Committee for the Abolition of Illegitimate Debt

 1-Preamble

1. The CADTM network is an international movement which fights for the abolition of Third World Debt, for social emancipation, respectful of nature and freedom from all forms of oppression.

2. The member organisations of the network must promote the links of movements which have similar or complimentary objectives. Unity of action and respect for diversity are the essential principles of our work.

3. The CADTM International network, based on its accumulated experience, has developed a way of functioning which is unique. The adoption of the organizational charter does not mean having a definitive set of fixed rules which are applied in a rigid manner, but rather it establishes and determines the main internal rules and procedures which characterise the work within the network and the dynamic of the CADTM International as a whole. This charter can be modified by the network global assembly by including this point on the agenda.

4. This organizational charter is a tool to be used as a guide for, on the one hand, decision made and actions carried out by member organisations of the network or organisations who would like to join the network and, on the other hand, for those who would like to stengthen their ties with CADTM International.

 II – Organizational Charter

General Principles of the organisation

1. The CADTM International network is a network which works in a horizontal manner: there is no structure which is at the head of the international network. The Global Assembly is when the main directions/ guidelines of the network are established. A global network assembly should take place every three years. Following a global network assembly, it is decided how the next meeting will take place as well as the financing and set up for the next global assembly. The global assembly sets up working committees. The quorum required in order for the global meeting to take place is half plus one of the member organisations. Adhesions and exclusions are the responsibility of the global assembly.

2. The International Secretariat has the role of coordinator. Its main tasks involve facilitating internal communication within the network, strengthening visibility of actions and analyses carried out by te network and of its memeber organisations, especially via the CADTM website and electronic bulletins. They help the network’s member organisations apply the decisions made by the global assembly, they coordinate the participation of the network’s member organisations during the international meeting. They promote collaboration with other international organisations with whom the network collaborates.

The Global Assembly, meeting in May 2013, decided to create a twin hub International Secretariat (twin hub IS) managed by CADTM Belgium – ATTAC-CADTM Morocco. The term will start before the end of 2014 for a period of 4 years with the possibility of a half-term review, at the 2016 Global Assembly.

3. The International Council (created at the May 2013 Global Assembly) is the coordinating body between the Continental structures to which the twin hub International Secretariat participates. The International Council has a term of 3 years and meets at least once a year. Each Continental network will designate by a method of its own convenience the four persons (two representatives and two substitutes) who will represent the Continent respecting the principal of gender equality. Among the tasks of the International Council, will be :

• coordinating the continent-wide structures of the network according to the changing regional and international political context;
• improving the collaboration between the network’s continental structures on the basis of the programs that have already been initiated;
• stimulating the main activities of the CADTM network according to the changing regional and international political context ;
• monitoring the work of the twin hub International Secretariat;
• organising the General Assemblies;
• following up on the decisions taken at the General Assemblies.

4. Each member organisation of the network is financially independant. A member organisation cannot become a main donor of funds for another member organisation. One off financial aid can sometimes be accepted, even encouraged. Each member organisation, if helped financially by another organisation, has the responsibility of finding the necessary financial resources in order to strengthen the capacity to function and finance activities on a national, regional and international level. Each member organisation, in coordination with the international secretariat, has the objective of gathering the financial resources in order to ensure their participation in global network meetings. The sources and financial resources should be in line with the spirit of the political charter of CADTM International.

5. Each organisation is autonomous and has total freedom when establishing action programmes, as long as it does not go against the Political charter. The preparation, organisation and realisation of specific actions of each organisation is carried out in an independent and democratic manner.

6. CADTM International focuses on the strengthening of regional and continental work. The members of CADTM International are actually divided into 4 Continental networks : Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe and Asia.
Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean and Europe have their Continental coordinations, which is not yet the case for Asia. Each member organisation aims to strengthen and consolidate the Continental workshop’s independance and capacities for action so as to strengthen the global network as a whole.

7. The four main stages in order to join the CADTM International network are the following :

• a) Effective and continued collaboration with several member organisations of the international network.
• b) Support for the candidacy of the member organisation of the workshop involved.
• c) Continental Workshop meeting and approval by the workshop members;
• d) Formal adhesion at the global network assembly.

Obligations and responsabilities

8. As a member of the CADTM Interantional network, each organisation :

9. Agrees with the CADTM political charter and conforms activities with the general spirit of this charter in the analyses which are disseminated and with the action it undertakes.

10. Apply the principles of democracy and transparency in the decision making process, be it on a national or regional level.

11. To practice within the heart of the organisation, equality between women and men and to act within society so that this equality becomes a reality. The member organisations of the network consciously act within their organisation to put an end to all forms of oppression against women.

12. Sharing analyses and experiences with all the members of the network, especially so as to:

• a) communicate in an appropriate way the activities of the past, present and future. This information will be sent, depending on the relevance, to the twin hub International secretariat, the Continental network concerned, the thematic work committees, the International council or even to all the members of the network;
• b) make available to the entire network different works, analyses, publications and learning tools created;
• c) actively participate in the enrichment of the CADTM website.

13. To carry out actions with the aim of strengthening the capacity and autonomy of the continental network, especiallly concerning :

• a) promoting the improvement of inter-regional communication;
• b) actively supporting the activities carried out by the member organization within the continental network;
• c) encouraging the collective creation and production of analyses and works;
• d) consolidating collaboration with regional partners concerned.

14. To carry out actions within the dynamic of the CADTM International network as a whole:

 To commit to expanding knowledge on debt, the IFIs and all the problems addressed by CADTM (mainly through reading and using the material of the CADTM), to better disseminate the analyses carried out by the CADTM as much as possible, especially through training and civic education.
 strengthening the analyses of issues which concern the CADTM from a local, regional or international perspective:
 coordinating the regional workshop’s dynamic with that of the international network;
 supporting initiatives taken by other members of the networks;
 supporting initiatives taken by the debt movement in general.

15. The exclusion of a member of the international network is decided by the global assembly in cases of violation of the political charter, in cases of racist or sexist behaviour or any other attitude or action which goes against the spirit of this charter. The CADTM continental network is where possible exclusion is discussed and then it is proposed to the Global assembly where the decision is made.

Translated by Francesca Denley