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Article 1
The organization bears the name orum for Ethical
Review Committees in the Asian & Western
Pacific Region? and the acronym FERCAP. The
countries include all those in the Southeast
Asian and Western Pacific regions.
Article 2
FERCAP is a not-for-profit organization.
Article 3
The official seat of the organization is the
office of the Chairperson of FERCAP (see Article
24).
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 AIM |
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Article 4
FERCAP has the objective of
fostering an improved understanding
and implementation of ethical review
of biomedical research in the Asian
and Western Pacific countries (the
region).
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ACTIVITIES
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Article 5
FERCAP strives to achieve this goal through
the following activities:
Improving communication among ethics
committees (ECs) reviewing biomedical research
in the regions;
Acting as a regional collaborating center for
ethical review;
Organizing international meetings and
symposia;
Assisting with the adoption and implementation
of Standard Operating Procedures for ethical
review in the region, taking into consideration
the WHO Operational Guidelines for Ethics
Committees That Review Biomedical Research;
Facilitating training and education
opportunities for members of ECs in the regions;
Coordinating regional communication and
responses on the subject of the ethical review
of biomedical research with the WHO, UNAIDS,
CIOMS, UNESCO, and other international
organizations involved in fostering ethical
review.
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DURATION
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Article 6
FERCAP is established for an
indefinite period of time.
Article 7
The
organization year begins on January
1 and ends on December 31, with the
exception of the founding year where
the beginning is on January 12,
2000.
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MEMBERSHIP
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Article 8
FERCAP is composed of ordinary members and
honorary members. These Terms of Reference apply
to both ordinary members and honorary members,
except where otherwise specified.
Article 9
Ordinary members are members admitted under
the terms of Article 11.
Article 10
Honorary members are those members admitted
because of their outstanding service to the
organization or to the goals of the FERCAP.
Honorary members can be nominated by ordinary
members. They can be from any region, including
those outside SEARO and WPRO.
Article 11
Membership is open to individual persons who
act in their own capacity.
Any member of an ethics committee (past or
present) in the region may become a member of
the FERCAP.
Those who are not members of ECs but are
interested in ethical review process can be
nominated by two ordinary members who are
members of ethics committees (past or present).
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PROCEDURE
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Article 12
Those eligible as above, may become
members by completing either the
Membership Form or by making a
written request to the FERCAP
Member-Secretary or by nomination.
Article 13
Nominations of honorary members are
reviewed and decided by the Steering
Committee.
Article 14
Honorary members are appointed for
life
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RENEWAL
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Article 15
Membership
must be renewed every two years.
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MEMBERSHIP
FEES
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Article 16
A membership fee of 10 US Dollars must be paid
every two years. Membership fees may be modified
based upon a proposal from the Steering
Committee and agreed by those voting at a
General Assembly.
The
Steering Committee may waive in part or wholly
the membership fee for an individual.
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MEMBERSHIP
ENDS
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Article 17
By the death of a
member.
By a written request by the member to the
Member-Secretary.
By the failure of a member to renew his/her
membership at the appropriate time
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WITHDRAWAL
OF MEMBERSHIP
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.Article
18
By a majority vote of the Steering Committee
on the grounds that the member activities are
in contradiction with the aim of FERCAP or that
the member activities are determined to be
damaging to FERCAP.
Article 19
A member whose membership has been withdrawn
must be informed in writing by the Chairperson
of the FERCAP.
Article 20
The member whose membership has been withdrawn
may appeal the decision of the Steering
Committee to the General Assembly.
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FINANCIAL
MEANS
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Article 21
1.The financial means of FERCAP are composed
of contributions, gifts, grants, or inheritances
received from individuals or organizations.
2.Membership fees also compose part of the
financial means.
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STEERING
COMMITTEE
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Article 22
FERCAP is directed by a Steering Committee
composed of the following offices:
hairperson
ice-Chairperson
ember-Secretary
reasurer
ducation Officer
ommunications Officer
our Member Representatives
The Officers of the Steering Committee should
be representative of several different countries
in the region and there should be gender equity.
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ELECTION
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Article 23
The office bearers are
elected from the members by the General Assembly
for a period of four years. Exceptionally, for
the General Assembly of 31 July 2002, the
Chairperson, Member Secretary, Treasurer, and
two Steering Committee members are elected for a
period of four years; the Vice-Chairperson,
Education Officer, Communications Officer, and
two Steering Committee members are elected for a
period of two years.
period of two years.
The
election is organized by the Member-Secretary
and may take place by acclamation, a show of
hands, or a secret ballot.
The
Steering Committee resigns together directly
following the election at the General Assembly
taking place two years following the previous
election.
Resigning
officers may be elected to the same or a
different office. A member may not hold the same
office for more than two consecutive terms.
