Statute

 

  1. Definitions

 

The terms given below denote the following:
 
  1. WAFF: “World Association of Folklore Festivals”.
  2. Association: A folklore cultural associations recognized by WAFF. It is a member of WAFF unless a different meaning is evident from the context.
  3. WFFAB: The World Folklore Festivals Association Board.
  4. Country: an independent state recognized by the international community.
  5. Confederation: a group of Associations recognized by WAFF that belong to the same continent (or assimilable geographic region).
  6. Congress: the supreme and legislative body of WAFF.
  7. Executive Committee: the executive body of WAFF.
  8. Member: an Association that has been admitted into membership of WAFF by the Congress.
  9. Official: every board member, committee member, adjudicators and jury members, instructors, tutors and any other person responsible for technical, media and administrative matters in WAFF, a Confederation, Association or Club as well as all other persons obliged to comply with the WAFF Statutes (except Performers).
  10. Group: a member of an Association (that is a Member of WAFF) that enters at least one team in a competition.
  11. Performer: participant in a group.
  12. Official Championship: a competition for representative teams organized by WAFF or any Confederation.
 
NB: Terms referring to natural persons are applicable to both genders.
Any term in the singular applies to the plural and vice-versa.
 
 
  1. Name and headquarters
 
  1. The World Association of Folklore Festivals (WAFF) is an Non-Government Organization, registered according to EU and Bulgarian legislation.
  2. WAFF headquarters are located in Veliko Tarnovo (Bulgaria) and may only be transferred to another location following a resolution passed by the Congress.
 
  1. Objectives.
 
The objectives of WAFF are:
 
  1. To preserve the authentic folklore and share it all around the world by using modern technologies.
  2. To organize its own international championships.
  3. To draw up regulations and provisions and ensure their enforcement.
  4. To control every type of Association by taking appropriate steps to prevent infringements of the Statutes, regulations or decisions of WAFF.
 
  1. Non-discrimination and stance against racism
 
Discrimination of any kind against a Country, private person or group of people on account of race, skin colour, ethnic, national or social origin, gender, language, religion, political opinion or any other opinion, wealth, birth or any other status, sexual orientation or any other reason is strictly prohibited and punishable by suspension or expulsion.
 
  1. Promoting friendship
 
  1. WAFF shall promote friendly relations.
    1. between Members, Confederations, Groups, Officials and Performers. Every person and organization involved in the presentation of the authentic folklore is obliged to observe the Statutes and regulations;
    2. in society for humanitarian objectives.
  2. WAFF shall provide the necessary institutional means to resolve any dispute that may arise between Members, Confederations, Groups, Officials and Participants.
 
  1. Conduct of bodies and Officials
 
  1. The bodies and Officials must observe the Statutes, regulations, decisions and Code of Ethics of WAFF in their activities.
  2. Executive bodies of Member Associations may under exceptional circumstances be removed from office by the Executive Committee in consultation with the relevant Confederation and replaced by a normalisation committee for a specific period of time.
 
  1.  Official language
 
  1. English is the official language of WAFF.
  2. Members are responsible for translations into the language of their Country.
  3. English is the official language at the Congress. Qualified interpreters shall translate into this language. Delegates may speak in their mother tongue if they ensure interpretation into the official Congress language by a qualified interpreter.
  4. The Statutes, Regulations Governing the Application of the Statutes, the Standing Orders of the Congress, decisions and announcements of WAFF shall be published in the four official language.
 
  1. Admission, suspension and expulsion
 
The Congress shall decide whether to admit, suspend or expel a Member.
 
  1. Admission
 
  1. Any Association which is responsible for organizing and supervising folklore presentations in all of its forms in its Country may become a Member of WAFF. Consequently, it is recommended that all Members of WAFF involve all relevant stakeholders in folklore in their own structure. Only one Association shall be recognized in each Country.
  2. Membership is only permitted if an Association is currently a member of a Confederation. The Executive Committee may issue regulations with regard to the admission process.
  3. Any Association wishing to become a Member of WAFF shall apply in writing to the WAFF general secretariat.
  4. The Association’s legally valid statutes shall be enclosed with the application for membership and shall contain the following mandatory provisions:
    1. always to comply with the Statutes, regulations and decisions of WAFF and of its Confederation;
    2. to recognize the Court of Arbitration for Sport, as specified in these Statutes.
  5. An Association in a region which has not yet gained independence may, with the authorisation of the Association in the Country on which it is dependent, also apply for admission to WAFF.
  6. This article shall not affect the status of existing Members.
  7. The Executive Committee shall request the Congress either to admit or not to admit an Association. The Association may state the reasons for its application to the Congress.
  8. The new Member shall acquire membership rights and duties as soon as it has been admitted. Its delegates are eligible to vote and be elected with immediate effect.
 
