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First International Congress of Streetnet International

16 & 17 March 2004, Seoul, Korea

OPENING SESSION

The opening session of the StreetNet International Congress was hosted by the National Federation of Street vendors of Korea (NFSVK) and facilitated by the Chief Vice-President of the organization, Kim In-Soo. One Co-President of NFSVK, Kim Heung-Hyun, welcomed guests. The other Co-President, Lee Pil-Du, was not present as he had been arrested and attempts to secure his release in time for the Congress had not been successful.

The Interim President of StreetNet International, Churchill Mrasi, did not present his opening address - so an opening message was presented by the Interim Secretary, Elvis Chishala, who also read out messages of support from the following:

  • Kofi Asamoah on behalf of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) of Ghana - Nora Wintour on behalf of the Public Service International (PSI);
  • Women in Informal Employment: Globalising and Organising (WIEGO) - Anneke Van Luijken of IRENE (Netherlands);
  • Gratien Hounsinou of the Centrale des Syndicats de Secteurs Prive et Informal du Benin (CSPIB) - read in French and summarized in English by the International Co-ordinator.

The keynote address was delivered by the respected popular leader Baek Ki-Wan, after addresses by the following Korean solidarity organizations: Lee Su-Ho, President of KCTU (Korean Congress of Trade Unions) Jung Kwang-Hoon, of Korean People’s Solidarity Moon Kyung-Sik, of the Korean Peasants’ League.

CLOSED SESSION

The closed session of the Congress started at 14h50 p.m. It was noted that many delegates had had major problems in obtaining visas to enter Korea because of the hostile attitude of the Korean embassies in different countries. Therefore some delegates had not yet arrived but were still expected before the end of the following day. Although the Congress was already quorate, in that more than 50% + 1 of all member organizations were present and registered, the Congress agreed to adjust the programme as proposed by the Interim Committee in order to allow maximum participation in the business of the Congress by delegates who would be arriving late - including the entire Indian delegation.

Reports

The Co-ordinator’s written report was presented by the International Co-ordinator. The Audited financial report was presented by the International Administrator. Both reports were adopted.

Discussion

The IBF and ASSOTSI congratulated the Co-ordinator on her work and her report. The Ghana StreetNet Alliance appealed for more of the type of organizational support which StreetNet had organized for AZIEA in Zambia and for the establishment of a national alliance of street vendors in Kenya. The Eastern Cape Alliance of Street Vendors appealed to South African street vendors’ organizations to overcome their differences and to unite into one national alliance of street vendors. FEDEVAL appealed for more StreetNet activity in Latin America, especially in Argentina and the Andean region, and welcomed the dscision for the StreetNet International Co-ordinator to work from Lima in July and August 2004. NFSVK appealed for StreetNet to expand to more Asian countries - and they were asked to assist by providing contacts in other Asian countries. NFSVK also raised the issue of StreetNet’s dependence on donor funding, which is not good in the longer term and proposed that StreetNet establish an international distribution network for trade between members of affiliate organizations.

Ghana StreetNet Alliance suggested that StreetNet needs policies on the following: HIV/AIDS and its effects on street vendors; labour practices in relation to the employees of street vendors; international resolutions on world trade.

AZIEA (Zambia) suggested that StreetNet needs to address the gap which is often present between leadership and membership by promoting leadership education and training, and that regional structures should be established to run programmes to educate leadership.

KASVIT (Kisumu, Kenya) suggested that StreetNet should not try to be too ambitious but should start small with manageable projects which can be easily implemented, and then expand. Both organizations agreed that fighting and advocating for the rights of street vendors should be the priority.

FEDEVAL stressed the importance of working in co-operation with the trade union movement in order to mainstream workers in the informal economy and work against exclusion and marginalisation. They also mentioned that street vendors are facing more competition from multinational supermarket chains, and that international co-operation is needed in facing this problem. The Congress was adjourned to 14h00 p.m. the following day.

Resolutions

The following resolutions were adopted by the Congress (see Annexures 1 - 9)

  1. For the Development of Promotional Policies for Street Vendors by National States.
  2. For the Promotion of Informal Women Workers of the World.
  3. Loans
  4. Foreign and migrant street vendors
  5. Child labour
  6. Our fight against harassment and government crack-downs
  7. Street children
  8. Fund-raising Sub-Committee
  9. Financial Regulations Constitutional amendments.

