Application for Full and Associate Membership
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Application for Full and Associate Membership World Conference Document No 7 h Worl 5t d C 3 o S n G fe r G e G n c A e W H 4 O 1 N 20 G KONG Document No 7 Application for Full Membership Page 2 of 14 THE NATIONAL UNION OF GIRL GUIDES AND GIRL SCOUTS OF ARMENIA (NUGGGS) Introduction Armenia is situated in the south of Under-Caucasus, bordered to the north and east by Georgia and Azerbaijan and to the west and south-west by Turkey and Iran. For most of its history, Armenia was controlled or occupied by external powers, including Assyrians, Persians, Romans, Mongols, Turks, and Russians, although independent Armenian states also existed for short periods of time in the past. In 1922 Armenia was incorporated into the USSR, but after the movement toward independence in the late 1980s, Armenia seceded from the USSR in September 1991. It became a member of the United Nations in 1992, a member of the Council of Europe in 2001. Due to the war that broke out in the early 1990s, Armenia is still suffering from economic difficulties that affect Armenians’ daily lives. In 2012, the population of Armenia was 2.97 million, of which the number of girls and young women aged 5-19 years old is 264,000. National population has been declining since 1991, following the break-up of the USSR, largely due to high levels of emigration. Ethnic Armenians make up 90 per cent of the population, with the next largest groups being Kurds and Russians (each being less than 2 per cent of the population). Most Armenians are Oriental Orthodox, although there are some Catholics and Evangelical Protestants. Armenian is the official language. Armenia is ranked 59 out of 149 countries in the Gender Inequality Index 2012, making it one of the least gender equal countries in Europe Region. Women’s civic and political participation and women’s economic opportunities are also considered poor or very poor. Meanwhile, girls’ access to education at the primary and secondary levels are considered to be very good, and their access to college education to be good. The most critical challenge is considered to be the stereotypical image of women’s role which is reinforced by cultural beliefs, the media and religious views. Report Girl Guiding: Background Information The first Girl Guide patrols in Armenia were founded in 1988 as part of a coeducational Scouting organization. In 1996, the girls left this organization and founded the National Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in Armenia (ASTGIK), a girls-only association. The first contact with WAGGGS was established in 1997, and in 1999, the association received the Certificate of Country Working Towards Membership. ASTGIK was authorized by the Armenian Ministry of Justice in December 1998 and in 2002, the association became an Associate Member of WAGGGS. In 2011, the World Conference voted to approve the change in the association’s name to the National Union of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts of Armenia (NUGGGS). 1. Educational Programme There is a team responsible for the development and review of NUGGGS’ Educational Programme, which is developed according to WAGGGS’ Educational Policy and WAGGGS’ Mission, Vision and initiatives. NUGGGS’ programme is well structured and consistently implemented; the focus is on empowering girls as self-conscious individuals going beyond the traditional societal roles. WAGGGS’ educational initiatives are integrated in the annual programme on an ad-hoc basis and in line with the themes. The importance of a grounded and interesting Educational Programme is very much shared by National Board members, especially given the objective to gain more visibility within the country and different programmes have been developed for each of the three age groups (6-10; 11-15; 16-20). 2. Training NUGGGS’ Training Scheme was accredited by WAGGGS in 2010 and it is based at national level. In the Association there is only one national trainers' team. The Training Committee, which co- ordinates the training policy, includes the trainers’ team and expert-consultants. The number of accredited trainers is currently meeting the needs of the existing leaders. However their number and capacity would need to be strengthened as the association grows, especially in the regions. 5 June 2014~14:59~CR Y:\35th World Conference 2014\Conference documents\Applications for membership\Word versions\DOCUMENT 7 Application for Full and Associate Membership.doc Document No 7 Application for Full Membership Page 3 of 14 3. Membership NUGGGS is a girl-only association with a total membership of 1,065 according to NUGGGS most recent census dated April 2013. The association is open to all girls in Armenia and is mostly present in Yerevan and the surrounding regions. The development of other regions has been identified as a key element for membership growth. Different actions on recruitment and retention of members are also being set up depending on specific needs and opportunities. 