Title and Headquarters of Association
Article 1. The title of the association is the Association of the Youth Organizations Forum. The headquarters is located in Ankara, it can open domestic and international agencies. It does not have any branches.
Purpose
Article 2. The Association operates for the following purposes.
2.1. to engage in activities about active participation of the youth in social, economic and political life,
2.2. to protect their rights based on universal human rights and freedoms, on all platforms, also referring to international covenants on these rights,
2.3. to engage in activities for their equal access to rights and opportunities, to encourage social gender equality and realization of concrete equality policies,
2.4. to inform public institutions, nongovernmental organizations and private sector about their needs and requests and update this information through research,
2.5. to provide coordination between youth organizations and groups for the rights of youth and development of youth policies,
2.6. to develop national, regional and international cooperation and represent the rights of youth on all platforms, to contribute to national and international legislation and policies to be developed in this field,
2.7. to put an effort to ensure active participation of the youth in decision making processes together with nongovernmental organizations about youth policies,
2.8. to support development of youth activities for resolution of their problems and fulfillment of their needs and expectations,
2.9. to encourage youth participation in voluntary activities and civil society,
2.10. to engage in activities to guarantee their social rights including transport, shelter, healthcare, nutrition, social security, education and employment as well as political rights including freedom of organization and expression and political participation,
2.11. to engage in activities to improve employment conditions, eliminate workplace discrimination against the youth, eliminate youth unemployment and contribute to employment processes,
2.12. to strengthen the youth in struggle against discrimination by raising their awareness about all kinds of discrimination, including religion, language, race, ethnicity, gender, age, sex, sexual orientation etc. and hate speech.
Fields of Activity
Article 3. The fields of activity of the association to fulfill its purpose are as follows:
3.1. to organize capacity building training and projects for nongovenmental organizations to support active participation of the youth in social and economic life,
3.2. to conduct or have conducted scientific and social content research and studies about the problems, needs and expectations of the youth, support related studies and publish books, journals and reports,
3.3. to create opportunities for efficient participation of the youth in development of policies which affect their lives,
3.4. to organize activities and campaigns to acquire awareness about volunteering,
3.5. to conduct training activities to improve and promote youth studies, to build web pages, to organize festivals, sports activities, events in the nature, feasts, events, exhibitions, culture and art exhibitions, campaigns, congresses, conferences, seminars etc.,
3.7. to support professional development policies and practices for the youth to be more successful, efficient and productive in social relations and work life,
3.8. to engage in activities for development of youth policies on local, national and international levels for improving life quality,
3.9. to become members to or engage in open cooperation with national and international organizations offering services for the youth in parallel with the purposes and activities of the association for the benefit of youth, by meeting legal conditions,
3.10. to offer opinions and recommendations to public, private sector, civil society and international organizations working for development of the youth,
3.11. to organize activities and develop programs for their active participation in civil society operations,
3.12. to ensure sharing of knowledge and experience and cooperation among civil society, private sector, public institutions and organizations working for development of the youth,
3.13. to create cooperation on national, international and local level for development of the youth, prepare activities, programs and projects, receive funding from national, international and local organizations for their implementation and offer funding for projects for the youth,
3.14. to encourage their participation in activities, programs and projects to support being entrepreneurs for creating social services and developing working skills,
3.15. to ensure participation of public, private sector and nongovernmental organizations in local, national and international social responsibility activities, programs and projects and develop partnerships with these organizations,
3.16. to prepare and implement programs and projects using funding from local, national and international financial sources, in paralel with the purpose and activities of the association, that the youth and nongovernmental organizations can join,
3.17. to estabish communication, share knowledge, documentation and experience with political parties as prescribed by the law and in accordance with the purposes and topics listed in the charter, within the scope of rights and freedoms of the youth.
Principles
Article 4. The Association;
4.1. defends democracy, democratic values and human rights in all aspects of life,
4.2. opposes all kinds discrimination including language, race, ethnicity, color, gender, sexual orientation, sexual identity, political view, philosophy, belief, religion, education and socio-economic status etc., hate speech and violence,
4.3. maintains transparency on all conditions,
4.4. encourages its members to participate in its decision making processes,
4.5. serves for development of activity fields of its incorporated members and never exhibits an attitude or behavior to limit their activities and intervene with their authorities, roles, operations and responsibilities,
4.6. does not represent or defend any political view or party.
