SPES 2026 Articles Association
Article 1 : Name
An association is hereby established among the members of these statutes, governed by the Law of July 1, 1901, and the Decree of August 16, 1901, with the name :
“SOUTIEN POUR L’ENFANCE EN SOUFFRANCE” [En: SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN IN NEED] or “S.P.E.S.”
Article 2: Purpose
This humanitarian association aims to enable its members to provide assistance to children worldwide, in all appropriate forms, within the framework of applicable laws and regulations and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, and to ensure that the funds allocated are used for their intended purposes.
Article 3: Registered Office
The Registered Office is located at : 5, rue Jules Breton – 75013 PARIS
It may be relocated by a simple decision of the Board.
Article 4: Membership
The Association consists of:
- Active members: any individual or legal entity who pays an annual membership fee or sponsors a child and participates in the Association’s activities.
- Honorary members: any individual who has rendered services to the Association and is exempt from paying dues.
- Donors: any individual or legal entity who makes occasional contributions without holding member status.
Article 5 : Admission
To become an active member, one must sponsor a child and/or pay an annual membership fee. To become an honorary member of the Association, one must have been an active member and be nominated by the Board. The Board may, by a two-thirds majority, reject any application for admission or reinstatement.
Article 6: Members
Members are those defined in Article 4 of these statutes.
Article 7: Termination of Membership
Membership is terminated by:
- Resignation.
- Death.
- Expulsion decided by an absolute majority of the Board, for reasons deemed valid by its members, with the member concerned being notified by registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt.
Article 8: Resources
The Association’s resources include:
- Membership dues,
- Sponsorship contributions,
- Various donations and grants,
- Any other sources authorized by French law under applicable statutes and regulations.
Article 9: Board
The Association is governed by a Board of up to 15 members, elected for a three-year term by the General Assembly from among the active members. Gender parity and parity among the countries most actively involved shall be maintained. The composition of the Board may be specified in the Internal Rules.
The Board meets immediately after the General Assembly to elect the Executive Committee, and at least three times a year, to ensure the proper functioning of the Association.
Decisions are made by a simple majority of votes.
The General Meeting is convened by the Board, represented by its President.
In the event of a vacancy, the Board shall provisionally appoint a replacement for one of its members. A permanent replacement shall be appointed at the next General Meeting.
Article 10: Executive Committee
The Executive Committee consists of :
– A President.
– Two Vice Presidents.
– A Secretary.
– An Assistant Secretary.
– A Treasurer.
– An Assistant Treasurer.
Members are elected by the Board by a simple majority.
The Executive Committee meets at least three times a year.
The President and the Treasurer have full authority to open or close a postal or bank account in the Association’s name and to conduct all transactions on that account.
Article 11: Ordinary General Meeting
The Ordinary General Meeting comprises the active members of the Association who are current with their dues for the current calendar year, and honorary members who do not have voting rights.
It meets annually, following a notice of meeting sent fifteen days prior to the scheduled date.
The agenda is included in the notices of meeting.
The President, assisted by the members of the Executive Committee, presides over the meeting and presents the Association’s operational status.
The Treasurer reports on financial management and submits the financial statements for the General Assembly’s approval.
The accounts are audited by a Certified Public Accountant.
Only items on the agenda may be addressed during this General Assembly.
For decisions to be valid, they must be adopted by a majority of the active members present or represented.
Each member is entitled to hold a maximum of 10 proxies.
Article 12: Extraordinary General Meeting
If necessary, at the request of two-thirds of the registered members, or upon the President’s call, an Extraordinary General Meeting may be convened in accordance with the procedures set forth in Article 11.
Article 13 : Internal Rules
Internal Rules may be adopted or amended by the Board, which shall then submit them to the General Meeting for approval.
Their purpose is to supplement the various matters not covered by the statutes.
Article 14: Dissolution
In the event of dissolution approved by at least two-thirds of the members present or represented at an Ordinary or Extraordinary General Meeting, three liquidators shall be appointed by the meeting, and any remaining assets shall be donated to a charitable organization selected by a two-thirds majority vote of the liquidators.
Article 15: Use of Funds.
Funds are used for the operation of SPES International and to finance SPES Togo or any other entity approved by the General Assembly.
A special “education” fund is intended to help children from SPES who are leaving the center get settled.
The association is managed and administered on a volunteer basis by the members of the Board, who are not entitled to any compensation and who have no direct or indirect interest in the association’s operating results.
The association does not make any direct or indirect distributions of any kind.
Members of the association are not entitled to any share of the association’s assets.
Members of the association are not entitled to reimbursement, in any form, for travel expenses.
These Statutes were approved by the founding meeting held on Friday, January 21, 2000, and amended by the General Meetings held on June 2, 2002, May 25, 2003, May 20, 2012, May 24, 2014, May 22, 2016, and May 24, 2026.
Signed by the President, Dominique Luquet and the secretary Kristín Jónsdóttir.