CHARTER 

OF THE INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE OF PEOPLES' STRUGGLE

Preamble

We, the undersigned representatives of organizations, hereby proclaim the formation of the International League of Peoples' Struggle (hereinafter referred to as League) and the promulgation of the  charter as herein defined.

The League is an anti-imperialist and democratic formation.  It shall promote, support and develop the anti-imperialist and democratic struggles of the people of the world, including the workers, peasants, women, youth, professionals and other sectors of society against the ideological, political, military, economic, social and cultural domination and attacks of imperialism and reaction.

It shall have a broad mass character, shall not be subordinate to any political party, government or church and shall afford equality to all participating organizations.  It shall strive to realize the unity, cooperation and coordination of anti-imperialist and democratic struggles throughout the world.

The League shall expose and oppose the oppressive and exploitative policies and acts of the imperialist and puppet states, the multinational companies and imperialist-dominated international agencies, such as the IMF, World Bank and WTO, and the military alliances such as the NATO and the US-Japan Security Council.

The League shall stand and fight for the following:

1. The cause of national liberation, democracy and social liberation against imperialism and all reaction;

2. Socio-economic development for oppressed and exploited countries and nations, and social equity for all working people;

3. Human rights in the civil, political, economic, social and cultural fields against state violence, national oppression, class exploitation, gender oppression, fascism, casteism, racism and religious bigotry;  

4.  The cause of just peace and struggles against wars of counterrevolution and aggression and against nuclear, biological, chemical, missile and other weapons of genocidal and random mass destruction;

5.  Promotion of trade union and other democratic rights of the working class, improvement of wage and living conditions against all forms of intensifying exploitation of labor and the destruction of working class organizations in their pursuit of the historic mission of fighting for social liberation;

6. Agrarian reform and rights of peasants, farm workers and fisherfolk against feudal, semi-feudal and capitalist exploitation and oppression;

7.  The cause of women's liberation and rights against all forms of sexual discrimination, exploitation and violence;

8. Rights of the youth to education and employment;

9.   Children's rights against child labor, sexual abuse and other forms of exploitation;

10. Rights of indigenous peoples, national minorities, and nationalities for self-determination and de-colonization against discrimination, racism, and national oppression by imperialism and local reaction;

11. The rights of teachers, researchers and other educational personnel and struggle against ideas and researches directed against the people;

12. The right of the people to health care and the rights of health workers;

13.  Science and technology for the people and development, environmental protection against plunder and pollution and the destruction of the foundations of human life, the right to safe and healthy food and water and opposition to manipulation of genetic technology for imperialist profit;

14. Arts and culture and free flow of information in the service of the people and the rights of artists, creative writers, journalists and other cultural workers against imperialist and reactionary propaganda and oppression;

15.  Justice and indemnification for the victims of illegal arrest and detention (especially political prisoners), violations of due process, torture, extra-judicial executions, disappearances, mass displacement, and other blatant forms of human rights violations.

16. Rights and welfare of homeless persons, refugees and migrant workers displaced by imperialism and local reactionaries;

17. Rights of aged people towards a life in dignity and secured existence;

18.  Rights of gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgendered against discrimination, intolerance and xenophobia.

Article I.  Aims and Purposes

Section 1.  The aims and purposes of the League shall include the following:

1.1 To promote a common understanding of those concerns and issues as enumerated in the preamble,

1.2 To stimulate, facilitate and coordinate common lines of action and undertake definite actions on the aforesaid concerns and issues,

1.3 To cooperate with all possible organizations, institutions and personages in the attainment of the aims and purposes of the League, and

1.4 To raise such resources as to enable the League to realize its aims and purposes and perform its functions.

Section 2.  The activities of the League shall include the following:  advocacy, research, publications, conferences, seminars and social and political action.

Article II.  Participating Organizations

Section 1.  Any organization that agrees with the charter of the League may apply or may be invited to become a participating organization of the League.

Section 2.  The application shall be evaluated and acted upon by the International Coordinating Committee within one year from such application or invitation.

Section 3.  All participating organizations shall assume responsibilities in accordance with the resolutions and decisions of the International Assembly.

Section 4.  All participating organizations shall have equal basic rights and duties.

Section 5. A participating organization may cease to be such by resignation, self-dissolution or by expulsion for serious violation of this charter, resolutions or decisions of the International Assembly.

Section 6. All participating organizations shall maintain their independence and initiative and shall accordingly have equal basic rights and duties.

Article III.  International Assembly

Section 1.  The International Assembly of the League shall be convened once every three years.  The International Coordinating Committee shall decide the number of delegates and the criteria and methods for the selection and apportionment of delegates.

Section 2.    The International Assembly shall be the highest decision-making organ of the League.  It shall review the implementation of the resolutions of the previous assembly and the performance of the outgoing International Coordinating Committee.  It shall deliberate on issues of international significance and make pertinent resolutions.  It shall elect the members of the International Coordinating Committee after deciding their number.

Section 3.  Issues shall be decided by simple majority vote, except on issues of amending the charter of the League.  The International Assembly shall give full play to the efforts of the participating organizations most affected by an issue to resolve their differences, if any.  Whenever consensus is not possible, voting shall be done to resolve an issue within the time allocation of the assembly.

