Homepage   |   About us   |   Our organizations   |   Links   |   Contacts
  Laws and regulations  

Subject to Article 11 of the Law on Associations ("Narodne novine" No 88/2001), the Assembly of the Croatian Association of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, on its session of August 23, 2002, passed the following

STATUTE

OF THE CROATIAN ASSOCIATION OF THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING

  1. GENERAL COVENANTS

Article 1

The Croatian Association of the Deaf and  Hard of Hearing (hereinafter: the Association) is  an non-party  and non-profit organization with humanitarian objectives  joining, on a voluntary basis, County, city, municipal and other associations of persons with hearing problems (deaf, hard of hearing and deaf and blind persons) into a single association on the territory of the Republic of Croatia, for the purpose of implementation of their rights and protection of their individual and collective interests.

Article 2

The Association is a legal entity acting on the territory of the Republic of Croatia, under the name HRVATSKI SAVEZ GLUHIH I NAGLUHIH, entered into the Register of Associations of the Republic of Croatia with the relevant body of government administration.

Article 3

The emblem (logo) of the Association shall be of rectangular shape, in blue and white, symbolically representing two interconnected hands, symbolizing close connection between persons with hearing problems with the broader society. Below the logo there is the abbreviation HSGN, which is also the shorter version of the name of the Association.

The Association shall have two seals: the larger 30 mm in diameter, and the small 18 mm in diameter. The circle of the large seal contains the text HRVATSKI SAVEZ GLUHIH I NAGLUHIH – ZAGREB, with the emblem of the Association in the centre.
The circle of the small seal contains only the name of the Association.

Article 4

The Association is a member of the Federation of Associations of Disabled Persons in Croatia, and may be associated with other related associations tending to promote the rights and protection of disabled persons in the Republic of Croatia.

The Association is also the member of global, international, European and regional organizations of the deaf and hard of hearing, such as: WFD – World Federation of the Deaf, IFH0H – International Federation of Hard of Hearing People, EFHOH-Europe, CERS – Central European Regional Secretariat  of the World Federation of the Deaf, for the purpose of implementation of joint objectives and interests, and exchange of experience in protection and promotion of the quality of life of persons with hearing problems and their families.

The name of the Association in English shall be: Croatian Association of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and may be used only together with the name in Croatian.

Article 5

In the Association and in its member associations, no discrimination on racial, ethnic, sex, religious or political grounds shall be allowed, nor infringement of the freedom and human rights.

Article 6

The activity of the Association and of its bodies shall be public.

The publicity is accomplished through written materials, activity reports, financial reports, reports of associations and the public through internal publications, public meetings of the members, and through the media (press, radio, TV).

Article 7

The Association is represented by the President of the Association, who is also the Chairman of the Executive Committee.

The Vice-president, or another member of the Steering Committee, as well as the Secretary of the Association, may represent the Association within the limits of powers delegated to them by the President.

Article 8

The holiday of the Association is the International Day of the Deaf, which is celebrated in the world each year on the last Sunday in September.

  1. ACTIVITY, OBJECTIVES AND PURPOSES OF THE ASSOCIATION

Article 9

The primary activity of the Association is directed to overcoming of the effects of serious communication barriers, reflected in unfavourable social and cultural position of persons with hearing problems. Accordingly, the Association shall:

  1. coordinate and direct the activities and cooperation of member organizations and propose actions of joint interest aimed at full social protection of persons with hearing problems,
  2. monitor, analyze, and discuss  the situation and application of legislation  improving the legal and socio-economic status of persons with hearing problems advocating strict implementation of such legislation;
  3. monitor and study the development and achievements in the field of education, employment and protection of persons with hearing problems in the country and abroad;
  4. take action to meet the specific needs and promote manufacturing and procurement hearing aids;
  5. promote and organize economic activities for more effective solving of employment of persons with hearing problems;
  6. organize catering activities for recreation, entertainment and socializing programs;
  7. promote cultural and artistic activities  and manifestations of persons with hearing problems;
  8. organize and carry out informative and publishing activities, printing of professional and promotional publications, as well as magazines and informative bulletins for the public and for the members.

Article 10
The Association and its bodies shall carry out and implement the activities, objectives and purposes pursuant to Articles 4 and 9 hereof through their respective working programs.
The Association keeps the record of the member organizations, which is kept by the Secretary.

Article 11

The Association is represented in the Commission of the Republic of Croatia for disabled persons, and in cooperation with other organizations promotes the activities in favour of persons with hearing problems.