The delegates from India arrived during this discussion, registered and joined the Congress, increasing the number of registered participants to 28. One constitutional amendment was adopted to address a technical problem in the management of signatories for financial transactions (see Annexure 10).

Elections

The following credentials report was presented and accepted prior to proceeding with elections:

Organisation & country Accredited delegates Presently registered
ASSOTSI (Mocambique) 3 2
AZIEA (Zambia) 5 + 1 (Int. Com) 3
CNTG (Guinee) 3 + 1 (Int. Com) 2
E. Cape Alliance (S.Africa) 3 + 1 (Int. Com) 2
FEDEVAL (Peru) 5 2
Ghana StNet Alliance 3 + 1 (Int. Com) 2
IBF (South Africa) 1 + 1 (Int. Com) 2
KASVIT (Kenya) 1 1
Malawi Union 3 0
NASVI (India) 10 + 1 (Int. Com) 4
NFSVK (Korea) 3 3
SEWA (India) 5 3
SEU (Bangladesh) 3 0
SEWU (South Africa) 1 1
USYNVEPID (Benin) 1 1
Add. Int. Com member (Bolivia) 1 0
TOTAL 58 delegates (15 organisations) 28 participants (13 organisations)

The Electoral Officer (Sharith Bowmik of WIEGO) conducted the elections in accordance with the Elections Procedure which had been agreed in advance by the Interim Committee, and only the nominations which had been received by the StreetNet International office before the deadline date of 20 February 2004 set by the Interim Committee at its meeting on 3 February, 2004, were considered.

The results of the elections were as follows:

  • PRESIDENT: Kim Heung-Hyun from NFSVK
  • VICE-PRESIDENT: Manali Shah from NASVI
  • TREASURER: Fundile Jalile from the Eastern Cape Alliance of Street Vendors
  • SECRETARY: Elvis Nkandu Chishala from AZIEA

MEMBERS OF THE INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL:

  1. Teresa Ak’ongo from KASVIT
  2. Fatoumata Bah from CNTG
  3. Clarisse Gnahoui from USYNVEPID
  4. Gloria Solorzano Espinoza from FEDEVAL
  5. Lameck Kashiwa from AZIEA
  6. Jacob W.K. Otum from the Ghana StreetNet Alliance
  7. Arbind Singh from NASVI
  8. Manuel Sulca Escalante from FEDEVAL.

Due to insufficient nominations of women candidates and the constitutional requirement that at least 50% of the members of the International Council should be women, there are three vacant positions to be filled by women. The procedure for filling these three positions will be discussed at the first meeting of the International Council in May 2004.

Conclusion

The incoming President, Kim Heung-Hyun, closed the StreetNet International Congress at 12h30 am on the morning of the 18th March 2004, after inviting the outgoing President, Churchill Mrasi, the Vice-President, Manali Shah, other members of the new International Council and the International Co-ordinator to briefly address Congress delegates.

ANNEXURE 1

Resolution 1: For the Development of Promotional Policies for Street Vendors by National States.

Considering: That, by mandate of the Constitutions of every democratic country, work is enshrined as a right and a social duty and the State accordingly is obliged to promote conditions that eliminate poverty and assure citizens of equal opportunities to achieve useful occupations and which protect them against unemployment and under-employment in any of its forms.

That, street trade and the various activities of the informal economy are a consequence of the structural imbalances within our countries and of the unjust existing relations of subordination in the international order.

That, street vendors, besides generating sources of employment and incomes for themselves and their families, constitute an important channel of distribution and commercialisation of products which facilitates the basic provision of products for the subsistence of important sectors of the population.

That, it is convenient to national interests to reconcile the rights of informal workers, to relate to security and favourable conditions for their work with processes of order and development of the cities and the countries; channelling thus the economic and social force of informal traders and workers in the informal economy, in order to enable its development as part of democratic socio-economic systems and equitability.