  1. Members’ rights
 
  1. Associate Members have the following rights:
    1. to take part in the Congress;
    2. to draw up proposals for inclusion in the agenda of the Congress;
    3. to nominate candidates for the WAFF presidency;
    4. to take part in championships organized by WAFF;
    5. to take part in WAFF’s assistance and development programs;
    6. to exercise all other rights arising from these Statutes and other regulations.
  2. The exercise of these rights is subject to other provisions in these Statutes and the applicable regulations.
  3. Founding Members have the following rights:
    1. to take part in the WFFAB: The World Folklore Festivals Association Board.;
    2. to draw up proposals for inclusion in the agenda of the Congress;
    3. to nominate candidates for the WAFF presidency;
    4. to take part in championships organized by WAFF;
    5. to take part in WAFF’s assistance and development programs;
    6. to exercise all other rights arising from these Statutes and other regulations.
 
  1. Members’ obligations
 
  1. Members have the following obligations:
    1. to comply fully with the Statutes, regulations, directives and decisions of WAFF bodies at any time;
    2. to take part in competitions organized by WAFF;
    3. to pay their membership subscriptions;
    4. to ensure that their own members comply with the Statutes, regulations, directives and decisions of WAFF bodies;
    5. to convene its supreme and legislative body at regular intervals, at least every two years;
    6. to ratify statutes that are in accordance with the requirements of the WAFF Standard Statutes;
    7. to create a judges/jurys committee that is directly subordinate to the Member;
    8. to manage their affairs independently and ensure that their own affairs are not influenced by any third parties;
    9. to comply fully with all other duties arising from these Statutes and other regulations.
  2. Violation of the above-mentioned obligations by any Member may lead to sanctions provided for in these Statutes.
  3. Violations of par. 1 (h) may also lead to sanctions even if the third-party influence was not the fault of the Member concerned.
 
  1. Suspension
 
  1. The Congress is responsible for suspending a Member. The Executive Committee may, however, suspend a Member that seriously violates its obligations as a Member with immediate effect. The suspension shall last until the next Congress, unless the Executive Committee has lifted it in the meantime.
  2. A suspension shall be confirmed at the next Congress by a three-quarter majority of the Members present and eligible to vote. If it is not confirmed, the suspension is automatically lifted.
  3. A suspended Member shall lose its membership rights. Other Members may not entertain contact with a suspended Member. The Disciplinary Committee may impose further sanctions.
  4. Members which do not participate in at least two of all WAFF competitions over a period of four consecutive years shall be suspended from voting at the Congress until they have fulfilled their obligations in this respect.
 
  1. Expulsion
  2.  
  1. The Congress may expel a Member:
    1. if it fails to fulfill its financial obligations towards WAFF; or
    2. if it seriously violates the Statutes, regulations or decisions of WAFF; or
  2. The presence of an absolute majority (more than 50%) of the Members eligible to vote at the Congress is necessary for an expulsion to be valid, and the motion for expulsion must be adopted by a three-quarter majority of the valid votes cast.
 
  1. Resignation
  2.  
  1. A Member may resign from WAFF with effect from the end of a calendar year. Notice of resignation must reach the general secretariat no later than six months before the end of the calendar year and be sent by registered letter.
  2. The resignation is not valid until the Member wishing to resign has fulfilled
its financial obligations towards WAFF and its other Members.
 
  1. Independence of Members and their bodies
 
  1. Each Member shall manage its affairs independently and with no influence from third parties.
  2. A Member’s bodies shall be either elected or appointed in that Association. A Member’s statutes shall provide for a procedure that guarantees the complete independence of the election or appointment.
  3. Any Member’s bodies that have not been elected or appointed in compliance with the provisions of par. 2, even on an interim basis, shall not be recognized by WAFF.
  4. Decisions passed by bodies that have not been elected or appointed in compliance with par. 2 shall not be recognized by WAFF.
 
  1. Honorary president, honorary vice-president and honorary member
 
  1. The Congress may bestow the title of honorary president, honorary vice-president or honorary member upon any former member of the WAFF Executive Committee for meritorious service to folklore.
  2. The Executive Committee shall make these nominations.
  3. The honorary president, honorary vice-president or honorary member may take part in the Congress. They may join in the debates but may not vote.
 
