Name
This Forum will hereafter be known as South Asian Climate Change Journalist Forum (in short SACCJF). Media persons covering the environment and Climate Change issue of eight Member countries will be eligible Members of this Forum.
A) The expression “Forum” will mean and include all mechanisms, institutions or bodies of the SAARC member nations, by whatever name they may be called and are formed out of the law of the land of the SAARC member countries in their respective nation, but are independent from the government, which will for betterment of environment.
B) There will be ‘President’, Executive President, `Vice-Presidents (Three)’, ‘Secretary General’, ‘Assistance Secretary General (Two)’, `Treasurer’ and ‘other 12 Members’ of this Executive Committee to run the Forum. Every Members country should have a representative.
C) Journalists, media workers, freelancers’ mean a person who writes, edits, photographs, or makes cartoons or illustrations, for print or electronic media on environment and climate change issue will be eligible for Membership.
D) ‘Print media’ refers to anything that is available in printed form, like newspapers and books. ‘Electronic media’ include any form that can be accessed by an electronic device and include radio, television and media on the internet mainly called digital media but excluding social media.
Objectives of the Forum
I. To serve as a common forum for the South Asian region with the to exchange information, views/experience and knowledge and to play an effective role with an objective of protection and promotion of the environments and climate in the region
II. To provide an organization that will monitor the conduct of the environment in accordance with the objectives of the Media Action Plan.
III. The parties to the Forum shall commit themselves to building mutual confidence and trust.
IV. The parties to the Forum shall commit to restore and strengthen the environmental and climate change values among the member nations and commit to fair, strong and dedicated media with the capability of providing a plurality of views and accuracy of the news;
V. To assure a free and independent media and take relevant measures to ensure smooth functioning of environmental journalists in doing their duties for protection and promotion of the environment.
VI. To uphold the right of all citizens to be informed on all matters of environment and climate change interest;
VII. To keep under review developments likely to damage the environment and to suggest appropriate remedial measures in relation thereto; Functions of the Forum: The Forum in furtherance of its objectives performs the following functions, namely:
VIII. To periodically monitor and publish reports on environment and climate change violations of environment rights.
IX. To organize conferences, seminars, workshops, meetings and discussions for building capabilities of environment and climate change media professionals through the promotion of qualitative environment and climate change education and training facilities under exchange programmers;
X. To promote and undertake research in the field of environment and climate change journalism and mass communication.
XI. To seek and obtain financing, as appropriate, to sustain and promote these objectives;
XII. To undertake such other activities as may be determined from time to time in pursuance of these objects;
Membership of the Alliance
I. To serve as a common forum for the South Asian region with the to exchange information, views/experience and knowledge and to play an effective role with an objective of protection and promotion of the environments and climate in the region
II. To provide an organization that will monitor the conduct of the environment in accordance with the objectives of the Media Action Plan.
III. The parties to the Forum shall commit themselves to building mutual confidence and trust.
IV. The parties to the Forum shall commit to restore and strengthen the environmental and climate change values among the member nations and commit to fair, strong and dedicated media with the capability of providing a plurality of views and accuracy of the news;
V. To assure a free and independent media and take relevant measures to ensure smooth functioning of environmental journalists in doing their duties for protection and promotion of the environment.
VI. To uphold the right of all citizens to be informed on all matters of environment and climate change interest;
VII. To keep under review developments likely to damage the environment and to suggest appropriate remedial measures in relation thereto; Functions of the Forum: The Forum in furtherance of its objectives performs the following functions, namely:
VIII. To periodically monitor and publish reports on environment and climate change violations of environment rights.
IX. To organize conferences, seminars, workshops, meetings and discussions for building capabilities of environment and climate change media professionals through the promotion of qualitative environment and climate change education and training facilities under exchange programmers;
X. To promote and undertake research in the field of environment and climate change journalism and mass communication.
XI. To seek and obtain financing, as appropriate, to sustain and promote these objectives;
XII. To undertake such other activities as may be determined from time to time in pursuance of these objects;
The Office Bearers
Once in every two years the Members shall elect the following office-bearers & Executive Committee of the Forum.