WE RESOLVE THAT:

  1. To promote in each country a statement of requirements and public services and of preferred and adequate location of informal workers in the urban space in the social interest, with reference to the specificities and conditions of its situation.
  2. Encouraging in each country and city the formulation of integral Programs of promotion of informal workers that pay attention to the rights of street vendors as citizens and merchants, articulating the economic and social politics that respect these rights, the use of urban space and economic development, etc.
  3. To fight for the rights of informal workers, claiming their rights to work, welfare and development; to develop strategic alliances with the union movement and other actors in local, national and world development.

PROPOSED: FEDEVAL, Lima - Peru (December 2003) SECONDED: Eastern Cape Alliance of Street Vendors and AZIEA

ANNEXURE 2

Resolution 2: For the Promotion of Informal Women Workers of the World.

Considering: That, the predominant trend in world globalisation subordinates the economies and the States of les developed countries, limiting their possibilities for the generation of jobs and decent incomes for the working class; by which unemployment and under-employment increase, as well as the number of workers in the informal economy, increasing the impoverishment of the majorities in our societies.

That, before this situation in the majority of our countries informal trade was an expression of livelihood strategies to achieving the survival of people’s families, but now (in informal trade) there is an accelerated increment of the number of women, children and elderly.

That, in the composition of informal vendors extensive numbers, and often the majority percentage, are women, who add to their role of women and workers, that of mothers, family responsibilities, leadership roles, etc.

That, in the majority of our societies women are not recognized by means of the same equal opportunities as males, they are confined to domestic work or are subordinated to men, denying them the means that can fully develop their capacities and abilities, or to contribute to their national, communal, personal development, in social, political, and economic fields. By which the Congress:

AGREES:

  1. To promote relations of equality among men and women, encouraging our organizations to focus on learning equitable and democratic practices.
  2. To support the presence of the women working in public spaces, operating in the representation and decision-making capacity of our organizations, and to surpass the traditional role that limits them to subordinate roles.
  3. Encouraging the active role of women and men in the demand and exercise of economic and social rights, related to the conditions of workers and citizens.
  4. Condemning the use of subcontracted gangsters who perpetrate acts of sexual violence against women.

PROPOSED: FEDEVAL, Lima - Peru (December 2003) SECONDED: AZIEA and Eastern Cape Alliance of Street Vendors

ANNEXURE 3

Resolution 3: Loans

The First International Congress of StreetNet, NOTING:

  1. The existing policy of StreetNet International on Sustainbility and Financial Self-Sufficiency, which states: “StreetNet International should practice sound financial management and control.”
  2. That StreetNet International is still dependent on donor funds in order to carry out its work;
  3. That donor funds are normally not made available for the purposes of making grants or loans;
  4. That the work of administering loan schemes requires substantial administrative capacity, which in itself is expensive to set up.

ACKNOWLEDGES that any discussion about grants or loans to StreetNet members is meaningless unless StreetNet has substantial reserves of savings or other funds of its own from which any grants or loans could be financed.

HEREBY RESOLVES:

  1. That StreetNet will not attempt to administer any loan schemes, as this would detract from the central organising and policy work which is the primary focus of StreetNet’s work;
  2. That StreetNet will retain its structure and character as a non-profit organisation as the best structure for attaining the policy and organisational gains which StreetNet seeks to achieve, and for the purposes of continuing to qualify for tax exemptions on donor funds and self-generated income for running the organisation;
  3. That StreetNet’s method of assisting member organisations who need funds will be by helping them to develop their own independent fund-raising capacity, or by putting them in contact with savings and credit organisations in their own countries (where StreetNet knows about such organisations) in order that they may establish working partnerships directly with them.

PROPOSED: AZIEA SECONDED: NFSVK

ANNEXURE 4

Resolution 4: Foreign and migrant street vendors

The First International Congress of StreetNet:

NOTING:

  1. That there is a lot of cross-border trade in many regions of the world, and many of the traders concerned and hawkers, street vendors and informal market vendors who are trying to eke out a living for their families in other countries because of the limited opportunities in their own countries;
  2. That many of these informal traders face harassment from the authorities, which makes them particularly vulnerable to bribery and extortion;
  3. That in addition to harassment from authorities, these traders often face hostility and xenophobia from the citizens of the host country;
  4. That there will be an item on Migrant Labour on the agenda of the ILO’s International Labour Conference in June 2004, which will draw international attention to the plight of migrant and undocumented workers trying to earn a living in foreign countries;

