Statutes of the Association Global Peace Partnership (GPP)

§ 1 Name, Registered Office and Scope of Activities

  1. The association bears the name “Global Peace Partnership (GPP)”.
    The German translation is “Globale Friedenspartnerschaft” and serves exclusively for linguistic clarity in national legal and administrative matters. If required, additional designations such as “Austria”, “International” or other geographical/structural references may be used to distinguish future organizational units. The Board decides on the use of such designations.
  2. The registered office of the association is 8344 Bad Gleichenberg, Dinoplatz 1. Its activities extend to the entire territory of Austria as well as to international cooperation in line with the association’s objectives.
  3. The establishment of branch associations is permitted by resolution of the association.

§ 2 Purpose

  1. The association, which is not oriented towards profit, pursues exclusively and directly charitable purposes within the meaning of §§ 34 ff of the Austrian Federal Fiscal Code (BAO).
  2. The purposes of the association are:
    • Development, promotion and dissemination of the principles of the GPP Peace Charter,
    • Support of international cooperation for peacekeeping, violence prevention and conflict resolution,
    • Promotion of education, science, research and technology in the fields of peace, security, climate protection and poverty reduction,
    • Implementation and support of humanitarian projects (e.g. Humanitarian Care Centers, SEZ education programs, food aid),
    • Establishment of a civil society peace platform for the participation of citizens, experts, states and organizations.

§ 3 Means to Achieve the Purpose

  1. The purpose of the association shall be achieved through non-material and material means.
  2. Non-material means include in particular:
    • Lectures, conferences, symposia and workshops,
    • Publications, digital platforms and media work,
    • Cooperation with universities, schools, NGOs, international organizations,
    • Public relations, peace education and participation programs.
  3. Material means include in particular:
    • Membership fees,
    • Voluntary donations, gifts, legacies,
    • Income from events, publications or projects,
    • Grants from public and private entities,
    • Earmarked contributions for international projects.

§ 4 Types of Membership

  1. Members of the association are divided into:
    • Ordinary members – natural or legal persons actively participating in the work of the association,
    • Extraordinary members – supporters who promote the association through financial contributions or in-kind services,
    • Honorary members – persons who have rendered outstanding services to the association’s objectives.

§ 5 Acquisition of Membership

  1. Admission of members is decided by the Board, which has final authority.
  2. Honorary members are appointed by the General Assembly upon proposal of the Board.

§ 6 Termination of Membership

  1. Membership ends by death (or loss of legal personality for legal entities), voluntary resignation or expulsion.
  2. Voluntary resignation is possible at any time but must be submitted in writing.
  3. A member may be expelled by the Board for gross violation of membership duties or conduct damaging to the association.

§ 7 Rights and Duties of Members

  1. Ordinary members are entitled to participate in all events of the association and to exercise both active and passive voting rights.
  2. Extraordinary and honorary members have the right to participate but have no voting rights.
  3. All members are obliged to promote the goals of the association, to respect the statutes and to pay agreed contributions.

§ 8 Organs of the Association

The organs of the association are:

  1. the General Assembly,
  2. the Board,
  3. the Auditors,
  4. the Arbitration Panel.

§ 9 General Assembly

  1. The ordinary General Assembly takes place at least once a year.
  2. An extraordinary General Assembly must be convened:
    • by resolution of the Board or the ordinary General Assembly,
    • upon written request by at least one tenth of the members,
    • at the request of the Auditors.
  3. The General Assembly is the supreme body of the association. It is responsible in particular for:
    • Election and removal of the Board and Auditors,
    • Approval of the financial statement,
    • Resolutions on amendments to the Statutes and on voluntary dissolution of the association,
    • Fundamental decisions on projects within the framework of GPP.
  4. The General Assembly may also be held electronically (e.g. by video conference) or in hybrid form. Participation via digital means is considered equivalent to personal attendance. Resolutions adopted in this manner are legally binding.

§ 10 Board

The Board consists at minimum of (Vice-Positions ar not necessary):

    1. President (Obmann/Obfrau)
      • English: President (or Chairperson / Chair)
      • German (legal term): Obmann/Obfrau
      • Responsibilities: Overall leadership, external representation of the association, chairing meetings.
    2. Vice President (Obmann-Stellvertreter/in)
      • English: Vice President
      • German: Obmann-Stellvertreter/in
      • Responsibilities: Represents the President in case of absence.
    3. Secretary (Schriftführer/in)
      • English: Secretary (in NGOs often “General Secretary” or “Secretary General”)
      • German (legal term): Schriftführer/in
      • Responsibilities: Minutes, documentation, correspondence.
    4. Deputy Secretary (Schriftführer-Stellvertreter/in)
      • English: Deputy Secretary
      • German (legal term): Schriftführer-Stellvertreter/in
      • Responsibilities: Supports the Secretary and represents him/her in case of absence.
    5. Treasurer (Kassier/in)
      • English: Treasurer
      • German (legal term): Kassier/in
      • Responsibilities: Proper financial management, accounting, budgeting.
    6. Deputy Treasurer (Kassier-Stellvertreter/in)
      • English: Deputy Treasurer
      • German (legal term): Kassier-Stellvertreter/in
      • Responsibilities: Supports the Treasurer and represents him/her in case of absence.

