Article 1 – Constitution
Under the denomination of the International Association of Press Clubs, an association of Press Clubs subscribing to the said association on a voluntary basis was constituted in Dubai on January 6, 2002. Founding members of the International Association of Press Clubs (IAPC) are: Dubai Press Club, European Federation of Press Clubs, Press Club de France, Geneva Press Club, The Malta Press Club, Press Club Concordia – Vienna, London Press Club, Singapore Press Club, FCC Hong Kong.

Article 2 – Scope
The geographical scope of the association’s activities shall be worldwide and incorporate Europe via the European Federation of Press Clubs.

Article 3 – Registered Office
The Association’s registered office shall be designated by the General Assembly for the duration of two years and based on the principle of rotation between IAPC members. The Assembly shall determine the order of rotation. The IAPC hosting the registered office of the association shall hold the Chairmanship of the association throughout this period.

Article 4 – Object
The primary objective of the association shall be foster dialogue, cooperation and an exchange of practical experience and ideas between IAPC members. It shall also aim to render services and facilities of each IAPC member more easily accessibility to its fellow members.

The International Association of Press Clubs shall likewise seek to:

• Uphold the ethics of journalism and free access and distribution of information in the spirit of prevailing constitutional charters, parliamentary resolutions and international conventions.
• Broaden the services and mutual advantages between IAPC members.
• Develop and facilitate information exchange with political, economic, social and cultural institutions, and communications professional across the world.
• Set up links with other Press Clubs and Foreign Correspondents’ Clubs (FCCs) both via internet and in physical practice.
• Promote the language and culture specific to the various member countries of the International Association of Press Clubs.

Article 5 – Admission
Member status shall be held by all Press Clubs and FCCs that shall have applied for membership and been approved by the Executive Board on the sole condition that they shall accept and adhere to the present articles of association.
Candidate IAPC members should seek to provide a minimum service infrastructure such as:

• Press Conference room
• Access to internet and adequate communication facilities
• Recreation area
• An executive board where the majority is held by professional journalists

Article 6 – Members
The IAPC admits individual club members and regional associations of clubs.

Individual press clubs or foreign correspondents’ clubs membership has to be confirmed by a payment of the annual fee to IAPC.

Each individual club member has a right of vote with once voice to the General Assembly (GA).

Every regional associations of press clubs and foreign correspondents’ clubs pay one annual fee and have one voice to the GA. Press clubs which are not individual members but members of a regional association are invited to participate in the GA with the right to speak but without the right of vote.

Individual members and regional associations of a single region or continents cannot veto or imposes a decision to all other members.

Associate member status may be attributed to International/Foreign Press Centers or Clubs who have applied for memberships whose qualifications shall comply with the aims and principals of IAPC. However associate member status shall not entail a voting right and shall not enable representatives to hold elected office within the association. However associate members may take part in ad hoc committees.

Article 7 – Rules of Procedure
The IAPC shall have no say either in the organization or the activities of Press Club members as long as they comply with the aims and principles of the IAPC.

The association shall remain neutral with regard to political or religious ideology and avoid lending support to any particular faction in political or other disputes.

Journalists accredited by each club member of the International Association of Press Clubs shall have the right to use the services of actual PC or FCC members. The sole formality shall be that journalists show their accreditation issued by the PC or FCC to which they belong. The issuer of the said accreditation shall testify to the holder’s status as a journalist.

When using the facilities of the PC or FCC members, visiting journalists shall be required to accept the operating procedure of each club, and shall cover any expenses incurred through the use of the services and facilities placed at their disposal.

Commercial organisations that are members of the PC shall be eligible to use the services and facilities of the PC belonging to the association, in accordance with the operating regulations of the latter.

Commercial organisations shall be required to submit a letter issued by the club to which they belong or show the membership ID card testifying to their membership status.

Article 8 – Annual Fee
Member clubs, regional associations and associate members shall each contribute an annual fee of 300 US dollars.

Article 9 – Loss of membership
Membership status shall be forfeited in the following cases:

• Those members having tendered their resignation in writing to the Secretary General.
• Those members whose exclusion shall have been announced by the Executive Board with due cause, or serious ground, following a hearing of those concerned. The grounds for exclusion shall be rendered public solely at the request of the expelled party.
• Those members struck off the register by the Executive Board on the grounds of non-payment of fees despite written reminder and within three months after the payment deadline.

The Executive Board shall adopt decisions concerning the loss of membership status. The Assembly shall call up to ratify the resolution, but the latter shall take effect on the basis of the decision taken by the Executive Board.

Article 10 – Appeal
A member club may appeal against and decision adopted under Article 9 by the Executive Board. The General Assembly shall hear the appeal and issue the final ruling.