HEREBY RESOLVES

  1. As an international organisation committed to improving the lives of street vendors in all countries of the world, to oppose xenophobia and to discourage member organisations from adopting xenophobic policies or practices in relation to foreign nationals from other countries;
  2. To encourage informal market vendors, street vendors and hawkers in different countries to engage voluntarily in trade with each other, and to develop the suitable terms and conditions for such trade to their own advantage;
  3. To attend the International Labour Conference of the ILO in June 2004 in order to participate in the Committee on Migrant Labour with a delegation of participants most accustomed to working with foreign and migrant street vendors, informal market vendors and hawkers;
  4. To participate in the Committee on Migrant Labour at the International Labour Conference with the objective of gaining recognition in the wording of its Conclusions or other ILO instrument about the situation and problems faced by foreign street vendors, informal market vendors and hawkers in particular.

PROPOSED: NFSVK SECONDED: USYNVEPID

ANNEXURE 5 

Resolution 5: Child labour

The First International Congress of StreetNet, NOTING:

  1. That there are instances of children working as street vendors, either independently or assisting parents who are street vendors, informal market vendors or hawkers;
  2. That many of these children are working to augment low incomes earned by the adults in their families;
  3. That on occasion these children’s work keeps them out of school and prevents them from developing their skills and abilities to the best of their potential;

HEREBY RESOLVES

  1. That StreetNet supports ILO Convention 138 and Recommendation 146 of 1973 on the Minimum Age, and Convention 182 and Recommendation 190 of 1999 on the Worst Forms of Child Labour;
  2. To unconditionally support the rights of all children to attend school, to encourage informal market vendors, street vendors and hawkers to ensure that their children complete their schooling, and to promote opportunities for their further education;
  3. To unconditionally support the promotion and exercise of equal rights for girl children, and to fight against any form of discrimination against the girl child;
  4. To work for the increase in incomes for adult street vendors, informal market vendors and hawkers as the best means of eliminating the need for children to work to augment the incomes of adult family members;
  5. To promote the establishment of secure and affordable child care centres for pre-school children of street vendors, market vendors or hawkers close to their places of work operating appropriate hours for them to be able to fully utilise such centres. Where possible, such child-care centres should be integrally linked to town or market plans;
  6. To promote urban planning approaches which incorporate facilities for the care of the pre-school children of street vendors, informal market vendors and hawkers.

PROPOSED: CNTG and Eastern Cape Alliance of Street vendors               SECONDED: FEDEVAL

ANNEXURE 6

Resolution 6:  Our fight against harassment and government crack-downs

The First International Congress of StreetNet, NOTING:

  1. That many of our members are facing constant harassment and government crack-downs, which continually interfere with their productivity and their ability to earn a decent livelihood;
  2. That the harassment faced by street vendors takes many forms, including violent attacks, sexual harassment, bribery and extortion - sometimes perpetrated by authorities and sometimes perpetrated by thugs, gangsters and syndicates working hand-in-hand with the authorities;
  3. That there are many types of gender-specific harassment, including different forms of gender-specific violence and sexual harassment, faced by women and children street vendors;

HEREBY RESOLVES

  1. To fight tirelessly against all forms of harassment of street vendors, informal market vendors and hawkers throughout the world, including by initiating and participating in international campaigns;
  2. In cases where harassment occurs and results in injury or losses, compensation will be demanded; 
  3. To publicise to the world’s population at large the problems experienced by street vendors, market vendors and hawkers with all forms of harassment, and to draw attention to the gendered nature of harassment experienced by women, who constitute the majority of the poorest street vendors, informal market vendors and hawkers in most countries;
  4. To pressurise local and national government authorities to engage in social dialogue with street vendors, informal market vendors and hawkers and/or their organisations and elected representatives in order to avoid the approach of harassment or engaging in crack-downs.