Right of Membership and Membership Process
Article 5. Procedures for membership are as follows:
5.1. Legal entities which accept to operate according to the association’s charter and meet the legal conditions and have the right to become a member of the association.
5.2. Those who are willing to become a member shall provide required documents.
5.3. The written membership application shall be decided upon by the Administrative Board in maximum thirty days and notified to the applicant.
5.4. Income includes membership fees, income from funds, publications, culture, art, scouting, sports, education and training, operations and investments, operational and partnership income, advertisement income, courses, exhibitions, festivals, counseling services, social events, commercial enterprise revenues, state support, project income, other aids, project funds and donations from national and international real persons and legal entities, interests and other income permitted by the Associations Law and the applicable legislation.
Resignation and Removal From Membership
Article 6. Procedures for resignation and removal from membership are as follows:
6.1. Every member has the right to resign from duty. Members can resign from membership with written notification. The membership is terminated when the resignation petition of the member is received by the administrative board. Leaving membership shall not release accrued liabilities of the member to the association.
6.2. Those who resign from or are removed from membership cannot make claims on the assets of the association.
6.3. Those who fail to pay the contribution fees of the concerned year despite written notice in the first six months of every year and/or fail to attend the general assembly without cause can be removed from membership with the decision of the administrative board.
6.4. Those who act in violation of the charter and decisions of the competent organs shall be removed from membership by the Administrative Board.
Removal From Membership
Article 7. Procedures for removal from membership are as follows:
7.1. For removal of members in violation of the charter of the association, minimum 1/5 of all members should submit a written notice to the Administrative Board. The Administrative Board shall make all necessary research until the first General Assembly, take defense statements and refer it to the General Assembly. The decision for removal from membership shall be taken with absolute majority in the General Assembly.
7.2. The Administrative Board can ask the member to provide verbal and written defense and witness, if deemed necessary.
7.3. The concerned member can object to the general assembly considering the decisions taken by the Administrative Board. Decisions are actionable.
Organs
Article 8. Organs are:
8.1. General Assembly,
8.2. Administrative Board,
8.3. Supervisory Board,
The Administrative Board can create advisory boards, study groups etc. to contribute to the operations of the association.
Establishment and Time of Convention of General Assembly
Article 9. The procedures for establishment, time of convention and operation of the
general assembly are as follows:
9.1. The ordinary general assembly shall gather in October every year, on date, time and location to be determined by the administrative board.
9.2. The administrative board shall arrange the list of the members who have the right to attend the general assembly according to the association charter, after taking the decision for the general assembly. Members to attend the general assembly shall be called for the meeting in writing or via e-mail at least fifteen days in advance, stating the meeting day, hour, location and agenda. The Administrative Board shall announce the general assembly via e-mail or SMS and on the web page of the association, in writing at least fifteen days in advance. The announcement shall include the date, time and location of the second meeting in case the first meeting cannot be held due to lack of quorum. The period between the first meeting and the second meeting cannot be
less than one week and more than sixty days.
9.3. General Assemblies shall be held at the location of the association headquarters or at a location to be designated by the Administrative Board. The general assembly shall gather with the absolute majority of the members who have the right to attend the meeting and with two thirds in case of amendments to the charter and dissolution of the association.
9.4. If quorum is not established in the first meeting, the number of the members attending the second meeting cannot be less than twice the number of all members to the administrative and supervisory boards.
9.5. If the meeting is withheld for any reason other than lack of quorum, this condition shall be notified to the members along with the reasons according to the invitation method of the first meeting. It is required to hold the second meeting within six months at the latest following the date of adjournment. Members shall be invited again to the second meeting according to the procedures in the related law. The general assembly cannot be adjourned for more than twice.
9.6. Legal information and documentation of original and reserve members elected for the bodies shall be reported to the biggest civil administration at the center, in thirty days following the general assembly.