A) The President
B) The Executive President
C) The Vice-President
D) The Secretary General
E) The Assistant Secretary General, and
F) The Treasurer
G) Executive Committee- Fourteen Member (One or more from each Member countries). Office bearers of the Alliance will hold office until the next election and for a two-year term. No Office Bearer can remain in the same post for more than two consecutive terms. In the event of a vacancy in any office, the Executive Committee may fill that office for the remaining term.
Powers and Functions of the President and other Office-Bearers
President/Executive President/Vice-president
The President shall monitor and supervise the administration of the Alliance in collaboration with the Secretary General. The President and other office bearers of the Alliance shall exercise such other powers and perform such other duties as may be assigned to them by the General Assembly and the Executive Committee.
In the absence or the inability of the President to act, the Executive President shall assume the function of the President.
In the absence or the inability of the President and Executive President, Vice-President to act, the Vice-President shall assume the function of the President.
Secretary General
A) Will serve as main administrative functionary of the Forum.
B) Convene the meetings of the Forum and of the Executive Committee.
C) Execute the decision of the Forum and Executive Committee and shall otherwise look after the administration of the Alliance in consultation with the President and Executive Committee.
D) be a focal point for liaison between members and provide reasonable secretarial and other such services,
E) Provide notices to members.
F) Subject to available finances, bear primary responsibility for organizing meetings of the Executive Committee and the Forum and act as an executive for the sessions of the meetings.
G) Maintain the records of the relevant sessions of the Forum and Formalities:
The Executive Committee shall frame a concise constitution/framework of agreement/ memorandum of understanding.
Assistant Secretary General
In the absence or the inability of the Secretary General to act, the Assistant Secretary General shall assume the function of the Secretary General.
The Treasurer
The treasurer shall raise receive and collect all fees and funds of and on behalf of the Forum, keep them in a bank by opening a bank account of the Forum, disburse them at the request of the Executive Committee, its President, or the Secretary General and maintain accounts and submit them to the Executive Committee and the Forum from time to time.
Executive Committee
Forum elects, for every member council, two designees on the Executive Council. The President, General Secretary and the Treasurer also are part of the Executive Committee.
Between sessions of the General Assembly, the executive Committee may exercise any of the powers of the Forum.
A meeting of the Executive Committee may be called by the President or Secretary General on one month’s notice on his own initiative, or at the request of any ten members of the Executive Committee. In case a face-to-face meeting is not feasible, a virtual meeting with voting by electronic means, according to e-signature regulations may be authorized.
Notice of all motions to be presented to the Executive Committee will be circulated and may be voted upon according to e-signature regulations by absent members by proxy, post, cable, e-mail and fax, telex or similar methods of communication.
In case of emergency, the Executive Committee by a majority of two thirds of those voting whether personally, by post, cable, telex, according to e-signature regulations, e-mail, fax, facsimile transmission, or similar methods of communication may retrospectively shorten the period of notice required for the calling of the meeting.
Minutes of each meeting of the General Assembly or EC have to be first distributed to each Member for response/amendments within ten days and confirmed in the next meeting. But action can be taken on the decision of the meeting after receiving the response/amendments.
Funds
Funds have to be created from the Membership fees of the Members/Associate Members. But the host Government has to provide the logistics like office/ staff etc for day to day functioning. Each Member country has to give annual fees as decided in the SAARC pattern.
Amendment of the rules
These objectives may be amended only by the resolution adopted by two thirds of the representatives present and voting by the Forum provided that 45 days’ notice of the motion to amend the Objectives is given to the Secretary General who shall give at least 40 days’ notice of the session for this purpose.
Withdrawal from the Forum
Any Member may withdraw from the Alliance by submitting written notice thereof to the Secretary General to be placed in the Executive Committee and then the General Assembly for ratification.
Exemption/Dismissal of Member
If any member engages in activities that are not in accordance with the principles and ideals of the organization, he/she may be expelled/suspended from the organization. A decision in this regard will be taken in the meeting of the executive committee after giving notice showing proper reasons, replying to the notice. It is mentioned that before taking any decision about any member, that member should be given an opportunity to defend himself.
Conclusion
Due to its location, South Asia is located in an area vulnerable to climate change. Members of the organization are committed to working together to address the impact of climate change in South Asia.