PROPOSED: FEDEVAL   SECONDED: AZIEA and KASVIT

ANNEXURE 7

Resolution 7: Street children

The First International Congress of StreetNet, NOTING:

  1. That many of the world’s cities have increasing numbers of children living on their streets;
  2. That these children are vulnerable to danger and abuse, many of them survive by begging, many of them fall prey to substance abuse at an early age, and many fall into the clutches of criminal elements who exploit them to commit crimes for which juveniles face lighter punishments than adult criminals;
  3. That unfortunately many people confuse street children and street vendors and do not understand the difference;

HEREBY RESOLVES:

  1. To create public awareness of the difference between street vendors and street children;
  2. To promote preventative programmes to ensure that the children of street vendors do not become street children, by means of:
  3. Affordable child-care facilities for pre-school children of street vendors;
  4. Accessible education for children of street vendors;
  5. further opportunities for the development of the potential of the children of street vendors;
  6. To pressurise local and national government authorities to initiate social programmes for the rehabilitation and development of the potential of children below the age of 15 living on the streets, and their parents.

PROPOSED: AZIEA SECONDED: KASVIT

ANNEXURE 8

Resolution 8: Fund-raising Sub-Committee

The First International Congress of StreetNet, NOTING:

  1. The existing policy of StreetNet International on Sustainability and Financial Self-Sufficiency, which states: “Other means of fundraising will be identified and pursued, including: international trade between street vendors’ projects in different countries;  savings and credit initiatives; fundraising events (such as cultural events, etc.)”
  2. That StreetNet should ensure that the existing policy is fully implemented.

HEREBY RESOLVES:

That a Fund-raising Sub-Committee be appointed to be responsible for the generation of income for StreetNet, with the following Terms of Reference:

  1. The Sub-Committee shall report to the International Council and the International Congress of StreetNet on a regular basis;
  2. Members of the Sub-Committee will not be entitled to profit or benefit personally from any income-generation projects of Streetnet International;
  3. Any income which accrues through the work of the sub-committee, including income in the form of commission or shares, shall belong to StreetNet International as an organisation and not to any individual staff or member of StreetNet, including elected office-bearers and members of the Fund-raising Sub-Committee.

PROPOSED: NFSVK  SECONDED: KASVIT

ANNEXURE 9

Resolution 9: Financial Regulations

The First International Congress of StreetNet, NOTING:

  1. The existing policy of StreetNet International on Sustainability and Financial Self-Sufficiency, which states: “StreetNet International should practice sound financial management and control.”
  2. That StreetNet should ensure that its limited funds are used to achieve the maximum advantage for ordinary street vendors, including those who are members of its affiliated organisations, throughout the world.

HEREBY RESOLVES:

To adopt the attached financial regulations to guide those in charge of managing StreetNet’s financial resources.

PROPOSED: AZIEA SECONDED: NFSVK

FINANCIAL REGULATIONS PART 1

These are the Financial Procedures to be used by StreetNet International, and they shall relate to all areas of the organisation. The regulations have been formulated in order to:

  1. Carry on the activities of StreetNet in an orderly and efficient manner;
  2. Ensure adherence to StreetNet financial policies;
  3. Safeguard StreetNet’s assets; and
  4. Secure as far as possible the accuracy of financial reports.

Amendments may be agreed by the Executive Committee, subject to the approval of the International Council which is authorized to amend these regulations.

In these regulations the context of the words requires as follows unless otherwise:

  • “Authorised Signatories” means the names of persons authorized and approved by the International Council and those officers prescribed in the constitution to sign cheques and other negotiable instruments.
  •  “International Co-ordinator” means the lead person for processing all changes and exceptional items, and will assist the Treasurer in any financial matter connected with StreetNet.
  •  “Treasurer” means the officer responsible to advise and guide on financial matters and business administration. 
  • “Inescapable Commitments” means:
  1. Salaries and Rent;
  2. Electricity, Water and Telephone Bills;
  3. Stationery
  4. Any other expense arising out of continuing contractual obligations.

PART 2   GENERAL ACCOUNTING RESPONSIBILITIES

The Role of the International Co-ordinator and Administrator

The International Co-ordinator and Administrator shall work in close cooperation to provide support and advice to the International Council in matters relating to the general finances of the organisation and shall, to this end ensure:

  1. Satisfactory control of funds in accordance with financial regulations approved by the International Council.
  2. That the officers accounting for revenue and expenditure for which they are responsible comply with the provisions of all regulations issued by the International Council.
  3. That they understand the accounting procedures and key internal procedures, so as to ensure the International Council’s financial integrity.
  4. Drawing attention of any officer to delays in submitting reports and to any weakness in the accounting system employed, or in any internal checks applied to accounting transactions.
  5. To bring to the notice of spending officers any wastage, incompetence, carelessness or insubordination on their part.
  6. Formally present the accountings at the International Congress and International Council, drawing attention to important policies, aims, objectives and legal responsibilities.

