ELECTORAL CODEFOR AUNTIES

ASSOCIATIONS

Drawn up and adopted in Bamenda on the occasion of the Information and Experience sharing workshop for Aunties Associations in collaboration with partners representing the following organisations:

  • Integrated Development Foundation (IDF)
  • Ministry of Social Affairs
  • Ministry of Women’s Affairs
  • German-Cameroon Health & AIDS Programme (PGCSS/SRJA)

CHAPTER I: PRESENTATION OF THE AUNTIES ASSOCIATION

An Association is a group of persons having common problems and common objectives and who come together voluntarily to reflect and express their opinion in order to find solutions to their problems.Aunties Associations play different roles in the community. For instance, they:

  • facilitate the mobilisation of members through meetings;
  • mobilise members to reflect and take decisions on important issues concerning the group;
  • help members in conflict management and facilitate group cohesion;
  • accompany adolescents in the domain of sexual and reproductive healthcare;
  • encourage the adoption of less risky behaviour;
  • ensure the prevention of gender-based violence.

Aunties are to work in association in order to better share their experiences, support each other and to ensure that their needs and aspirations are considered

CHAPTER II:GENERAL DISPOSITIONS

1) The right to vote is attributed to all regular registered members.

2) Only members who can read and write can propose their candidature to a post in the Executive body.

3) No candidate can occupy more than one post.

4) The term of office is three years non renewable for the same post.

CHAPTER III: AUNTIES ASSOCIATION’S ORGANS

The organs of the Association are in charge of orientation, direction and control.

The three functional organs of the group are:

The General Assembly (GA)

The Executive Body (EB)

The Advisory Organ (AO)

CHAPTER IV: ELECTORAL PROCEDURE

Elections are held during the General Assembly in the presence of the out going office. The president should in advance:

Announce the elections one month before the fixed date.

Define the post to occupy

Recall the different responsibilities and obligations concerning each post.

Article 1: Posts

Only the Executing Body is subject to elections and the 4 posts are as follows:

-President (1)

-Secretary General (1)

-Disciplinarian(1)

-Treasurer (1)

Article 2: Ballot Officers

In order to ensure fair and free election, 3 pooling officers are invited to supervise the voting: A representative of the German Health & AIDS Programme (PGCSS/SRJA)and two representatives from partner organisations or independent personalities.

Article 3: Electoral College

The Electoral College is made up of 5 members of whom 2 are of the advisory organ or Aunties Associations and the threepooling officers. It is structured as follows:

-1 election President (Advisory organ)

-1 election Secretary (Advisory organ)

-3 pooling Officers

It is in charge of registration of candidates and of supervision of elections. It is the timekeeper who regulates the time each candidate has to speak and makes sure that the elections are conducted properly.

Registration of candidates is done progressively in order to allow a candidate who has not been elected for a post to stand for the other post. This is to avoid that a post should not be requested more than others.

Article 4: Procedure for retaining a candidate

a)Conditions for eligibility

A member wishing to submit her candidature must fulfil the following conditions:

-Be a regular registered member and must pay the full contributions.

-Must be an active and a punctual member

-Must be of good morals or conduct

-Must know how to read and write

b)Procedure for the submission of candidature.

Deposit candidature onto the Electoral College

Precise the post requested

Pronounce a campaign speech for at most 3 minutes in order to motivate the electorate.

Article 5: Vote

Even if there is only one candidate for a post, voting must be carried out.Voting is done by secret ballot. Voting cards are distributed and choice is made individually.

Article 6: Counting vote

The election secretary assist ballot officers in counting the votes, verifying the authenticity of the actual votes obtained. The president decision to reject a vote during election is without an appeal.

If there is a problem with regard to the votes counted, the candidate who feels cheated or 25% of members present having voting rights can request for a recount of votes. In that case the recount is done on the spot and the result is final.

Article 7: Evaluation of results

The election president gives the name of the candidate who has obtained the highest number of votes. In case of equal votes between the first two candidates, we proceed with new elections and if it is still equal, a ballot will be done to determine the winner. This draw will be done by the youngest member present.

Article 8: Proclamation of results

The results of the elections must be proclaimed on the spot and voting cards destroyed by the election president.

CHAPTER V: INSTALLATION OF THE NEW OFFICE

The new office assumesfunction on proclamation of results.

Done in Bamenda the 10th August 2005

Revised and adopted in Bamenda on the 14th December 2009

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