The name of the organisation is the International Council for Education of People with Visual Impairment (ICEVI) hereafter the Association. The Association is registered in the United Kingdom. The Association is formed for an unlimited period of time. The Association is subject to the laws of the United Kingdom.

The International Council for Education of People with Visual Impairment (ICEVI) is a global association of individuals and organizations that promotes equal access to appropriate education for all visually impaired children and youth so that they may achieve their full potential.

In pursuit of this aim the Association shall:

3.1     Establish and maintain regions and support their activities;

3.2     Convene a General Assembly at the end of each term;

3.3     Promote cooperation with local, national, regional and global governmental and non- governmental organisations active in or related to the education of people with visual impairment;

3.4     Influence governmental and United Nations agencies with respect to the education of people with visual impairment;

3.5     Promote a positive image of people with visual impairment;

3.6     Promote involvement of persons with visual impairment and their families in educational policy and planning.

4.1    Promote local, (sub) regional and global networks;

4.2     Promote training courses, conferences and meetings at a local and regional level;

4.3     Promote local, national, regional and global communication;

4.4     Publish a global journal and regional newsletters through the internet and otherwise;

4.5     Promote local and regional special interest groups and their inter-regional linkages.

5.1     Membership of the Association is open to any individual or organisation subscribing to the aim and objects of the Association as laid down in the Constitution.

5.2     Members shall pay an annual subscription as shall be determined from time to time by the Executive Committee. Subscriptions shall reflect the diversity of the financial resources available to different organisations and in the different regions of the Association.

6.1     The basic structure of the Association is a regional one and the members of the Association are primarily members of a region. The Executive Committee shall determine the number and the countries of the regions.

6.2     The Regional Members shall elect for each term from the region a Regional Chairperson and one or more Regional Deputy Chairpersons.

6.3     The Regional Chairpersons shall be responsible for establishing a Regional Committee of not less than 5 members. Representation on the Regional Committee shall reflect the diversity of the region. The immediate past Chairperson and any Principal Officer belonging to the region shall ex officio be a member of the Committee.

6.4     The Regional Committee shall be responsible for the planning and implementation of regional activities and conducting the business of the region.

6.5     The Regional Committee shall have power to levy a regional subscription with the agreement of the Executive Committee.

6.6     The audited regional accounts shall be sent to the Treasurer within three months the end of each financial year.

6.7     The Regional Chairpersons, together with the five Principal Officers, are the Officers of the Association.

6.8     The Regional Chairpersons shall report regularly to the President on an agreed schedule.

6.9     If a Regional Chairperson is unable to fulfil his/her duties, the Deputy Chairperson shall take over. If neither the Chairperson nor the Deputy Chairperson is able to fulfil their duties, the Regional Committee in association with the President shall take decisions about the continuation of the region's work.

6.10     The Regional Committees shall appoint delegates with voting rights to the General Assembly using a process which respects diversities within the region. The number of delegates per region shall be laid down in the Bye-laws.

7.1     A meeting of the General Assembly shall be held at the end of each term.

7.2     Those entitled to vote at the General Assembly shall consist of the Executive Committee, not more than two Deputy Chairpersons from each region and the other delegates with voting rights appointed by the Regional Committees.

7.3     At a General Assembly, there shall take place a business meeting at which the Regional Chairpersons and Principal Officers shall present a report on their activities during the past term and their plans for the next term. The business meeting shall elect the Principal Officers of the Association, who shall be the President, the Vice-President, the Secretary and the Treasurer. The Immediate Past President is also a Principal Officer.

7.4     The General Assembly may also include a professional conference, which non-delegates may attend.

8.1     The business of the Association between General Assemblies shall be conducted by an Executive Committee, which shall consist of:

            a)     the Principal Officers of the Association, namely

            d)     one representative of any international non-governmental organisation which supports the mission and
                       plans of the Association and makes a significant financial contribution to its work, the level of such
                       contribution to be determined by the Executive Committee from time to time as part of the dues structure
                       of the Association.

            The Executive Committee may also invite to any of its meetings the Chairperson of any Standing Committee or
            Working Group established by the Executive Committee.

8.2     The Executive Committee may either ad hoc or for the full term appoint additional members with special tasks who may be invited to participate in meetings of the Executive Committee, but shall have no voting rights.

8.3     The Executive Committee shall evaluate regional developments in terms of the Association's policy, the global targets set for the term and regional plans.

8.4     The Executive Committee shall keep under review the Constitution and Bye-laws of the Association.

8.5     The Executive Committee shall appoint the members of the Programme, the Nominations, the Finance, the Publications and any other global Standing Committees of the Association.

8.6     A Regional Chairperson who shall be appointed by the Executive Committee shall act as Chairperson of the Nominations Committee.