  1. Confederations
  2.  
  1. Members that belong to the same continent have formed the following Confederations, which are recognized by WAFF:
    1. EAFF  /European association of folklore festivals/ 
    2. ASIAFF /Asian association of folklore festivals/
    3. PAMAFF /Panamerican association of folklore festivals/
    4. AFAFF  /African association of folklore festivals/
  2. WAFF may, in exceptional circumstances, authorize a Confederation to grant membership to an Association that belongs geographically to another continent and is not affiliated to the Confederation on that continent. The opinion of the Confederation concerned geographically shall be obtained.
  3. Each Confederation shall have the following rights and obligations:
    1. to comply with and enforce compliance with the Statutes, regulations and decisions of WAFF;
    2. to work closely with WAFF in every domain so as to achieve the objectives stipulated in art. 2 and to organize international folklore competitions;
    3. to organize its own intergroup competitions, in compliance with the international folklore events calendar;
    4. to organize its own international competitions, particularly youth competitions, in compliance with the international folklore events calendar;
    5. to ensure that international organizations, associations or any other such groups of clubs or leagues shall not be formed without its consent and the approval of WAFF;
    6. at the request of WAFF, to grant Associations applying for membership the status of a provisional member. This status shall grant Associations the right to take part in the Confederation’s competitions and conferences.
Any other rights and obligations of the provisional member shall be regulated by the Confederation’s statutes and regulations. Provisional members may not take part in WAFF final championships;
  1. to elect or dismiss the vice-presidents and the other members of the Executive Committee to which they are entitled in compliance with these Statutes, based on proposals from its member associations;
  2. to nurture relations and cooperation with WAFF actively and constructively for the good of the folklore through consultative meetings and to discuss and resolve any problems relating to the interests of the Confederations and WAFF;
  3. to ensure that the representatives appointed to WAFF bodies or elected to the Executive Committee carry out their activities on these bodies with mutual respect, solidarity, recognition and transparency;
  4. to set up committees that work closely together with the corresponding committees at WAFF;
  5. exceptionally to allow, with WAFF’s consent, an Association from another Confederation (or Groups belonging to that Association) to participate in a competition that it is organising;
  6. with the mutual cooperation of WAFF, to take any action considered necessary to preserve and develop the folklore arts on the continent concerned, such as arranging development programmes, courses, conferences, etc.;
  7. to set up the bodies necessary to fulfill the duties incumbent upon it;
  8. to procure the funds necessary to fulfill its duties.
  1. The Executive Committee may delegate other duties or powers to the Confederations. To this end, WAFF may conclude an appropriate agreement with each of the Confederations concerned.
  2. The Confederations’ statutes and regulations shall be submitted to WAFF for approval.
 
  1. Bodies
 
  1. The Congress is the supreme and legislative body.
    1. A Congress may be an Ordinary or an Extraordinary Congress.
    2. The Ordinary Congress shall be held every year. The Executive Committee shall fix the place and date. The Members shall be notified in writing at least three months in advance. The formal convocation shall be made in writing at least one month before the date of the Congress. This convocation shall contain the agenda, the President’s report, the financial statements and the auditors’ report.
    3. The Executive Committee may convene an Extraordinary Congress at any time.
    4. The Executive Committee shall convene an Extraordinary Congress if one-fifth of the Members make such a request in writing. The request shall specify the items for the agenda. An Extraordinary Congress shall be held within three months of receipt of the request.
    5. The Members shall be notified of the place, date and agenda at least two months before the date of an Extraordinary Congress. The agenda of an
    6. Extraordinary Congress may not be altered.
    7. Each Member has one vote in the Congress and is represented by its delegates. Only the Members present are entitled to vote. Voting by proxy or by letter is not permitted.
    8. Delegates must belong to the Member Association that they represent and be appointed by the appropriate body of that Association.
    9. Confederation delegates may take part in the Congress as observers.
    10. During their term of office, members of the Executive Committee may not be appointed as delegates for their Association.
    11. The President shall conduct the Congress business in compliance with the Standing Orders of the Congress.
  2. The Executive Committee is the executive body.
  3. The general secretariat is the administrative body.
  4. Standing and ad-hoc committees shall advise and assist the Executive Committee in fulfilling its duties. Their primary duties are defined in these Statutes and their composition, function and additional duties are defined in the Organisation Regulations of WAFF.
 
