Statutes

Statute 1 The World Association for Sexual Health (WAS) is an international association made up of national or international societies, associations, institutes and individual supporting members, professionally involved in the field of sexual health.

Statute 2 The World Association for Sexual Health is incorporated in Minnesota, U.S.A. as a non profit organization.

Statute 3 The Statutes are written in English, which is the official language.

Statute 4 The application of the present Statutes is assisted by the By-Laws.

Statute 5 Mission Statement: The World Association for Sexual Health promotes sexual health throughout the lifespan and through the world by developing, promoting and supporting sexology and sexual rights for all. WAS accomplishes this by advocacy actions, networking, facilitating the exchange of information, ideas and experiences and advancing scientifically- based sexuality research, sexuality education and clinical sexology, with a trans-disciplinary approach.

The purpose of WAS is to advance International cooperation in the field of sexology and by coordinating the activities designed to increase research and knowledge in sexology, including sexuality education, sexual health and the alleviation of sexual suffering.

The mission of WAS is carried out through:

1. Advocating for sexual rights;
2. World Congress of Sexual Health;
3. Regional or interregional meetings;
4. International exchange of information;
5. Promoting scientific and ethical standards for training and education for professionals of sexual health;
6. Establishment of working relations with International Agencies, Organizations and Societies;
7. Recognizing outstanding contributions in the field of sexology.

Statute 6 The World Association for Sexual Health has five different types of members: 1. International Organizations 2. National Organizations 3. Professional Institutes 4. Individual supporting members 5. Honorary members

Statute 7 INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS: are those organizations working at an international level and or in several countries with a focus in areas related to sexual health that submit an official application and are admitted by the General Assembly of WAS.

Statute 8 NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS: are those organizations that have a membership representative of a country’s sexual health related professionals that submit an official application and are admitted by the General Assembly of WAS.

Statute 9 PROFESSIONAL INSTITUTES: are groups of two or more individuals who organize themselves to provide services or products in the areas related to sexual health that submit an official application and are admitted by the General Assembly of WAS.

Statute 10 INDIVIDUAL SUPPORTING MEMBERS: are those individuals working professionally in areas related to sexual health who submit an official application and are admitted by the General Assembly of WAS.

Statute 11 HONORARY MEMBERSHIP: may be conferred by the General Assembly to persons or organizations who have made important contributions in the area of sexual health.

Statute 12 There are five Regional Federations affiliated to WAS: The Latin American Federation of Sexological and Sex Education Societies (FLASSES), The European Federation of Sexology (EFS), The Asian-Oceania Federation of Sexology (AOFS), The African Federation for Sexual Health and Rights (AFSHR) and The North American Federation of Sexuality Organizations (NAFSO).Members of WAS in the same geographic area of the World will automatically be members of the Regional Federation. As a part of WAS, all members of Regional Federations will be members of WAS.

Statute 13 Membership in WAS may be terminated by resignation or suspension. Suspension is an action taken by the General Assembly or by the Executive Committee between meetings of the General Assembly with the approval of the majority (half plus one) of the members of the Advisory Committee of WAS. Members who have not paid dues for more than 4 years will have their membership automatically terminated.

Statute 14 The World Association for Sexual Health has three operating bodies: the General Assembly; the Advisory Committee; and the Executive Committee.

Statute 15 The General Assembly is the governing body of WAS.

Statute 16 The General Assembly is composed of: 1. Delegates from each member organization. The number of delegate votes of each member organization will be from one to six according to the conditions stated in the Bylaws; 2. Members of the Advisory Committee of WAS.  Elected members of the Advisory Committee and Presidents of the Regional Federations will have one vote each; 3 3. Individual supporting members can be present in the General Assembly; they can participate but will not have a vote.

Statute 17 The General Assembly meets every two years on the occasion of the World Congress of Sexual Health. A special General Assembly may be convened by the Executive Committee or at the request of the majority (half plus one) of the members of the Advisory Committee or the request made by 30% of the organizational members of WAS. The agenda of the General Assembly is planned by the Executive Committee, which should be approved by the Advisory Committee. Any agenda should have as the last point: Miscellaneous. The decisions of the General Assembly are based upon a simple majority vote, excluding any amendment to these Statutes.

Statute 18 The General Assembly of the World Association for Sexual Health has the following functions: 1. Receives and approves the Report from the President; 2. Receives and approves the Report from the Secretary General/Treasurer, which should include a budget for the following 2 years; 3. Receives the Report from the Organizing Committee of the World Congresses; 4. Receives the Report of any other Committees that have been created; 5. Decides upon the organization of future World Congresses of Sexual Health and gives the Executive and Advisory Committees the responsibilities to organize such meetings; 6. Decides upon the publications of the World Association for Sexual Health; 7. Approves the membership of new applicants; 8. Elects from among its members 19 persons to the Advisory Committee, for the time period between two ordinary General Assemblies. The voting is secret. For a valid election, the persons elected must represent a minimum of ten nationalities and at least five continents.  A gender balance of the Advisory Committee is also required.  It is understood that the voting will be done the day that the ordinary General Assembly takes place; 9. Decides upon matters brought to the attention of the General Assembly.

Statute 19 The Advisory Committee is the second- ranking governing body of the World Association for Sexual Health. It consists of 19 elected members, the immediate Past President of WAS, and the current Presidents of the Regional Federations. All Past Presidents of WAS are considered Ex–Officio members of the Advisory Committee (without voting rights). Other ex-officio member can be nominated, however they shall not have voting rights.

Statute 20 The Advisory Committee is a consultative, supportive, decisive and supervising body whose fundamental role is to watch over the stability of WAS.

