Regulations of the World Congress of Finno-Ugric Peoples

Adopted at the meeting of the Consultative Committee
of  Finno- Ugric Peoples
June 17, 2003. in Hanty-Mansiisk

Regulations of the World Congress of Finno-Ugric Peoples

I. General provisions

1.1. The World Congress of Finno-Ugric Peoples (hereinafter: the Congress) is a forum for the representatives of the Finno-Ugric, as well as the Samoyed peoples, which does not depend on governments and political parties and which in its activities relies on the Declaration of the basic co-operation principles, goals and tasks of the Finno-Ugric Peoples of the world. (Syktyvkar, 1992).

1.2. Aims of the Congress:

1.2.1. furthering of co-operation between Finno-Ugric peoples, as well as between Finno-Ugric and other peoples in the field of culture, information, education, science, law, ecology, social and political matters and economy;

1.2.2. counteraction against the processes of language and cultural assimilation of Finno-Ugric peoples;

1.2.3. assistance in the execution of international norms in the field of human rights, the rights of peoples to self-determination and the rights of indigenous peoples.

1.3. In order to secure execution of its decisions the Congress forms a co-ordinating body - the Consultative Committee of Finno-Ugric Peoples.

II Delegates

2.1. The delegates of the Congress are freely selected by each people, the mechanism for forming of a delegation is not regulated.

2.2. The norms for representation are determined by the Consultative Committee of Finno-Ugric peoples.

2.3. The Peoples' Congresses have the right to delegate representatives, and in their absence other NGO's, which represent the interests of the people. Disputable issues are decided upon by the Consultative Committee of the Finno-Ugric Peoples.

III Work order of the Congress:

3.1. The work of the Congress takes place in the form of plenary and sectional meetings.

3.2. The work of the Congress is chaired by the Presidium, made up of delegates on the basis of proposals made by the Consultative Committee and confirmed by the Congress.

3.3. An editorial commission is formed for the preliminary preparation of the documents of the Congress.

3.4. Plenary session:

3.4.1. hears the report of the Chairman of the Consultative Committee of Finno-Ugric Peoples and assesses the work of the Consultative Committee;

3.4.2. hears the reports of the peoples' delegations and the recommendations of the sections to the Consultative Committee;

3.4.3. adopts on behalf of the Congress the documents prepared by the Editorial Commission;

3.4.4. decides on practical items;

3.4.5. makes decisions based on consensus, in this connection every peoples' delegation has one vote; decisions concerning practical items are made by simple majority of votes, cast by the delegations.

3.5. The Presidium:

3.5.1. the members of the Presidium take turns in chairing at the Plenary sessions;

3.5.2. decides upon matters of a procedural (practical) character, as well as matters, which exceed the limits of the present Regulations.

3.6. The Editorial Committee:

3.6.1. the Editorial Committee comprises one representative from each peoples' delegation;

3.6.2. the governing body of the Editorial Committee is recommended by the Consultative Committee and confirmed at the first meeting;

3.6.3. the Editorial Committee agrees upon the draft Concluding document of the Congress, other draft documents (appeals, declarations, statements) proposed by the Consultative Committee or the delegations;

3.6.4. the Editorial Committee makes decisions based on consensus;

3.6.5. the delegates may submit to the Editorial Committee amendments to the Concluding document, as well as other draft documents before the end of the time-limit determined by the Presidium.

3.7. Meetings of the Sections:

3.7.1. the task of the sections comprises elaboration of recommen-dations for the activities of the Consultative Committee of Finno-Ugric Peoples for the period until the next Congress;

3.7.2. the number of members and the subjects to be studied by a section is determined by the Consultative Committee;

3.7.3. the Sections may invite experts, observers and guests of the Congress to take part in its work;

3.7.4. for its work each Section elects according to the recommen-dations of the Consultative Committee a chairman, two co-chairmen and a secretary.

3.8. Adoption of documents on behalf of the Congress:

3.8.1. the Congress adopts:

3.8.1.1. the Concluding Document of the World Congress of Finno-Ugric Peoples;

3.8.1.2. appeals and declarations;

3.8.1.3. recommendations of the sections for the future work of the Consultative Committee of Finno-Ugric Peoples.

3.8.2. The Final Document, as well as the declarations and appeals are proposed by the Editorial Committee and adopted by the Congress at its closing plenary session.

3.8.3. The decisions of the Congress act as recommendations for the Finno-Ugric peoples and are determining in the work of the Consultative Committee of Finno-Ugric peoples and the work bodies of the Congress. They cannot be revised or revoked by any other body than the Congress itself.