  1. MEMBERSHIP AND ORGANIZATION OF THE ASSOCIATION

Article 12

The members of the Association may be: regular, supporting, and honorary.
The regular members are the County, city and municipal organizations, registered as legal entities, consisting of deaf, hard of hearing and deaf and blind persons, and organizations of parents with children and youth with hearing problems, without or with limited business capability, being represented by their parents.

The supporting members are physical persons helping and contributing to the activities of the Association.

The honorary members are physical persons who have, through their work, contributed to the progress and the reputation of the Association.

Article 13

Regular and supporting members, as well as the organizations of parents of children and youth with hearing problems exercise their membership in County, city or municipal associations that keep separate records of their members.
The status of honorary members is regulated by a separate decision, passed by the Assembly.
The membership in the County, city or municipal association is voluntary, based on solidarity and equality principles, and may cease by resignation, expulsion, or cessation of the activities of the association.

The rights and duties of regular and supporting members, as well as associations of parents of children and youth with hearing problems, shall be regulated in more detail by the Statute of the County, city or municipal association, which shall be harmonized with the Statute of the Association.

Article 14

The structure of the Association consists of the member associations enjoying legal entity status.
Thus organized, the County, city and municipal associations may voluntarily become the members of the Croatian Association of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, provided they have:

  1. harmonized their Statutes with the Statute of the Croatian Association of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing;
  2. passed the Decision on membership at the Assembly session;
  3. submitted the membership application;
  4. enclosed the photocopy of the Decree on Registration of the association with the membership application.

Article 15

The member associations may have organized affiliated sections, branches or clubs covering parts of their areas, which shall be separately regulated by the Statute of the respective association.

Such organized forms of activities within the association shall not have the status of the legal entity.

The task of the member association, its sections, branches or clubs is to bring together, in their respective areas, the deaf, hard of hearing and deaf and blind persons, and the associations of parents of children and youth without or with limited business capability, with the objective of joint solving and meeting of specific and other needs of persons with hearing problems.

Article 16

The member associations, through their representatives shall have, in particular, the following rights and responsibilities:

  1. to participate in the activities of the Association, expressing their standpoints and opinions on the issues being discussed or decided upon;
  2. to initiate discussion on issues of importance for the activities of their organizations and of the Association;
  3. to be timely informed about the activities of the Association and all relevant issues of joint interest;
  4. to inform their respective organizations on their activities in the bodies of the Association;
  5. not to impair the reputation of the Association by their public activities.

Article 17

The members of the Association bodies shall jointly define and coordinate the policy, plans and programs of activities of general interest for persons with hearing problems, based on the principles of communication, coordination and agreement, mutual respect and equality.
The member of the Association body may resign, and may be impeached by the voters.

Each member of an Association body is responsible for his activities to the member association he represents, as well to the association body to which he has been elected.

  1. BODIES OF THE ASSOCIATION

Article 18

The bodies of the Association are:

  1. Assembly
  2. President of the Association
  3. Executive Committee
  4. Supervisory Committee
  5. Disciplinary Committee

ASSEMBLY OF THE ASSOCIATION
Article 19

The Assembly is the highest body of the Association, consisting of the representatives of member associations.
The number of representatives, their election, time and procedure of the elections, shall be determined by the Executive Committee and by the Rules of Procedure adopted by the Assembly.
The member organizations may elect their representatives in the Association bodies only among their regular members.
The Assembly is convened as necessary, but at least once in two years, and the electoral
Assembly is convened every four years. The electoral Assembly elects the President of the Association, the Supervisory Committee, and the Disciplinary Committee.
The mandate of the members in the bodies of the Association is four years, and the members may be re-elected.

Article 20

The Assembly

  1. adopts the Rules of Procedure, acknowledges the mandates of the elected members of the Assembly, adopts the Statute, its modifications and amendments, and other documents under its competence;
  2. discusses the general problems of persons with hearing problems;
  3. adopts the report on financial operations;
  4. discusses and adopts the report of the Supervisory Committee;
  5. discusses and adopts the report on the activities of the Association in the past period;
  6. discuses and confirms the program of activities and the financial plan for the next period;
  7. elects and dismisses the President of the Association, the Supervisory Committee and the Disciplinary Committee;
  8. the sessions of the Assembly are convened by the Executive Committee at its own initiative. The Executive Committee shall convene the Assembly at the requirement of two-thirds of the member associations, within 60 days. Should the Executive Committee fail to convene the Assembly within that period, the Assembly shall be convened by the sponsors.
  9. carries out other activities as determined by this Statute.

PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION
Article 21

The President of the Association shall be elected at the Assembly by secret voting between two or more candidates from among the representatives, by the procedure defined in more detail by the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly. The President must not be at the same time the head of some other member association.

