Welcome to PACO!

PaCo - Partner Committee Inc is an association of producer organizations from Africa, Asia and Latin America. By fair terms of trading with partner organizations especially in Europe, North America, Japan and Australia, better prices are achieved which guarantee the producers a more worthy life of human beings.

At the same time, with this form of trading, a public work is pursued which aims at a more just world and justice in the global trade.

The aim is an associating trade which shows at the same time alternatives to the unjust forms of trading with producers from the third world and also to the mentality of charity.

On the 8th of April 1997, 15 producer organizations have founded the association PaCo-Partner Committee in India. The goal is:

• Consciousness formation in the development cooperation in the sense of just and partnership exchange relationships between developing countries and industrial nations
• An improved cooperation between the partner organizations of the south among each other
• A strengthened partnership with the trading organizations of the north through direct participation in these organizations.

As the first organization the German trading organization EL PUENTE granted its trading partners the same rights of seat and vote.

PaCo became co-owner of EL PUENTE the 25th of October 1997, equivalent to the further co-owners from the circle of the German world shops, the staff and supporters of the organization. For the first time representatives of the producers have a seat and vote also in supervising committees of a fair trading organization in the northern part of the hemisphere.

More activities are planned by the community for a better networking between the members from Overseas with the help of modern communication techniques like e-mail and internet.

PaCo is a registered society under German law and is open for all people being interested in this project. However, the right to vote is reserved for the members from developing countries.

PaCo Constitution

Preamble The association wants to promote the awareness for ethics of partnership and reciprocity concerning the economic, cultural, and social relations between people from the North and South

§ 1 Name and headquarters, financial year 1. The name of the association is

PaCo - Partner Comité -
Association for the Promotion of Partnership with Developing Countries

2 . The association and its management will have its headquarters in Hildesheim. The association shall be registered.

3. The financial year will start on 1st July and ends on 30th June of the following year.

§ 2 Aim 1. The function of the association is the promotion of development support and international understanding.

The particular aim of the association is to support a sustainable improvement of the living and working conditions of people in developing countries. The association aims at the creation of political consciousness in the population. Concerning the collaboration for development, the association wants to achieve just and cooperative exchange between developing and industrialised countries in economic, cultural, and social concerns.

In order to reach this aim the association carries on public awareness and cultural exchange and seeks collaboration with organisations of development support at home and abroad.“

§ 3 Public utility 1. The association is solely a charitable organisation in respect of tax laws. It´s purpose is a non-profit attitude without own economic goals.

2. Financial means of the association may only be used to achieve aims that are in accordance with the articles. The members do not receive any shares of the profits nor any other financial contributions from the association in their function as members. The association is not allowed to favour individuals through payments that are not in accordance with the articles or through unusual high financial expenses.

§ 4 Membership 1. Any natural or justic person who supports the aims of the association and wants to work for them can become a member of the association. Members from developing countries are entitled to vote, only if their fees are paid-up.

2. The executive board decides upon the membership on the basis of a written application. The admission does not have to be reconfirmed by the general assembly.

3. Resignation from the association has to be declared in writing to the executive board and is possible at any time.

4. A member can be excluded from the association if he/she grossly infringes the association's interests or articles. The executive board decides upon the exclusion. The member can raise an objection against the exclusion without course of law. The objection has to be directed to the executive board which will submit it to the general assembly for decision.

§ 6 Sections of the association The sections of the association are the general assembly and the executive board.

§ 7 General assembly 1. The general assembly is the supreme committee of the association and has the following tasks:

1. Fixing the guidelines for the activities of the association
   
2. Approval of the action and election of the executive board
   
3. Changes and modifications of the articles
   
4. Fixing the amount and date of payment of the membership fees or subscriptions
   
5. Confirming the admission of new members
   
6. Decision upon the objection of excluded members
   
7. Decision upon the dissolving of the association

2. Calling of the general assembly and presence of a quorum

1. The ordinary general assembly will take place every two years and will be convened by the executive board. All members are to be invited by letter with the agenda to the general assembly two months in advance.
   
2. The general assembly is quorate after notification in accordance with the regulations regardless of the number of attending members.
   
3. The decisions of the general assembly are taken by simple majority except for § 9 and § 10.
   
4. Minutes of the general assembly and its decisions are written. The minutes must be signed by the secretary and the leader of the assembly. Both of them are elected after the opening of the assembly.
   
5. Decisions can also be taken in writing. For details the general assembly will fix rules of procedure.
   
6. The executive board is obliged to convocate an extraordinary general assembly, if at least two fifth of all members demand it. The demand must be realised in writing and has to inform about the subject under discussion.

§ 8 The executive board 1. The executive board consists of

1. the chairman
2. the deputy chairman

both of them having the authority of sole juridical and out-of-court (extra-juridical) representation of the association.

2. The executive board will be elected by the general assembly for a period of two years and remains until new elections of the executive board. The members of the board are elected in separated ballots with simple majority.

3. The executive board is bound to the decisions of the general assembly and manages the current activities of the association. It is accountable to the general assembly.

4. The executive board can appoint a management and fixes the tasks of the management.

5. The executive board submits the annual accounts to the general assembly. The annual accounts are to be checked by a sworn auditor.

§ 9 Changes of articles 1. Applications for changes of articles have to be directed to the executive board.

2. Applications for changes of the articles have to be included in the notification of the members to the general assembly.

3. For changes of the articles a two-thirds majority of the present members is necessary.

§ 10 Dissolving 1. The dissolving of the association has to be applied for, in writing, by at least one quarter of the members, with the reasons.

2. The application for dissolving of the association has to be directed to the executive board and has to be included in the notification of the members to the general assembly.

3. For dissolving of the association a three-quarters majority of the present members is necessary.

4. In case of dissolution of the association or the ending of the purposes that are serving the public utility, the assets of the association will be given to the EL PUENTE Association for the Promotion of Work and Social Concern in Developing Countries e.V., Hildesheim, provided that it is used only for purposes in accordance with the articles.

§ 11 Place of jurisdiction 1. Place of location and jurisdiction for all rights and duties resulting from these articles is Hildesheim, Germany.

§ 12 Date of commencement 1. These articles will come into force on the day of decision.

Milan , the 12th of Mai 1999