. Each Member Organization in consultative status with ECOSOC or DPI shall have (1) one vote.
d. A letter ballot will be taken in the absence of a quorum.
6. Officers and the Executive Committee
The responsibility of the Executive Committee (Exec Com) shall be to carry on the work of the NGO Committee on Migration. The members of the NGO Committee on Migration as a whole
shall be kept informed of the activities of the Executive Committee at the general meetings.
a. The Officers of the NGO Committee on Migration shall be the Chairperson, the Vice-Chairperson, the Secretary, and the Treasurer. A candidate for the office of Chairperson shall have served by election on the Executive Committee for at least two years unless special circumstances occur. The candidate for an office on the Executive Committee, whenever possible, shall have been a member of the NGO Committee for at least one
year unless special circumstances occur. Officers shall be elected for a term of two years. No person shall hold the same office for more than two consecutive terms (four years).
b. The Executive Committee shall be composed of the four Officers, the immediate Past Chairperson, and three Members at Large. No more than two representatives from any single organization shall serve concurrently on the Executive Committee.
c. Three Members at Large shall be elected to serve on the Executive Committee for a term of two years. Other members-at large may be appointed at the discretion of the Chairperson in
consultation with the Executive Committee. No members-at large shall hold the same office for more than two consecutive terms (four years).
d. If a vacancy occurs on the Executive Committee, the position shall be filled by appointment of the Executive Committee based on recommendations from the Chairperson within thirty
days of the vacancy.
e. The Chairperson of the NGO Committee on Migration, with the approval of the Executive Committee Officers, shall determine when a Subcommittee, Task Force or Working Group is necessary to fulfill a current need to further the purposes of the NGO Committee on Migration.
f. Members of the NGO Committee on Migration may petition the Executive Committee to form a Subcommittee, Task Force or Working Group. The decision shall be made by the Chairperson
in consultation with the Executive Committee.
g. Chairpersons of all Subcommittees, Task Forces and/or Working Groups shall be responsible to the Executive Committee and shall report periodically.
h. Subcommittee, Task Force and/or Working Group Chairpersons will be invited to attend Executive Committee meetings.
7. Duties of Officers and Executive Committee
a. The Chairperson shall preside over meetings, promote the general effectiveness of the NGO Committee, ensure communication with the Congress of NGOs (CONGO) and maintain communications with any NGO Committees relating to global migration in Geneva and Vienna as well as appropriate persons in the UN Secretariat.
b. The Vice Chairperson shall be in charge of program planning for the meetings of the overall membership. The Vice Chairperson shall also act in the absence of the Chairperson and
undertake any of the responsibilities defined above.
c. The Secretary shall maintain minutes of Committee meetings, keep a record of attendance and arrange for distribution of minutes to the Executive Committee. The Secretary shall also arrange for distribution of announcements of meetings to all Members and to such other persons and organizations as the Board may decide.
d. The Treasurer shall collect membership dues and other contributions, and be responsible for disbursement and maintenance of accounts. The Executive Committee shall determine the
amount of dues and approve the budget of the NGO Committee on Migration. At the Annual Meeting of the NGO Committee on Migration, the Treasurer shall present a report showing in appropriate detail the assets and liabilities of the committee. This report shall be filed with the minutes of the Annual Meeting and a copy shall be made available to the Conference of NGOs.
The report may consist of a verified or certified copy of any report by the NGO Committee on Migration to the Internal Revenue Service
e. The responsibility of the Executive Committee shall be to carry on the business of the NGO Committee between meetings. All Members of the NGO Committee shall be kept informed of the activities of the Executive Committee through regular reports at each general meeting.
8. Nominations and Elections
a. The Committee Chairperson, in consultation with Committee Officers, shall appoint a Nominating Committee no later than February 1 in the year in which the election of Officers takes place. The Nominating Committee shall be composed of a Chair and at least two other members.
b. Nominations for the four Officers and three Members at Large shall be presented by the Nominating Committee in a written report that shall be circulated to all Members of the NGO Committee one month prior to the meeting at which the election will take place.
c. The election of the four Officers and the three Executive Committee Members at Large shall take place in even numbered years at a general meeting in June. Election of the Executive
Committee shall be decided by a vote of the majority of members present at the meeting. New Officers shall assume office the following September.
d. The election of officers and procedural matters shall be decided by the vote of the majority of those organizations voting.
e. A letter ballot may be taken in the event that a meeting of the NGO Committee on Migration is not possible or in the absence of a quorum.
9. Finances
a. The Executive Committee is authorized to select the banks or depositories it deems proper for the funds of the NGO Committee on Migration. The Executive Committee shall determine
who shall be authorized from time to time on the NGO Committee on Migration’s behalf to sign checks or to order for the payment of money and to enter into contracts.
b. The payment of dues to the Treasurer, as determined by the Executive Committee, shall entitle members to participate in the activities of the NGO Committee on Migration and to receive the minutes of its general meetings and other materials.
c. The fiscal year shall be from June 1 to May 31 of the next year.
10. Committee Recommendations, Resolutions and Position
Statements
a. The NGO Committee on Migration shall produce recommendations and position statements as appropriate and related to United Nations issues and objectives and reflecting the purpose
of the NGO Committee on Migration.
b. The submission of such materials to ECOSOC, the specialized agencies or any other bodies within the United Nations, however, may not be made in the name of the Committee but shall
be submitted in the name of a Member Organization joined by the names of other Member Organizations that have expressed willingness to endorse the statement and are in consultative
status with ECOSOC.
c. Members may submit recommendations and position statements in writing to the Executive Committee for review and, with recommendation from the Executive committee, to the
membership for action.
11. Amendments to By Laws
a. An amendment to the By-Laws may be proposed by any member in good standing. A proposed amendment shall be submitted in writing to the Executive Committee for consideration for adoption at least 30 days prior to the general meeting at which it would be presented for adoption.
b. Upon approval of the proposed amendment under consideration, the Committee Chairperson, in consultation with the Executive Committee, shall appoint an ad hoc By-Laws Review Sub Committee. The By-Laws Sub Committee shall circulate the proposed amendment and its recommendation regarding it to the general membership at least thirty (30) days prior to the
adoption meeting.
c. Members may recommend changes or additions to the proposed amendment prior to or during the adoption meeting
d. Fifty percent plus one of the voting Members present and in good standing shall be required for the adoption of the proposed amendment.
e. Upon adoption, an amendment becomes part of the By-Laws and is effective immediately.
f. In the event of the dissolution of the NGO Committee on Migration, the Executive Committee, after the payment of all liabilities has been made, shall make assignments and disbursements
of the remaining assets to the Conference of Nongovernmental Organizations in Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (CONGO). Working Group. The decision shall be made by the Chairperson in consultation with the Executive Committee.
NGO Committee on Migration 