  1. Membership subscriptions
 
  1. Membership subscriptions are due on 1 January of each year. The annual subscription for new Members for the year in question shall be paid within 30 days of the close of the Congress at which they were admitted.
  2. The Congress shall fix the amount of the annual subscription every four years on the recommendation of the Executive Committee. It shall be the same for every Member and amount to no more than USD 1,000.
 
  1. Rights
  2.  
  1. WAFF and the Confederations are the original owners of all of the rights emanating from competitions and other events coming under their respective jurisdiction, without any restrictions as to content, time, place and law. These rights include, among others, every kind of financial rights, audiovisual and radio recording, reproduction and broadcasting rights, multimedia rights, marketing and promotional rights and incorporeal rights such as emblems and rights arising under copyright law.
  2. The Executive Committee shall decide how and to what extent these rights are utilized and draw up special regulations to this end. The Executive Committee shall alone decide whether these rights shall be utilized exclusively, or jointly with a third party or entirely through a third party.
 
  1. Authorization
  2.  
  1. 1. WAFF, its Members and the Confederations are exclusively responsible for authorizing the distribution of image and sound and other data carriers of folklore events coming under their respective jurisdiction, without any restrictions as to content, time, place and technical and legal aspects.
  2. The Executive Committee shall issue special regulations to this end.
 
  1. Venue
  2.  
  1. The Executive Committee shall decide the venue for the final competitions organized by WAFF.
  2. The decision on the venue for the final competition of the WAFF World Cup™ aims to achieve the objective of securing the best possible hosting conditions in the host country and shall follow the procedure below:
    1. Based on specific regulations to be issued by the Executive Committee, the WAFF general secretariat shall establish a fair and transparent bidding procedure, inviting all qualified Members to submit a bid and defining in detail the requirements for the bidding and hosting as well as criteria for selecting the host of the event.
    2. Based on its best judgment, the WAFF general secretariat shall submit to the Executive Committee a public report evaluating the compliance of all bids with the bidding procedure and the requirements for hosting the event, taking into consideration the defined criteria for selecting the host.
    3. The Executive Committee shall review the report and designate, based on its best judgment and in an open ballot, up to three bids to be submitted to the Congress for a final decision. The result of each ballot shall be made public.
    4. The Congress shall select the host venue from the bids designated by the Executive Committee. An absolute majority (more than 50%) of the Members present and eligible to vote is necessary in the first ballot. If an absolute majority is not reached in the first ballot, then the bid with the lowest number of votes in the first ballot is eliminated. In the second ballot, or if fewer than three bids are presented to the Congress, a simple majority (more than 50%) of the valid votes cast is sufficient.
  3. A Congress may not award the hosting rights to more than one WAFF World Cup™ at the same meeting.
  4. The right to host the event shall not be awarded to members of the same Confederation for two consecutive editions of the WAFF World Cup™.
 
  1. International folklore events calendar
 
The Executive Committee shall compile an international folklore events calendar that shall be binding upon the Confederations and Members after conferring with the Confederations.
 
  1. International folklore events
 
  1. The Executive Committee shall be responsible for issuing regulations for organizing international folklore events and competitions between its members. No such event or competition shall take place without the prior permission of WAFF, the Confederations and/or the Members in accordance with the Regulations Governing International Events.
  2. The Executive Committee may issue further provisions for such events and competitions.
  3. The Executive Committee shall determine any criteria for authorizing line-ups that are not covered by the Regulations Governing International Events.
  4. Notwithstanding the authorization competences as set forth in the Regulations Governing International Events, WAFF may take the final decision on the authorization of any international match or competition.
 
  1. Authorization
  2.  
Associations, Leagues or Clubs that are affiliated to a Member may only join another Member or take part in competitions on that Member’s territory under exceptional circumstances. In each case, authorization must be given by both Members, the respective Confederation(s) and by WAFF.
 
Each Member is responsible for deciding national issues, which may not be delegated to the Leagues.
Each Confederation is responsible for deciding issues involving more than one Association concerning its own territory.
WAFF is responsible for deciding international issues involving more than one Confederation.
 
  1. Unforeseen contingencies and force majeure
 
The Executive Committee shall have the final decision on any matters not provided for in these Statutes or in cases of force majeure.
 
  1. Enforcement
  2.  
  1. These Statutes were adopted at the Congress in Veliko Tarnovo on 31 March 2013 and come into force on 31 April 2013.
  2. The judicial bodies shall be elected for the first time at the 2013 WAFF Congress. In the event of an election of an incumbent office-holder, the respective office-holder’s first one-year term of office shall not be taken into account for the term of office.
 
Veliko Tarnovo,
31 March 2013
 
For the WAFF Executive Committee