Statute 21 The Advisory Committee meets at the request of the President of WAS or when at least 51% of its members request a meeting. It is mandatory that the Advisory Committee meet before any General Assembly (ordinary or extraordinary). The Advisory Committee could meet every time it is required by the Executive Committee as a whole or by any five (5) members of the Executive Committee. Its decisions are based on a simple majority vote.

Statute 22 The Advisory Committee has the following functions: 1. Elect among its members an Executive Committee consisting of a President, Vice- President and four associate Secretaries immediately after their election by the General Assembly. After that, the new President will choose the Secretary General/Treasurer from among the members of the new Advisory Committee; 2. Approve any suspension of membership; 3. Approve the agenda for the ordinary or extraordinary General Assembly; 4. Elect among its members a President and 4 members of the Scientific Committee of WAS; 5. Approve any impeachment of the President or any other Advisory Committee member; 6. Approve or deny any recommendation for membership (Individual or Organizational) made by the Executive Committee.

Statute 23 The Executive Committee is the third- ranking governing body of the World Association for Sexual Health.

Statute 24 WAS has vested its power in the The Executive Committee at times when the ordinary or extraordinary meeting of the General Assembly is not in session. Its decisions are based on a simple majority vote. Any decision that implies a new policy, a new procedure or that would require the approval of the General Assembly must be consulted and approved by Advisory Committee of WAS

Statute 25 A meeting of the Executive Committee will be held at least once a year, pursuant to the conditions provided by the By-Laws.

Statute 26 The Executive Committee has thirteen (13) members: President, Vice-President, Secretary General/Treasurer, four (4) Associate Secretaries, the immediate Past-President of WAS, and the current five Regional Federation Presidents. The officers are President, Vice-President, Secretary General/Treasurer and immediate Past-President.

Statute 27 The President of WAS is the chairperson of the Executive Committee, the Advisory Committee and of the General Assembly. He or she, along with the Secretary General/Treasurer, are entrusted with carrying out the daily work of WAS. At the end of his or her term of office, the President will remain a member of the Executive Committee as Immediate Past- President for an additional term

Statute 28 The Vice-President acts in the absence of the President and may be entrusted with special duties by the Executive or Advisory Committee.

Statute 29 The Secretary General/Treasurer is entrusted, along with the President, with carrying out the day-to-day work of WAS. He or she is responsible for the execution of all decisions taken by the General Assembly, the Advisory Committee and the Executive Committee and renders to it an account of the activities of the WAS. The Secretary General/Treasurer is 4 responsible for the financial management of WAS and for presenting an audited financial statement to the General Assembly.

Statute 30 In case of conflicting interests between the President and the Secretary General/Treasurer, the President may request that the Executive Committee vote to remove the Secretary General/Treasurer and choose a replacement from the members of the Advisory Committee.. The Secretary General/Treasurer may appeal to the Advisory Committee if he/she believes that the Executive Committee’s decision was unfair.

Statute 31 The Secretary General/Treasurer, at the end of their term, should provide in electronic form, a written, detailed, and complete record of WAS programmatic and financial activities undertaken during their term and a report on WAS’ current financial status.

Statute 32 The Associate Secretaries play an active role in the functions of the Executive Committee. They may be entrusted with special duties by the Executive or Advisory Committee.

Statute 33 For all important problems, the President and the Secretary General/Treasurer convene the Executive Committee and follow its decisions made by a simple majority vote.

Statute 34 The Advisory Committee and/or the Executive Committee may appoint working committees or subcommittees or other special assigned task to persons or group of persons, on specific areas.

Statute 35 No member of the Executive Committee may be re-elected for a second term in the same position and in no case may a successor to a President be from the same country.

Statute 36 The World Association for Sexual Health has as income sources, the following:

1. Dues of the  member organizations;
2. Dues of individual members;
3. Income  from the World Congresses, Regional Meetings, etc.;
4. Grants, donations and/or special contributions;
   
5. Any other approved income.

Statute 37 The Secretary General/Treasurer of WAS, in accordance with the President, should present an annual operating budget to the Executive and Advisory Committees and reports on this budget to the General Assembly of WAS.

Statute 38   WAS has a Scientific Committee.

Statute 39 The Scientific Committee of WAS it is formed by five (5) members who are elected by the Advisory Committee from its members. Their term in office is for the time period between two Ordinary General Assemblies and they are immediately elected after the election of the new Executive Committee. The members elected to the Scientific Committee will choose their President.

Statute 40 The Scientific Committee of WAS oversees the scientific quality of the Congresses and other scientific activities undertaken by the Association

Statute 41 Requests for WAS sponsorship of a Scientific meeting must be submitted to the Executive Committee.  The Executive Committee will request the opinion of the Scientific Committee of WAS. If the sponsorship is granted, the Scientific Program shall be supervised by the Scientific Committee of WAS. The Executive Committee will establish a financial arrangement with the organizers of the sponsored scientific meeting that should include, when possible, a payment to the World Association for Sexual Health.

Statute 42 The Statutes of the World Association for Sexual Health may be modified on the recommendation of the General Assembly taken by two-third majority vote after a proposal offered by the Advisory Committee or any five (5) members of the General Assembly. Any proposed change must be presented to the membership at least 30 days before the day of the General Assembly.

Statute 43 A quorum of two-thirds of the member organizations is necessary in order that the General Assembly may, by a two-third majority, order the dissolution of the Association. The distribution and allocation of funds, goods and property of WAS will follow the procedures that the non-profit status granted by the U.S.A.  authority requires. 5