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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)
- For the Development of Promotional
Policies for Street Vendors by National States.
- For the Promotion of Informal Women
Workers of the World.
- Loans
- Foreign and migrant street vendors
- Child labour
- Our fight against harassment and government
crack-downs
- Street children
- Fund-raising Sub-Committee
- 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:
- Teresa Ak’ongo from KASVIT
- Fatoumata Bah from CNTG
- Clarisse Gnahoui from USYNVEPID
- Gloria Solorzano Espinoza from FEDEVAL
- Lameck
Kashiwa from AZIEA
- Jacob W.K. Otum from the Ghana StreetNet Alliance
- Arbind Singh from NASVI
- 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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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:
- To promote relations of equality among men
and women, encouraging our organizations to focus on learning equitable and
democratic practices.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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:
- The existing policy of StreetNet
International on Sustainbility and Financial Self-Sufficiency, which states:
“StreetNet International should practice sound financial management and
control.”
- That StreetNet International is still dependent on donor funds in
order to carry out its work;
- That donor funds are normally not made available
for the purposes of making grants or loans;
- 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:
- 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;
- 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;
- 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:
- 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;
- That many of these informal traders face
harassment from the authorities, which makes them particularly vulnerable to
bribery and extortion;
- That in addition to harassment from
authorities, these traders often face hostility and xenophobia from the
citizens of the host country;
- 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
- 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;
- 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;
- 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;
- 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:
- That there are instances of children working as street
vendors, either independently or assisting parents who are street vendors,
informal market vendors or hawkers;
- That many of these children are working to
augment low incomes earned by the adults in their families;
- 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
- 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;
- 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;
- 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;
- 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;
- 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;
- 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:
- 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;
- 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;
- 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
- 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;
- In cases where harassment occurs and results in injury or losses,
compensation will be demanded;
- 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;
- 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:
- That many of the world’s cities have increasing numbers
of children living on their streets;
- 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;
- That unfortunately many people confuse
street children and street vendors and do not understand the difference;
HEREBY
RESOLVES:
- To create public awareness of the difference between street vendors
and street children;
- To promote preventative programmes to ensure that the
children of street vendors do not become street children, by means of:
- Affordable child-care facilities for pre-school children of street vendors;
- Accessible education for children of street vendors;
- further opportunities for
the development of the potential of the children of street vendors;
- 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:
- 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.)”
- 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:
- The Sub-Committee shall report to the International
Council and the International Congress of StreetNet on a regular basis;
- Members of the Sub-Committee will not be entitled to profit or benefit
personally from any income-generation projects of Streetnet International;
- 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:
- The existing policy of StreetNet International on Sustainability and Financial Self-Sufficiency, which
states: “StreetNet International should practice sound financial management and
control.”
- 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:
- Carry on the activities of StreetNet in an
orderly and efficient manner;
- Ensure adherence to StreetNet financial
policies;
- Safeguard StreetNet’s assets; and
- 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:
- Salaries and Rent;
- Electricity, Water and Telephone Bills;
- Stationery
- 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:
- Satisfactory control of funds in accordance
with financial regulations approved by the International Council.
- 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.
- That they understand the accounting
procedures and key internal procedures, so as to ensure the International
Council’s financial integrity.
- 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.
- To bring to the notice of spending officers
any wastage, incompetence, carelessness or insubordination on their part.
- 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:
- The total estimated Income shall be shown in
respect of each head in the budget;
- 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:
- 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;
- 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:
- The work done by the StreetNet Association in
initiating the formation of StreetNet International since December 1999;
- 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;
- 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;
- 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:
- To thank the StreetNet
Association for the work they have done in establishing such an important
organisation as StreetNet International;
- 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;
- 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)
- 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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