Rules of Procedure

Submitted by lbomassi on 18 May, 2009 - 15:52

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(March 26, 2009)

  1. Establishment: The Parliamentarians Network for Conflict Prevention and Human Security (Network) was created in follow-up to the Declaration of the EastWest Institute’s (EWI) International Task Force on Preventive Diplomacy (Task Force), ‘Making Conflict Prevention Real’ (December 2007). The Network, along with the establishment of an International Panel on Conflict Prevention and Human Security (Panel), is a practical advisory and advocacy mechanism that will focus attention on key policy issues and help shorten the time between early warning and early response to prevent violent conflict.
  2. Organization: The Network will be a practical, standing structure for parliamentarians working on improving political frameworks in order to foster preventive action. The Network should ultimately become a stand-alone initiative, independent of both EWI and the Task Force.
  3. Legal Status: The Network will not be a legal entity.
  4. Secretariat:
    1. The EastWest Institute’s Preventive Diplomacy team will serve as the Secretariat to the Network until the Panel is set up, and the Joint Secretariat for the Panel and Network can be established.
    2. The Secretariat will document all of the Network’s proceedings and report on its program of work annually, and will provide logistical, administrative, and intellectual support to the Network.
    3. Network members have the right to request from the Secretariat: briefings, background material, commissioned papers, or meetings with persons of interest to the Network. The Secretariat will make every effort to respond positively to each request.
  5. Membership:
    1. Membership will be open to all current and former members of legislatures and parliaments at federal, national, and regional levels.
    2. Network members will represent themselves in their individual capacity, and not as a representative of a parliament or parliamentary party.
    3. Members will actively work both at the national and international level to implement the Network’s Guiding Principles.
    4. Former members of parliament may lend their advice and experience by actively participating in Network meetings and activities, but may not hold voting rights.
    5. The Network, while reserving membership to current and former MPs, will seek to establish cooperative working links with other parliamentary and parliamentarian organizations, as well as NGOs, foundations, the media, and individuals (including academics, businessmen, etc.) who are similarly committed to avoiding the outbreak of violent conflict. Additionally, the Network will engage with relevant regional and international organizations.
    6. In addition, at the suggestion of Network members, observers may attend meetings, but will have no voting rights. These observers may come from NGOs, military, academia, business, the media, and regional and international organizations, etc.
    7. Members may resign from the Network by submission of written notification to the Secretariat.
    8. Membership can be revoked by a decision of the Network. Requests to revoke membership can be submitted by Network members to the Executive Council, which will be discussed at the next Network meeting.
  6. Governance:
    1. The work of the Network, such as agreeing its focus issues and determining the scope of its activities, will be guided by a gender-balanced Executive Council composed of six Network members representative of each of the six continental regions around the globe: Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe, Latin America, and North America.
    2. The Executive Council will include two Co-Chairs, whose position will be limited to a two-year term. Executive Council positions and the Co-Chairs, as well as other positions deemed necessary, will be assigned by a majority of Network members.
    3. Only sitting parliamentarians may be nominated to Executive Council positions (see 5.d.) but, once elected, should serve out their Network office term irrespective of their maintaining parliamentary office
    4. While decision-making will be the prerogative of the Executive Council, to encourage active network participation and inclusivity, all Network members should be involved in the decision-making process to the furthest extent possible, and should include close interaction and consultation between the Executive Council and the Secretariat.
  7. Meetings: The Network will meet at least twice a year in order to facilitate capacity-building, experience-sharing, and advocacy opportunities, as well as to develop the Network. Technology will be used to its fullest in order to facilitate conference calls, video conferencing, and other forms of communication channels to ensure regular exchange     between members.
  8. Remuneration: Membership in the Network is honorary.
  9. Dissolution: The Network reserves the right to dissolve this Network.