8.7     The President is ex officio a member of the Programme Committee.

8.8     The Treasurer is ex officio Chairperson of the Finance Committee.

8.9     The Vice-President is ex officio a member of the Publications Committee.

8.10   The Executive Committee shall have power to appoint paid staff in order to further the work of the Association.

9.1     The Principal Officers are the executive officers of the Association and shall act on behalf of the Association and on behalf of the Executive Committee. They shall report on their activities to the Executive Committee and the General Assembly, and shall meet as necessary.

9.2     Each of the Principal Officers, in addition to the duties of their post, shall have specific duties as agreed amongst themselves from time to time.

9.3     Each Principal Officer is authorised to act on behalf of the Association on condition that the action is based on the Constitution or Bye-laws of the Association; its policy, custom and practice; or a decision of the Executive Committee or of the Principal Officers.

9.4     If neither the President nor the Vice-President is able to discharge their responsibilities, the Executive Committee shall appoint one of the remaining Principal Officers to act as President.

10.1     The International Consultative Committee is an advisory body to the Executive Committee. It is intended to promote global co-operation and linkages between global organisations active in the education of people with visual impairment.

10.2     The Executive Committee shall draw up a list of organisations that will be invited to serve on the International Consultative Committee. These organisations shall meet the conditions laid down in the Bye-laws.

10.3     The Executive Committee will meet at least once each term with the International Consultative Committee. These meetings shall discuss the Association's general policy with a view to promoting co-operation and linkages with the invited organisations.

11.1     All office holders shall take up their positions at the end of the General Assembly at which they were elected. Elections or appointments taking place between General Assemblies shall have immediate effect.

11.2     All office holders shall remain in post until the end of the next General Assembly after their election or appointment.

11.3     Ad hoc appointments shall come to an end when the task for which they were made has been completed, but in any event not later than the end of the next General Assembly after they were made.

Postal ballots may be used for deciding any question which requires decision within any organ of the Association. Ballot papers, clearly stating the proposal to be voted on, shall be sent to all persons entitled to vote on the matter in question. All means of written communication may be used.

The Association's financial year runs from 1st January to 31st December. The accounts of the Association shall be subject to annual audit by a qualified auditor and the Principal Officers shall appoint an external auditor for the purpose. The audited accounts shall be presented to the Executive Committee who shall have responsibility for approving the financial report. The Executive Committee shall also approve the annual budget of the Association.

The use of the name of the Association for any purpose, including fund raising, income generation or the production or sale of publications, irrespective of whether initiated and/or executed by members of the Association, is only permitted if authorised in writing by the Principal Officers.

15.1     The Constitution of the Association may be amended by the General Assembly.

15.2     Proposals for amendment of the Constitution shall be recommended to the General Assembly by the Executive Committee.

15.3     Proposals for amendment of the Constitution shall be published in the Association's magazine and on the Association's website not later than three months prior to the General Assembly at which they are to be discussed.

15.4     Amendment of the Constitution shall require a two-thirds majority of the votes either of the members present and voting at a General Assembly or voting in a postal ballot, provided in each case that not less than 50% of those entitled must have voted in order for the proposal to be carried. In the event that less than 50% of those entitled shall have voted, a second ballot on the same proposal may be organised not earlier than two weeks and not later than six months after the first ballot. In this event, not less than 25% of those entitled to vote either at a General Assembly or in a postal ballot must have voted in order for the proposal to be carried.

15.5     The Executive Committee may change or add to the Association's Bye-laws by a simple majority on a recommendation of the Principal Officers made not later than three months before a meeting of the Executive Committee or a postal ballot on the same. The quorum for votes on such recommendations shall be two-thirds. If there is no quorum, a second ballot may be organised not earlier than two weeks and not later than six months after the first ballot. For the second ballot on the same proposal, the quorum shall be 50%.

15.6     The text of any changes to the Constitution or any additions or changes to the Bye-laws, together with the result of any vote, shall be published in the next issue of the Association's journal following their agreement and on the Association's website.

16.1     The Association may be dissolved by the General Assembly.

16.2     Proposals for the dissolution of the Association shall be recommended to the General Assembly by the Executive Committee.

16.3     Proposals for the dissolution of the Association shall be published in the Association's journal and on the Association's website not later than three months prior to the General Assembly at which they are to be discussed.

16.4     Dissolution of the Association shall require a two-thirds majority of the votes either of the members present and voting at a General Assembly or voting in a postal ballot, provided in each case that not less than 50% of those entitled must have voted in order for the proposal to be carried. In the event that less than 50% of those entitled shall have voted, a second ballot on the same proposal may be organised not earlier than two weeks and not later than six months after the first ballot. In this event, not less than 25% of those entitled to vote either at a General Assembly or in a postal ballot must have voted in order for the proposal to be carried.

In cases for which there is no clear provision either in this Constitution or in law, the Executive Committee shall decide issues according to the spirit of this Constitution.