    § 10a Founding Board (Transitional Board)

    1. For the legal constitution of the association, a Founding Board is established, consisting of at least three persons (President, Secretary, Treasurer). This Board is responsible for all legal and organizational steps necessary for registration of the association and its initial operational capacity, in particular:
      • Opening a bank account,
      • Registering and operating the association’s website (including legal imprint),
      • Registering word and figurative trademarks with the competent patent office,
      • Managing membership admissions until the first General Assembly,
      • Building and administering the digital networks and the GPP basic platform.
    2. The Founding Board remains in office until the first ordinary General Assembly is held. This must take place no later than 18 months after registration of the association.
    3. The General Assembly then elects the ordinary Board. With this resolution, the mandate of the Founding Board automatically ends.

    § 11 Responsibilities of the Board

    1. The Board is the executive body of the association. It is responsible for managing the association and for all matters not assigned to another body by the Statutes.
    2. In particular, the Board decides on:
      • Admission and expulsion of members,
      • Preparation and convening of the General Assembly,
      • Preparation of the annual budget, financial statements and reports,
      • Management of the association’s assets,
      • Establishment of committees or working groups.
    3. The Board may appoint paid or voluntary staff to carry out its tasks.
    4. The Board may, during its term of office, co-opt additional Board members with special areas of responsibility (e.g. Public Image & Communication, international treaty preparation, membership development). Such co-opted members have full voting rights and remain until the next General Assembly, which confirms or replaces them.
    5. Board meetings may also be held electronically or in hybrid form. Participation via digital means is equivalent to personal attendance.

    § 12 Specific Duties of Individual Board Members

    1. The President (Obmann/Obfrau) manages day-to-day business and represents the association externally.
    2. The Vice President (Obmann-Stellvertreter/in) represents the President in case of absence.
    3. The Secretary takes minutes of the General Assembly and Board meetings.
    4. The Treasurer is responsible for proper financial management.
    5. In case of prevention, deputies shall replace the respective Board member.

    § 13 Auditors

    1. Two Auditors are elected by the General Assembly for a term of two years. Re-election is possible.
    2. The Auditors are responsible for ongoing financial control and for auditing the association’s financial management. They must in particular confirm the correctness of the accounts and the statutory use of funds.
    3. The results of the audit must be reported to the Board and the General Assembly.
    4. The Auditors may not belong to any body of the association whose activities are subject to their audit – except for the General Assembly.

    § 14 Arbitration Panel

    1. In all disputes arising from the association relationship, an Arbitration Panel decides.
    2. The Arbitration Panel consists of three ordinary members if the Board has up to 10 members. Each party to the dispute nominates one member within eight days of being requested by the Board. These two arbitrators elect a third person as chair of the Arbitration Panel by majority vote. If no agreement is reached, the chair is chosen by drawing lots.
      If the Board has more than 10 members, each party nominates two arbitrators; the rest remains unchanged.
    3. The Arbitration Panel decides, after hearing both parties, by simple majority vote. Its decisions are final within the association.

    § 15 President and Honorary President

    1. The founder of the GPP automatically assumes the function of President for the first term of office.
    2. After this period, the President is elected by the General Assembly like the other members of the Board.
    3. After completion of his/her active presidency, the founder automatically assumes the role of Honorary President.
    4. The Honorary Presidency is conferred for a maximum of two terms of office of the Board. After that, the special function ends automatically; a purely advisory role may be continued if desired.
    5. The Honorary President safeguards the original spirit and core idea of the GPP and protects against corruption, misuse or dilution of the core principles.
    6. The Honorary President has a right of objection to resolutions which:
      • concern amendments to the Statutes or the GPP Peace Charter,
      • affect the fundamental objectives or principles of the GPP, or
      • are likely to impair the independence, integrity or peace orientation of the association.
    7. An objection results in the resolution being resubmitted to the General Assembly for confirmation at a subsequent meeting. It becomes valid only if confirmed there by a qualified majority of at least two-thirds of the valid votes cast.
    8. Each objection must be submitted in writing and made transparent to the members.
    9. For online General Assemblies or digital resolutions, participation is permitted only with prior registration based on the membership list. The identity of participants must be clearly verified; otherwise, their votes are invalid. Meetings must be minuted to prevent manipulation.

    § 16 Transitional Provisions and Entry into Force

    1. These Statutes enter into force upon resolution of the constituent General Assembly.
    2. All organs elected or appointed prior to entry into force shall remain in office until re-election in accordance with these Statutes.
    3. For all matters not regulated in these Statutes, the Austrian Association Act 2002 (BGBl. I No. 66/2002), as amended, shall apply.
    4. The Board is elected by the General Assembly for a term of three years.
    5. It is the executive body and conducts the business of the association in accordance with the resolutions of the General Assembly.

    § 17 Dissolution of the Association and Disposal of Assets

    1. Voluntary dissolution of the association may only be resolved by a General Assembly with a two-thirds majority of the valid votes cast. The motion must be announced as a separate item on the agenda in the invitation.
    2. In the event of dissolution of the association or loss of its charitable purpose, the remaining assets shall pass to a non-profit organization with similar objectives based in Austria or the EEA, as determined by the General Assembly.
    3. Distribution of assets to members is excluded; members have no claims to the assets of the association.
    4. Unless the General Assembly appoints other persons, the Board shall carry out the necessary steps for liquidation within the framework of legal possibilities.
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