CONTENTS
Article 1. Name of Association
Article 2. Vision and Mission
Article 3. Objectives
Article 4. Membership
Article 5. Site of Secretariat
Article 6. Governing Bodies
  • Standing Committee (SC)
  • Executive Committee
Article 7. Honorary President
Article 8. Congresses
Article 9. Voting
Article 10. Notice of Proposed Changes to the Constitution and By-Laws
Article 11. Dissolution and Liquidation

BY-LAWS
  • Dues
  • Finance
  • Termination of Membership
  • Congress Attendance
  • Meetings
  • Languages

Constitution Of The Asia Pacific Pediatric Association (APPA)

1. Name of Association

The name of this Association shall be changed from The Asian Pacific Pediatric Association (APPA) to Asia Pacific Pediatric Association. The Association was formerly known as the Association of Pediatric Societies of the Southeast Asian Region (APSSEAR). APPA shall be affiliated with the International Pediatric Association (IPA).

2. Vision and Mission

Vision
To lead in advocating for children’s health, development and potential through advocacy, education, and action for children in the Asia Pacific region.

Mission
Pediatricians of APPA region, working with other partners, will be leaders in promoting physical, mental and social health for all children, and in realizing the highest standards of health for newborns, children, and adolescents in all countries of the Asia Pacific region.

3. Objectives

The objective of the APPA shall be to promote the highest attainable standards of child health throughout the APPA region through the establishment of a professional organization representing pediatricians of all APPA countries.

To achieve this objective, APPA will:

• Provide outstanding opportunities in professional development to health care professionals in the field of pediatrics that meet the needs of member countries
• Coordinate and provide world-class training opportunities to trainees in the field of pediatrics
• Undertake programmatic actions which address major global child health issues
• Provide advocacy that addresses inequalities in child health across and within member countries in the region
• Promote education on child health issues through support of an Asia Pacific Congress, regional forums, and other activities
• Foster research of regional significance
• Work towards developing sub-specialized fields of pediatrics to have a more effective international voice.
• Establish relationships with key strategic partners and stakeholders that will broaden the effectiveness of the society internationally.

4. Membership

Membership shall be composed of the national pediatric societies of nations located in the Asian and Pacific region and surrounding areas. Eligibility for membership shall be determined in accordance with the policy of the IPA.

There shall also be Affiliate Societies, which shall include regional federations or associations and regional societies of pediatric specialties.

Applications for membership shall be made by National Delegates officially appointed by the national societies and shall be lodged with the Secretary-General at least six months before the Council Meeting during which they will be considered.

Applications for the status of affiliate society shall also be submitted to the Secretary-General at least six months before the Council Meeting at which they are to be considered and shall be accompanied by a copy of the Constitution and By-Laws of the proposed affiliate society.

Termination of membership shall also be decided at the Council Meeting.

5. Site of Secretariat

The APPA Secretariat shall be located in a city decided upon by the Council of National Delegates. Historically, the initial secretariat of APSSEAR was in the city of Manila, Philippines. The location of the secretariat will be in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

6. Governing Bodies
A. Standing Committee (SC)

There will be 6 standing committee members in addition to the APPA Executive Committee (EC) members.
Mechanism of the election of members to the Standing Committee:
For selecting 6 Standing Committee members, a mechanism will be developed by EC/SC with approval of Council of Delegates (CD) taking into account geographical rotation.

B. Executive Committee

There shall be an Executive Committee, consisting of the following officers of the Association:

• A President;
• A President-Elect (who shall be the person who is appointed as the President of the forthcoming Congress, he will become president after the next Congress)
• The Immediate Past President;
• A Secretary-General - will be elected by Council of Delegates and can be reappointed to serve up to three terms.
• A Deputy Secretary-General (who shall assist the Secretary-General in all matters related to the running of the Association);
• Treasurer (who shall be responsible for the finances of the Association, shall work in close cooperation with the Secretary-General, and shall submit a triennial financial statement to the Council of National Delegates).

The Officers of APPA shall be the President, the President-Elect and the Secretary General.

• The President of APPA shall preside at meetings of the Council of Delegates (CD), Standing Committee (SC) and Executive Committee (EC) and may convene emergency meetings of the EC or SC as indicated.
• Following a three (3)-year term, the President shall continue in an on-voting advisory capacity to the SC and EC for one three (3) year term as Immediate Past President.
• In the event of the President's unavailability or temporary or permanent incapacity, the President-Elect shall serve as Acting President.
• Executives can serve up to 3 terms (instead of 2).
• The Secretary General, along with the President, shall be responsible to the CD and to the SC for carrying out their policies and decisions.
• The EC and the SC may delegate such authority to the Secretary General as may be needed for efficient functioning of the APPA.
• The APPA Treasurer shall receive a half-yearly statement of accounts from the APPA Administrative Office which will be analyzed and then recommended, or not, for approval to the EC and SC. These financial statements of accounts must be audited prior to the Treasurer’s evaluation.