Financial Monitoring: The estimates of Income and Expenditure shall be submitted to the International Council for approval in accordance with these regulations, shall be set out as follows:

  1. The total estimated Income shall be shown in respect of each head in the budget;
  2. The total estimated Expenditure shall be shown in respect to each head in the budget. Members of the International Council will receive:
  • Monthly staff reports for the previous month - within two weeks of month ends.
  • Monthly reports of income and expenditure versus budget - for one   month before.

A cashbook is a major book that must be maintained at all times. StreetNet does not accept liability for any financial commitment unless properly authorized - and this includes any orders placed or undertakings given.

Financial Periods

The financial year shall be January to December of each calendar year. A set of annual accounts will be submitted for audit as required by regulations and grant conditions. A final draft should be ready for consideration and passed by the International Congress or Council in March of the following year.

International Congress shall appoint External/Internal Auditor and/or External Auditors with the advice from the International Council. The audit process shall be detailed within the annual external audit.

PART 3

Receipts (income) and payments (expenditure)

All cash and cheque receipts shall be banked (deposited) intact without delay. The monies shall be recorded promptly and StreetNet keep documentation as a back-up to the processes. Expenditure should be committed only to StreetNet’s business. Therefore, it is important that there should be segregation of duties in the handling of monies. Staff committing expenditure are not supposed to directly prepare the payment documents, and should ensure payments are within agreed budgets and delegated powers.

Payments Authorisation

Payment Vouchers must be made before any payment is made. The payment voucher shall be in a prescribed form. The International Administrator shall authorize all invoices attached to the payment vouchers although the actual checking of details may be delegated. (S)he and those authorizing are responsible for checking invoices for accuracy in terms of figures and conformity with the business at hand, that the services or goods have been rendered accordingly, and following up any problem.

Cash and Cheque Payment

A list of officers authorized in writing to sign vouchers shall be kept and all cheques should be signed by at least two persons (as specified in the Constitution) with no person being permitted to sign if (s)he is a payee.

The signing of blank cheques is prohibited. The officer signing the payment shall certify the accuracy and validity of the payment and shall ensure that signatories will not sign cheques which are payable to themselves, or blank cheques.

Cheques should be filled in completely (with payee name, amount in words and figures and date) before cheques are signed. Travel/ Accommodation Travelling and accommodation expenses for long-distance travel within countries shall be borne by StreetNet based on ordinary bus fare or public transport rates, and modest hotel or guesthouse accommodation, unless the budget for a particular project indicates otherwise.

Transport from airports or bus stations, in the case of international travel, shall be borne by StreetNet based on the cheapest forms of available public transport. Where StreetNet pays for meals, the cost of alcoholic beverages must be excluded. Where claims incidental to the above arise, only claims that are within the said rates may be considered.

BANK ACCOUNTS

Specific bank accounts shall be identified by the International Council to signify which purpose they are intended for and the approved signatories will be fully conversant with the usage of the operating bank accounts. Proper accounting records will be kept pertaining to the accounts system whilst bank reconciliations will be conducted as regularly as possible on the bank accounts which shall not exceed intervals of longer than a month. Independent verifications of balances at the bank by the International Administrator shall be done more regularly whenever necessary. The office shall be allowed to keep petty cash, using the imprest system.

PART 4

CUSTODY AND SALE OF PROPERTY

An inventory shall be kept at the International office. No part of StreetNet may act to acquire property or dispose of property without prior approval of the International Council. This body, acting on professional advice, shall monitor receipt of assessment of reasonableness of proceeds. All disposal of assets shall be appropriately recorded in the underlying financial records.