Section 4.  The International Coordinating Committee or one-third of the participating organizations of the League may convene a special assembly whenever necessary, provided that due notice is given at least one month in advance.  The decisions of such assembly shall be subject to ratification by the next regular assembly. 

Article IV.  The International Coordinating Committee

Section 1.  The International Coordinating Committee shall be the highest decision-making organ of the League between international assemblies.  It shall abide by the spirit and letter of the resolutions and decisions of the International Assembly.   It shall meet at least once a year. 

Section 2.  The International Coordinating Committee shall propose the theme and program of the International Assembly and shall ensure that the resolutions of the International Assembly are pursued and implemented and shall report and make recommendations to the International Assembly.

Section 3.  The International Coordinating Committee shall elect its own officers, a Chairperson,   as many Deputy Chairpersons as may be needed with respect to functions and geographic distribution, a General Secretary, a Deputy General Secretary, Treasurer and Auditor.  They shall constitute the International Coordinating Group, which shall guide the General Secretariat, according to the decisions of the International Coordinating Committee.

Section 4.  The chairperson shall be the chief representative and spokesperson of the League and shall be strictly bound by the resolutions of the International Assembly.

Section 5.  The International Coordinating Committee shall facilitate the exchange of information, meetings, cooperation and common actions among the participating organizations of the League.   It shall give full play to the efforts of the participating organizations to maintain their solidarity and broad character in accordance with the charter of the League and resolutions of the International Assembly.

Section 6.  The International Coordinating Committee shall not administer or govern all or any of the participating organizations of the League and shall have no authority whatsoever to decide on issues internal to any participating organization as well as on issues of controversy among several participating organizations. It may make requests or proposals that are subject to the decision of all or any of the participating organizations.

Section 7. Subject to the approval of the International Assembly, the International Coordinating Committee shall create study commissions, each responsible for a major concern of the League, and define their tasks.  Among these shall be the drafting of resolutions for the International Assembly and other documents for the timely information and guidance of the participating organizations and the holding of conferences or seminars on the various concerns for the benefit of the participating organizations. 

Article V.  The General Secretariat

Section 1.  The International Coordinating Committee shall form and direct the General Secretariat on the basis of recommendations of the General Secretary.  The General Secretariat shall consist of the General Secretary and as many deputies as may be appointed by the International Coordinating Committee to undertake administrative functions. 

Section 2.  The General Secretariat shall be responsible for the daily administration and implementation of all other functions as may be assigned by the International Coordinating Committee and shall report and make recommendations to the International Coordinating Committee.

Article VI.  National Chapters

Section 1.  On the basis of recommendations of and in consultation with the participating organizations in the country concerned, the International Coordinating Committee shall propose to the International Assembly the general guidelines for the formation of the national chapter of the League.

Section 2.  Every national chapter shall elect its officers in a national assembly of representatives of participating organizations.  The national chapter shall determine its own organizational structure.

Section 3.   The national chapter shall decide on the application of mass formations that wish to participate in the League. In this connection, it shall promote the broad alliance of participating organizations in accordance with the aims and purposes of the League.

Section 4.  The national chapters shall have equal basic rights and duties in the League.  They shall enjoy their independence and initiative even as they shall contribute to the realization of the aims and purposes of the League.

Section 5. In the event no national chapter exists in any country, the International Coordinating Committee shall receive applications for evaluation and approval.

VII. Patrons of the League

Section 1.   On the basis of recommendations of national chapters or participating organizations, the International Coordinating Committee shall select and invite the eminent persons and outstanding individuals in their fields of activity to become Patrons of the League.

Section 2.  The Patrons of the League shall promote the aims and purposes of the League and raise the prestige of the League in any appropriate manner.  They may provide advice and expertise to the International Coordinating Committee and the latter may consult them as resource persons.

Article VIII.  Funds and Resources

Section 1.  The basic operations of the International Coordinating Committee and the General Secretariat shall be financed by membership dues and contributions of participating organizations.

Section 2.  Subject to approval by the International Coordinating Committee, the General Secretariat shall recommend the methods of raising funds and resources from the general public through concrete solidarity projects and activities and unconditional contributions from various sources.

Section 3.  The Treasurer shall be responsible for the safekeeping and accounting of funds and other material resources of the League.  The Treasurer shall be subject to periodic and timely audit by the Auditor.

Section 4.  Independent of the General Secretariat, the Auditor shall conduct annual and special audits of all financial accounts and resources of the League and give reports on these to the International Coordinating Committee.  Independent of the International Coordinating Committee, the auditor shall make a report to the International Assembly.

IX.  General Provisions

Section 1. The International Assembly shall have the power to amend the charter by two-thirds majority.

Section 2. The emblem and headquarters of the League shall be decided by the International Assembly upon the recommendation of the International Coordinating Committee and such decision shall become an integral part of this charter.

X.  Transitory Provisions

Section 1.   This draft charter shall be subject to amendment and ratification by a simple majority of the First International Assembly.

Section 2.  The Initiative Committee shall prepare the First International Assembly and shall organize the provisional general secretariat for the purpose.  It shall cease to exist upon the election of the International Coordinating Committee.

Section 3. The International Coordinating Committee may provisionally adopt an emblem of the League until the International Assembly has acted on the matter.

 

_____________________________________________

Ratified as amended by the First International Assembly

Certified by the IIC