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RESPONSIBILITIES
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Article 24
The Chairperson is responsible for chairing
the General Assembly, for signing all
official or legal documents that bind
FERCAP, and for directing all fund-raising
activities.
Any of these activities may be delegated by
the Chairperson to another member of the
Steering Committee, to the Member-Secretary,
or to another member of FERCAP.
Article 25
The Vice-Chairperson will assist the
Chairperson in the latter responsibilities.
In the absence of the Chairperson, the
Vice-Chairperson chairs the General
Assembly..
Article 26
The Member-Secretary is responsible for
membership, for facilitating communication
between the Steering Committee and the
members; and between members; for producing
the Bi-Yearly Report for the General
Assembly; for the practical organization of
the General Assembly; for the general
financial management of FERCAP, working in
close collaboration with the Treasurer; and
for other activities requested by the
Steering Committee. Any of the activities of
the Member-Secretary may be delegated by the
Chairperson to a member of the Steering
Committee or to another member of
Article 27
The Treasurer is responsible for
the accounts of FERCAP, working in close
collaboration with the Member-Secretary.
Article 28
The Education Officer is responsible for
promoting education and training among
members of FERCAP and for implementing the
work plan of FERCAP. This activity may be
delegated by the Chairperson to any other
member of the Steering Committee or to
another member of FERCAP.
Article 29
The Communications Officer is responsible
for the production and dissemination of the
FERCAP newsletter and any document deemed
important for FERCAP members, in
consultation with the Chairman, Education
Officer and Member-Secretary.
Article 30
The four Member Representatives are
responsible for ensuring greater
communication between the Steering Committee
and the members. At least two different
countries should be represented among the
four member representatives.
Article 31
The Office bearers may officially represent
FERCAP at meetings or in other fora.
Any member may officially represent FERCAP
when designated to do so by the Chairperson.
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| GENERAL ASSEMBLY |
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Article 32
Every two years a General
Assembly is to be held.
The
program for the General Assembly is
determined by the Steering Committee.
The
program must include a report of the past
two years?activities of FERCAP, the Steering
Committee, and an overview of income and
expenses.
The
General Assembly must have at least one
educational activity.
The
General Assembly is open to all members of
FERCAP and to invitees of the Steering
Committee.
The
General Assembly may be held only in a
country in which there are five or more
members.
The
General Assembly may not be held more than
two consecutive times in the same country.
The
Steering Committee decides the dates and
location of the General Assembly.
The
dates and location are to be communicated to
the members at least 60 days in advance of
the General Assembly.
The
Steering Committee may charge a registration
fee (or scale of registration fees) for the
General Assembly.
The
Steering Committee may waive registration
fees partly or wholly for individuals
attending the General Assembly.
Only
members may vote in the General Assembly on
matters concerning FERCAP.
Voting
may occur through acclamation, through a
show of hands, or through secret ballot.
When voting by secret ballot, a simple
majority decides.
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AMENDMENTS TO THE TERMS OF
REFERENCE
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Article 34
The Terms of Reference of FERCAP may be
amended only in a General Assembly.
A
two-thirds majority vote of those members
presentvoting is required to amend the Terms
of Reference.
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THE DISSOLVING OF FERCAP
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Article 35
FERCAP may be dissolved in a General
Assembly in which two-thirds of those
present vote for it dissolution.
FERCAP
is officially dissolved if for two
consecutive General Assemblies less than 10
members are present.
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FINAL DETERMINATIONS
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Article 36
With recognition of Articles 11 and 22, the
following are the founding members of the
Steering committee of FERCAP:
The
following were elected for a period of two
years on January 12, 2000:
hairperson
Dr.Vichai Chokevivat, Thailand
ice-Chairperson
Dr.Leonardo D. de Castro, Philippines
ember-Secretary
Dr.Vasantha Muthuswamy, India
reasurer
Dr.Kesara Na-Bangchang, Thailand
ducation Officer
Dr Gemiliano D Aligui, Philippines
ommunications Officer
Dr. Peter Sy, Philippines
ember Representatives
Dr.Suriadi Gunawan, Indonesia
Dr.Mahani Mansor Clyde, Malaysia
Dr.Kenji Hirayama, Japan
Dr.Cheng Ping, People Republic of China
These Terms of Reference were agreed by the
founding members at the first meeting of the
General Assembly on January 12, 2000,
following the meeting on Guidelines and
Standard Operating Procedures for Ethical
Review organized by TDR WHO and Thammasat
University from 10?2 January 2000 in
Bangkok, Thailand.
This agreement marks the official founding
of the Forum for Ethical Review Committees
in the Asian & Western Pacific Region
(FERCAP). The Terms of Reference are binding
for all future activities of FERCAP
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