SECURITY OF CASH AND ACCOUNTING INSTRUMENTS OR VALUABLES

The International Administrator shall be assigned for the custody of cash and cheque books. Where a safe or cash box is fitted with two or more locks one officer shall hold all the keys. (S)he shall keep cheque books and relevant documents crucial for payments and purchases. (S)he shall also be responsible for the custody and control of the unused cheque forms and (s)he will maintain a record of receipts and issues in a register.

ANNEXURE 10

Constitutional amendment

The International Congress of StreetNet International, NOTING:

  1. That Clause 11.1(d) of the constitution of StreetNet International, i.e. “the signatories of the accounts of StreetNet shall be the International President, Treasurer, Co-ordinator and two other members of the International Council appointed for this purpose by the International Council, any two of whom shall jointly sign each transaction” is fatally flawed in that, if there are not enough members of the International Council based in the same town as the StreetNet International head office, it may become impossible to make proper StreetNet payments;
  2. Such a situation would make it impossible for StreetNet International to function properly; HEREBY RESOLVES to propose the following constitutional changes be made at this International Congress to rectify the situation:
  • Clause 11.1(d): Amend “two other members of the International Council” to “two other individuals easily accessible to the head office”.
  • Add the following new clauses: 11.1(e) The financial transactions of StreetNet shall also be supervised and checked by two Members’ Auditors. These auditors shall be elected by Congress from amongst the delegates of affiliated organisations located within a reasonable distance of the head office. If an Auditor resigns this position between two Congresses, the International Council shall designate an acting Members’ Auditor. 11.1(f) The Members’ Auditors, acting together or individually, shall have constant access to the books, and to all financial documents, deeds and certificates of StreetNet. They shall satisfy themselves that all expenditures are reasonable and in accordance with the decisions of the International Council of StreetNet or were made with its approval. The Members’ Auditors shall submit yearly a report on their findings which shall be sent to all affiliated organisations. The Co-ordinator shall submit these reports to the International Council of StreetNet for its consideration.
  • Clause 10.7(a): Consider replacing “two other members of the International Council appointed for the purpose by the International Council with due regard to minimising the costs of convening meetings of the Executive Committee” with “the two Members’ Auditors elected in terms of Clause 11.1(d) below”.

PROPOSED: NFSVK SECONDED: AZIEA

ANNEXURE 11

Resolution 10: Dissolution of StreetNet Association

The First International Congress of StreetNet, NOTING:

  1. The work done by the StreetNet Association in initiating the formation of StreetNet International since December 1999;
  2. That the Interim Committee of Streetnet International took over the functions of management of the work, projects and programmes, as well as the employment of the Co-ordinator and employees of the StreetNet Association, as per Clause 10 of the constitution, after the StreetNet International launch in November 2002;
  3. That the Steering Committee of the StreetNet Association has continued to manage the finances, bank accounts and assets of StreetNet International as per Clause 11 of the constitution, until such time as an International Council could be properly elected in terms of Clause 9 of the constitution, by agreement with the Interim Committee;
  4. That this International Congress will be properly electing an International Council as specified in the constitution of StreetNet International (including two Members’ Auditors as specified in Clauses 11.1(e) and 11.1(f)) which will have the constitutional powers to manage the finances, including the bank accounts and assets of StreetNet International, in terms of Clause 11 of the constitution;

HEREBY RESOLVES:

  1. To thank the StreetNet Association for the work they have done in establishing such an important organisation as StreetNet International;
  2. To notify the StreetNet Association of the establishment of the International Council and to request them to accordingly proceed with the dissolution of StreetNet Association, to transfer its assets and bank accounts to StreetNet International;
  3. To appoint the following two individuals as signatories of the accounts of StreetNet International in terms of Clause 11.1(d) as amended:          (a) Sibongile Buthelezi (National Administrator of SEWU) (b) Louise Haysom (StreetNet Website Manager)
  4. That the International Council shall assume the balance of its duties as per Clause 11 of the constitution of StreetNet International as soon as the StreetNet Association has dissolved and handed over the assets, transferred the bank accounts and management of its financial affairs to the International Council.

PROPOSED: Kisumu Alliance of Street Vendors & Informal Traders (KASVIT) SECONDED: Union Syndicale des Vendeurs, Vendeuses et Pieces Detachees et Divers Articles de Dantokpa (USYNVEPID).

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