9.7. Extraordinary general assembly shall convene with the written application of one fifth of the members or the decision of the Administrative Board or as required by the Supervisory Board.
Operation of General Assembly
Article 10. Procedures for operation of General Assembly are as follows:
10.1. The General Assembly shall be opened by the chair or an administrative board member to be authorized by the administrative board.
10.2. Every member shall have one vote during the general assembly. The association’s Administrative Board President or a person to be authorized by him/her can vote.
10.3. After starting the meeting, a council committee shall be created by electing the chair of the meeting and necessary numbers of deputy chairs and a secretary.
10.4. Only the items on the agenda shall be discussed in the meeting. However, any topic requested in written to be discussed by at least one tenth of the present members is required to be included in the agenda.
10.5. In secret voting, voting members shall provide their official identity cards to the council chair and sign the list of their names.
10.6. Selection of the members of the bodies of the association shall be secretly voted. Other decision can be voted openly unless otherwise agreed.
10.7. The association’s president and other administrative board members shall be elected separately.
Roles of General Assembly
Article 11. The General Assembly shall;
11.1. elect original and reserve members of the administrative and supervisory boards with secret voting,
11.2. discuss proposal for amendment to the charter,
11.3. authorize the administrative board for procurement and sale of real estate and borrowings, determine the amount of entry and annual fees and method of payment,
11.4. determine to participate in or resign from national and international associations, unions and federations,
11.5. discuss objections with regard to refusal of membership, removal from membership and other issues,
11.6. fulfill other duties to be conducted by the general assembly as defined in the legislation,
11.7. decide on termination of the legal entity of the association.
11.8. The association can pay remunerations to the president and members of the Administrative and Supervisory Boards, who are not public servants. It shall determine daily pays and travel allowances to the members to be commissioned for association services and wages to be paid to the president and members, who are not public servants, of the association administrative and supervisory boards,
11.9. discuss the reports of the Administrative and Supervisory boards and discharge the administrative board,
11.10. review the regulations to be arranged by the administrative board about the association activities and approve as is or as modified,
11.11. decide for establishing a commercial enterprise to the name of the association. Items discussed and decisions taken at the meeting shall be recorded in a report and signed by those in the council and delivered to the elected president of the administrative board with other documents.
Establishment of Administrative Board
Article 12. Procedures for establishment of the Administrative Board are as follows:
12.1. It shall be comprised of five original and five reserve members, elected among the general board members. The term of office of the Board members is two years.
12.2. The Administrative Board shall determine the president, vice president, secretary and clerk in the first meeting.
12.3. Reserve members shall be called for in order if there is any vacancy in the board for any reason.
12.4. A member who fails to attend the meeting for three consecutive times in a period for reasons not acceptable to the Administrative Board shall be considered withdrawn from the board with the decision of the Administrative Board.
12.5. The Administrative Board shall convene with absolute majority of total members. Decisions shall be taken by absolute majority of the members of the administrative board.
12.6. Administrative Board members can change duties at all times among themselves, other than the president.
12.7. If the president of the administrative board resigns, become incapacitated or the legal entity he/she represents leaves the association, the administrative board shall call reserve members to duty in order, the new president shall be elected among the members of the administrative board in the first meeting to be held with the participation of the new member.
Operation and Roles of Administrative Board
Article 13. Procedures for operations and roles of the Administrative Board are as follows:
The Administrative Board shall;
13.1. convene at the agreed location upon the call of the president and at least two board members or whenever required. The association can only be represented by the administrative board and the person in charge or incorporated members of the association to be elected by the decision of the administrative board.