Article 11 – Financial Year
The IAPC’s financial year shall commence January 1st and close December 31st of each year.

Article 12 – General Assembly
The General Assembly (GA) shall be the sovereign body of the association. It shall attempt to seek consensus wherever possible, but if a vote is called by a majority of members present, the General Assembly shall be empowered to decide the substance of the issue by a simple majority of votes cast.

All members of the International Association whose annual fees shall have been duly paid may attend the General Assembly.

Article 13 – International Conference
Members of the IAPC are encouraged to organize “International Conferences of Press Clubs” in the years during which there is no GA. International Conferences are devoted to any topics or event related to press clubs and journalistic or media issues, and the organizing club shall undertake to invite all other clubs in membership of the IAPC.

The topics and dates of the International Conferences should be presenteed during GA or to Execitive Board between the assemblies.

Article 14 – Organization of the General Assembly
The General Assembly shall be given notice of meeting in writing by the President. It shall convene at least once every two years but may meet exceptionally more frequently if the Executive Board considers it to be in the Association’s interest. It shall convene at the request of the Executive Board or half of the members plus one. The ordinary General Assembly shall be held in the place chosen by the President of the International Association of Press Clubs, no more than 30 months after the preceding ordinary General Assembly.

Article 15 – President
The President shall preside over the General Assembly and the Executive Board meetings. The President shall guarantee that the decisions of the General Assembly and of the Executive Board are taken according to the statutes, rules and customs of the Association, and are correctly put into effect. He or she shall manage and monitor the general running of the Association, which he or she will represent legally.

Article 16 – Vice Presidents
The previous President and the President designate shall assume the titles and role of Vice Presidents. A Vice President shall replace the President in his or her functions in the event that the latter is unable to perform them. The Executive Board will entrust the Vice Presidents with areas of activity for which they have a remit specified by that Board.
They shall Chair ad hoc committees set up by the Executive Board. The Vice President serving as President designate shall take over the role of President after holding office as Vice President for two year.

Article 17 – Secretary General
The General Secretariat has its permanent base in Warsaw, Poland (Press Club Polska). The General Secretary shall manage the General Secretariat, assisting the President and the Vice Presidents in their work. The General Secretary shall draft minutes of meetings and deal with correspondence. Delegated by the Executive Board, he or she shall see to the general running of the Association and its various activities and shall co-ordinate the various committees.

He or She shall keep a register of the names and addresses of the Association’s representatives and members and shall be responsible for sending out notices of meeting with location and dates thereof. The General Secretary’s books and registers may be consulted all times by members of the Executive Board and on request by members of the Association.

The Secretary General shall perform the function of Treasurer. Delegated by the President, he or she shall draw up the budget and keep the Association’s accounts. The Secretary General reports to the Executive Board for his or her actions as Treasurer, and the Executive Board is jointly responsible to the members of the Association for the correct use of funds and their proper accounting.

Article 18 – Executive Board
The Executive Board is composed by the President in office, the past President and the President designate. Between meetings of the General Assembly, it is in charge of the current affairs of the Association, the preparation of the GA and the urgent decisions in collaboration with the Secretary General. If necessary, it may co-opt members from among IAPC members.

Article 19 – Electronic voting
Electronic voting on general rules might be taken between General Assemblies on current issues (common projects, activities, actions, development of IAPC, cooperation with other organizations, patronages etc.). Member clubs will be given minimum one week to vote. The key decisions on approving new members, next presidencies and choosing assemblies host cities as well as changes in the organization structure are reserved to the General Assembly.

Article 20 – Funds
The Association’s funds shall comprise:

• Members’ fees, in line with the rate set by the articles and, subsequently amended by the Executive Board
• Subsides which may be allocated to it by public, government or international bodies, foundations or private institutions, with a view to enabling it to achieve its objectives.

The Reserve shall comprise:

• Capital from savings on the annual budget. Capital shall be solely used, in accordance with decision of the General Assembly or the Executive Board, with a view to achieving the Association’s objectives.
• Proceeds from any events it might organized.

Article 21 – Amendments to Articles of Association
Any proposal to amend the present articles must be put before the General Assembly, which shall rule exceptionally by majority of ¾ of all members, registered with the Association, and having duly paid their subscriptions fees, whether present or represented.

An electronic vote is possible in due transparency.

Article 22 – Winding Up
The Voluntary dissolution of the IAPC can be determined, by the General Assembly only, by a majority of ¾ of the members registered with the federation, having duly paid their fees, whether present or represented.

Any funds remaining after liquidation shall be evenly distributed among those members.

adopted in Geneva on May 20, 2016