The functions of the Executive Committee shall be:

• To carry out the policies of the APPA;
• To assist the President of the forthcoming Asia Pacific Congress of Pediatrics with its preparation;
• To recommend the budget of APPA to the Standing Committee for approval;
• To refer to the Council of Delegates applications for membership from prospective Member Societies and Affiliate Societies; and
• To exercise such authority as may be delegated by the Council or Standing Committee.

7. Honorary President

The post of Honorary President shall be given to outstanding individuals who have contributed significantly to the Association and to pediatrics and child health in the Asian Pacific region. Proposals for the appointment of prospective candidates will be forwarded to the secretariat at least three (3) months before a meeting of National Delegates to be held at the triennial Asia Pacific Congress of Pediatrics. Proposals will be discussed and decided upon at this meeting.

8. Congresses

The Asia Pacific Congress of Pediatrics will be organized every three (3) years at a venue as decided by the Council of National Delegates. The Congress shall consist of the following activities:

  • Activities in the field of science, and
  • A Council Meeting of National Delegates

The Chairperson of the Congress shall determine the date of the Congress after consultation with the Executive Committee and the Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences (CIOMS).

The program and publications of each Congress shall have the authority to appoint such committees as are necessary for the conduct of the Congress.

The national Member-Society of the country in which the Congress is to be held should assume full responsibility for its organization and financing and for such arrangements as are necessary with the government of the host country.

9. Voting

To revise the Constitution and By-Laws, a two-thirds majority vote in the Council Meeting of National Delegates is needed. A simple majority vote in the Council Meeting of National Delegates shall be valid for all other matters.

10. Notice of Proposed Changes of the Constitution and By-Laws

Notice of any proposals to revise the Constitution and By-Laws shall be sent to the Secretary-General not later than six months, prior to the next Council Meeting of National Delegates, and must appear in the Agenda of the Council Meeting.

11. Dissolution and Liquidation
  • The decision of dissolution shall be taken only on majority vote of at least two-thirds of the Members
  • In case of dissolution, the Council Meeting shall decide on the disposition of the assets of the Association and shall elect the persons to be charged with carrying out of the liquidation.

BY-LAWS

  1. Dues - dues for Member-Societies shall be recommended by the Executive Committee and approved by the Council of National Delegates. They shall consist of a fixed sum for each Member-Society and affiliate society. Dues shall be payable in advance, at the latest on the 31st of January of each year. Non-Payment of dues for two years will automatically suspend membership until a final decision is made by the next Council Meeting.
    If a Member-Society, under exceptional circumstances, has difficulties with the transfer of the dues to APPA, these may be paid to a bank in the respective country in the local currency and be placed at the disposal of the Secretary-General.
  2. Finance - the Executive Committee shall control the monetary funds of the Association determined for its needs and for its program of activities.
    These funds will consist of annual dues of its members, subsidies, gifts, legacies, and any support given to the Association, whether by its own members or by persons or institutions outside of the Association; the acceptance of such support shall be approved by the Executive Board.
  3. Termination of Membership - Non-payment of dues by a Member-Society or affiliate society for two years shall automatically suspend membership until a final decision of the Council of National Delegates is taken at its next meeting. Membership may also be terminated by decision of the Council.
  4. Congress Attendance - Attendance at the Congress shall be open to any interested individual on payment of registration fee.
  5. Meetings
    • 5.1- The Executive Committee shall meet at least once between each Council Meeting, and at other times if considered necessary by the President. The presence of three members shall comprise a quorum.
    • 5.2 - The Standing Committee shall meet with the Executive Board and the Council of National Delegates one day before the opening of the Asia Pacific Congress of Pediatrics. The APPA President shall preside at the meeting. A report will be presented by the President and by the Secretary General, and a financial statement by the Treasurer. After these reports and financial statement have been approved, the new President shall take office.
    • 5.3 - The Council of National Delegates shall have its business meetings at the time of each Congress. The new President of APPA shall preside the meeting.
    • 5.4 - Asia Pacific Regional Congress. Invitations for the next congress from the President of the National Society, with a governmental endorsement, must be in the hands of the Secretary-General at least three months before the coming Congress. These will be considered carefully by the Standing Committee, which will make its recommendation to the Council of National Delegates, which has the final decision as to the location of the next Congress.

6. Languages - The official language of the Association shall be English.