13.2. The administrative board can call other association members or external specialists to the meeting to take their opinions and recommendations,
13.3. shall represent the association or the delegate one or multiple members to do so,
13.4. use the budget and execute accounts,
13.5. can organize meetings, conventions, panel discussions, seminars, courses, panels, conferences, symposiums, campaigns, festivals, entertainment, art, music, culture, exhibition and similar events all across the country and provide opinion and recommendations to national and international organizations,
13.6. shall discuss and decide upon membership, resignation and removal from membership,
13.7. prepare the two year work program and recommendations about indebtedness, entry fee and annual fees and implement them according to the decisions of the general assembly,
13.8. can propose for dissolution of the association to the General Assembly,
13.9. can acquire or sell excess of movable and immovable assets required with the permission of the general assembly according to the law,
13.10. can employ paid personnel according to the law. It is required to provide all kinds of legal security for the personnel.
13.11. The board members shall be in charge of their duties listed in the roles section. Every administrative board member shall have the right to make a proposal for the meeting agenda.
13.12. It can become members to national or international associations, unions, higher unions and federations with the authority of the general assembly,
13.13. can cooperate and prepare projects with national and international real persons and legal entities,
13.14. shall make lease agreements and purchase consumer durable goods for the association,
13.15. take necessary decisions for fulfillment of the purposes of the association, authorize one or more members of the board to do so,
13.16. fulfill duties assigned by the charter, legislation and general assembly, use authorities, prepare and execute necessary internal charters, principles and directives,
13.17. open agencies as required.
Income
Article 14. Procedures for income are as follows:
14.1. Conditions for contributions are regulated under article 5.1.4.
14.2. The Administrative Board shall decide to which bank the association’s income shall be deposited in which amounts and terms and how much cash can be maintained according to the laws and regulations.
14.3. The association’s books and records shall be in accordance with the laws and
applicable regulations.
Expenses and Borrowing
Article 15. Procedures for expenses and borrowing are as follows:
15.1. All expenses, payments and aids determined by the Administrative Board in accordance with the purposes and activity fields in the charter constitute shall constitute the expenses.
15.2. Expenses shall be made in return for legal documents.
15.3. The Administrative Board shall determine the reasons for, types, methods and amounts of allowances to be made for the members according to the authorities to be granted by the General Assembly.
15.4. The association can borrow as required to fulfill its purpose and execute activities. It can be made through product and service procurement on credit and in cash. It can be made not to exceed 20% of annual income and the next 2 fiscal years following the date of borrowing, in amounts coverable by the income sources of the association, in a way not to cause payment difficulties for the association. Borrowing exceeding these limits is subject to the decision of the General Assembly. Borrowing documents shall be signed by one of the board members to be authorized by the Administrative Board.
15.5. Moneys of the association shall be kept in bank accounts to the name of the association. The person or persons authorized by the Administrative Board shall withdraw moneys, transfer moneys and conduct other banking transactions. Compulsory Books
Article 16. Books to be kept by the association are.
16.1. Decision Book
16.2. Member Registry Book
16.3. Document Registry Book,
16.4. Operation Account Book
The Administrative Board shall determine how to keep these books according to the budget and the principles in the law.
Internal Audit and Supervisory Board
Article 17. Method in internal audits, establishment and operation of the Supervisory Board are as follows:
17.1. The Supervisory Board shall comprise of three original and three reserve members, elected among the members. The board shall supervise for 2 years on normal conditions.
17.2. Internal audit of the association can be made by the general assembly, administrative board or supervisory board as well as independent auditory or supervisory organizations.
17.3. The Supervisory Board shall inspect the decisions and practices, books, accounts and records of the association with regard to the purpose and fields in the charter. The board shall present the audit results in a report to the Administrative Board and the General Assembly, when convened.
Charter Amendment
Article 18- Amendments to the charter shall be made with the decision of the General Assembly. Two thirds of the members are required in the General Assembly to be held for this purpose. A second meeting shall be organized if quorum is not established in the first. Quorum is not required in the second meeting. However, the number of the members attending the second meeting cannot be less than twice the number of all members to the administrative and supervisory boards. In this case, the Charter can be modified with the decision of the two thirds of the present members.
Type of Liquidation of Assets in case of Dissolution of Association
Article 19- Procedures for termination of the association are as follows.