4. Relationship to Society The Association is consulted by the government on issues relating to girls, young women and youth. It is a member of the National Youth Council and has a good network of contacts in the country, taking part in discussion forums and other activities linked to the formulation of youth policy in Armenia. The Association is active in worldwide Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting and participates in WAGGGS and other Member Organizations’ initiatives as far as resources allow. Improving the image, awareness and understanding of Girl Guiding/Girl Scouting in Armenia has been identified as one of the key objectives in NUGGGS’ strategic plan. It is being addressed through co-operation with other NGOs and educational bodies, and the National Board has had recent success contributing to a number of local groups. 5. Structure and Management The highest body of the Association is its Conference. It determines the Association's policy and general plans for the coming year. Members of the National Board of the Association are elected by the conference with a simple majority for three year terms. The Executive Committee is considered to be the executive body of the Association. The Executive Committee is elected by the National Board for a three year term and organizes the everyday work of the Association. The regions carry out the daily work at district level providing the link between the national body and the regional level. Each group belongs to their respective district. NUGGGS is currently working on updating a new Constitution which has been reviewed by WAGGGS’ Constitutions Committee. It outlines the decision-making process of the Association and the responsibilities of the National Board and the Executive Committee. NUGGGS does not employ professional staff and young women are involved in all levels of the Association including the National Board where most members are under 30. 6. Finance The association’s main sources of income are membership fees (35 per cent); camp fees (45 per cent); trainings, seminars and campaigns (15 per cent); and donations (5 per cent). NUGGGS has identified increased funding as one of the objectives of its strategic plan, through the prompt collection of membership fees, and generating income through different projects linked to their educational programme (i.e. summer camp inviting non-members). NUGGGS has developed a financial policy which outlines the responsibility for managing finances within the association. (Full Member vote, two-thirds majority required) Proposed Motion That the National Union of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts of Armenia, the National Organization of the Republic of Armenia, be recognized as a Full Member of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts 5 June 2014~14:59~CR Y:\35th World Conference 2014\Conference documents\Applications for membership\Word versions\DOCUMENT 7 Application for Full and Associate Membership.doc Document No 7 Application for Full Membership Page 4 of 14 ASSOCIATION DES GUIDES ET ECLAIREUSES DU CAMEROUN (AGEC) Information The Republic of Cameroon is a country situated on the Gulf of Guinea. It is bordered to the west by Nigeria, to the north east by Chad, to the east by the Central African Republic and to the south by Congo, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. To the south-west, the country opens on to the Atlantic Ocean. Administratively, Cameroon has 10 regions, 8 of which are primarily French-speaking and two of which are English-speaking. Cameroon became independent on 1 January 1960. The population is estimated to be 17,123,688 inhabitants of whom 50.5 per cent are women. Those under the age of 25 years represent 64.2 per cent of the population compared with the 3 per cent over the age of 65. The linguistic panorama of the country, influenced by its history of settlers and migration, is made up of 287 national languages, grouped into various language families. Cameroon’s economy is diversified and is dominated by agriculture and mining. Cameroon’s educational system is structured around formal and non-formal education and the general rate of schooling is approximately 81.3 per cent. There is a lack of equality between men and women and between rural and urban environments and women are less represented on decision-making bodies. Report Girl Guiding: Background Information Girl Guiding was introduced to Cameroon in 1943 in Victoria and that Girl Guide Unit is still operating today. From 1947, the Association expanded throughout the country and this increased further after independence in 1960, joining with other groups such as the Girl Scouts of Cameroon. After the creation of the United Republic of Cameroon, the various branches agreed to become a single unit, the Association des Guides et Eclaireuses du Cameroun (AGEC), and has been an Associate Member of WAGGGS since 1975.