19.1. The General Assembly can always decide for termination of the legal entity of the Association. If minimum two thirds of the registered members do not attend the General Assembly to be convened for this purpose, the members shall be called to the meeting for the second time as prescribed by the law. The number of the members attending the second meeting cannot be less than twice the number of all members to the administrative and supervisory boards. Two thirds of the present members can decide for termination of the legal entity. The decision for dissolution of the association shall be submitted to the biggest civil administration in five days.
19.2. Transfer of moneys, assets and rights of the association shall be made by the liquidation board comprised of the last administrative board members. This process shall begin as from the general assembly decision on dissolution or finalization of self termination. The statement “Association of Youth Organizations Forum in Liquidation” shall be used in all transactions during the liquidation process.
19.3. the Liquidation Board shall review the association books at first. Books, receipt documents, expense documents, title deed and bank records and other documents of the association shall be identified during examination and assets and liabilities shall be recorded in a report. If the Association is determined to be in debt during liquidation, creditors of the association shall be called for and their assets shall be liquidated and paid to creditors. If the association is a creditor, receivables shall be collected. After collection of receivables and payment of debts, the remaining money, assets and rights shall be transferred wherever determined by the general assembly.
19.4. Following completion of dissolution and transfer of moneys, assets and rights of the association, the Liquidation Board shall inform the Governorate in writing in seven days. All operations of liquidation shall be recorded in the liquidation report and the process shall be completed in three months, other than the additional periods granted on valid grounds by the civil administrations.
19.5. The last administrative board members of the association shall be responsible for keeping the books and documents under the title of the liquidation board. This role can be assigned to an administrative board member. This book and documents shall be kept for five years.
19.6. When the association ceases its legal status with the court order, the moneys, assets and rights remaining after completion of liquidation and transfer shall be transferred to the entity prescribed by the law according to the provisions of the same law.
Unregulated Conditions
Article 20. Conditions which are not regulated in this charter shall be subject to applicable laws, Associations Law and related regulations and other related legal arrangements.
Founders
Article 21. The founders and representatives of the association are as follows.
No., Association, Representative
- Natural Life Association, Yıldırım Kaya
- e-Youth Association, Kemal Uysal
- Adana Young Disabled Youth and Sports Club Association, Büşra Demirbaş
- Lykia Scouting and Nature Sports Club Association, Denge Yıldırım
- Former European Volunteering Service Volunteers Youth Association, Büşra Güder
- Youth Tourism Association, Zafer Yılmaz
- Renaissance Institute Association, Mehmet Burak Demircan
- Women and Young Initiative Center Association, Hakan Çetin
- Çanakkale Koza Youth Association, Doğancan Çetin
- İstanbul Young Steps Association, Genar Ersoy
- Türkiye Youth Union Association, Elif Serbest
- Roma Youth Association, Selçuk Karadeniz
- Non-Formal Education Center Association, Soner Başkal
- TAŞEV Education Culture and Youth Association, Mahmut Küpeli
- Uçarlı Youth Association, Habat Altuntop
- Youth Information Center Association, Ferhat Geçer
- Youth Agenda Association, Merve Avcı
- Community Volunteers Foundation, Sinan Erdoğan
- GSM – Youth Services Center Association, Sera Ceren Adıgüzel
- GENÇEV-Youth Culture House Association, Esra İnan
- Disabled Rights and Unhindered Future Association, Alper Tolga Akkuş
- O2 Tourism and Youth Association, Ali İslam
- Community Based Psychosocial Support and Research Association, Atakan Avcı
- Association of Supporting Social Economic Cultural Development, Nurdan Terzioğlu
- Seagull Association Çağlar, Kadam
- Mardin Youth and Culture Association, Gültekin Çelik
Temporary Article 1- The members of the temporary administrative board to execute operations about and to represent the association until the association organs are established at the first general assembly are as follows:
Temporary Administrative Board Members;
Name-Surname Nationality Occupation Role
- Genar ERSOY TR Engineer President
- Sera Ceren Adıgüzel TR International Relations Vice President
- Büşra Güder TR Tourism Management General Secretary
- Nurdan Terzioğlu TR International Relations Accountant
- Mahmut Küpeli TR International Relations Member
This Charter is made of 21 (twenty six) articles and 1 (one) temporary article.