The President elected at the Assembly becomes the mandate holder for composition of the Executive Committee, in accordance with the criteria of his program serving as the basis of his election.
In composing the Executive Committee, the President shall keep in mind the regional representation of member associations in the Executive Committee.
The President shall inform the representatives about the composition of the Executive Committee either at the Assembly, or at the latest within 30 days from the Assembly meeting.
The President of the Association chairs the sessions of the Assemblyand of the Executive Committee.
The President of the Association represents the Association in the Commission of the Government of the Republic of Croatia by his function.
Carrying out his duties and tasks, the President may, as required, establish professional working groups or ad hoc working bodies consisting of professionals and public activists.
The President shall be responsible to the Assembly for his work and for the work of the Executive Committee.

Secretary of the Association
Article 22

The secretary is the administrative coordinator between the Executive Committee, the Administrative Service and separately elected professional bodies of the Association.

Preferably, the secretary should be a person with hearing problem.

The secretary may carry out his office as a professional, provided he has the adequate qualification, or as a volunteer.

In case there is no adequately qualified person with a hearing problem for the job of the secretary, the President of the Association may nominate another professional or associate to the office, but without business authority and the right to vote.

The secretary shall attend all sessions of the Association bodies, prepare materials for such sessions, helping the President and the bodies of the Association to carry out the decisions and conclusions.

The secretary is responsible to the President and to the Executive Committee.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Article 23

The Executive Committee is the executive body of the Association, performing the activities and tasks between two sessions of the Assembly.

The Executive Committee has 7 (seven) members and consists of the President and 6 (six) members from among which, at the President's suggestion, the vice-president is elected.

The Executive Committee convenes as necessary, but at list 3 (three) times a year. The sessions of the Executive Committee are convened by the President of the Association, or by his authorized deputy.

Article 24

The Executive Committee:

  1. enforces the decisions and conclusions of the Assembly regarding implementation of plans and programs;
  2. prepares the sessions of the Assembly, and proposes modifications and amendments of the Statute and other documents within the authority of the Assembly;
  3. discusses and adopts the budget, the annual financial statement, and program of activities for the next year;
  4. coordinates and directs the activities of member associations
  5. elects the representatives of the Association in organizations and institutions at the national and international level;
  6. cooperates with national and local bodies in activities of importance to the Association;
  7. monitors, analyzes and discusses the issues regarding persons with hearing problem
  8. appoints members of commissions and other bodies of the Association, and coordinates their activities
  9. adopts decisions regarding the work and organization of the Administrative Service of the Association;
  10. confirms, at the President's suggestion, the nomination of the vice-president and the secretary;
  11. submits the report on his activities to the Assembly
  12. carries out other tasks as defined by the Statute, other internal documents of the Association, and by decisions of higher bodies.

SUPERVISORY COMMITTEE
Article 25

The Supervisory Committee consists of 3 (three) members and 1 (one) deputy, which need not be the representatives in the Assembly.
The elected members of the Supervisory Committee elect the chairman among themselves.
The Supervisory Committee supervises financial operations of the Association and submits the reports to the Assembly and to the Executive Committee.
Among its members, the Supervisory Committee must have at least one person qualified in accounting.

DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE
Article 26

The Disciplinary Committee is the elected body of the Association Assembly in charge of supervising respect and application of the covenants of this Statute and other documents of the Association.
The Disciplinary Committee shall suggest to the Assembly, the President, or to the Executive Committee to take disciplinary measures, either on its own initiative, or upon the written report by the President of the Association, in case of violation of the covenants by the member associations, representatives or individual officials, or if some of the members impair the reputation of the Association and its bodies by their behaviour or actions.
The Assembly may, at the suggestion by the Disciplinary Committee, impeach the President or any member of the Association bodies.

The Disciplinary Committee consists of 3 (three) members and 1 (one) deputy, which also need not be the representatives in the Assembly. The elected members of the Disciplinary Committee elect the chairman among themselves, and their decisions are adopted in plenary meetings.

The Disciplinary Committee shall have its Rules of Procedure, regulating its activity in detail.

Particular working bodies of the Association
Article 27

For the purpose of study and discussion of some professional issues related to the program and scope of the Association, the Executive Committee may establish particular working bodies, commissions and other organizational forms of activity.

The composition, number of members and the duties of such bodies shall be defined by the act on their foundation.

The bodies may be permanent or temporary.

Rules of communication
Article 28

With respect to the specific problems of communication between persons with hearing problems, the Association adopts the Rules of Communication, regulating compulsory presence of interpreters at all sessions of the Association bodies, in contacts with external parties, and equipping of the –association with all available technical, audio and visual aids.

The officials and activists of the Association should be allowed direct communication with member associations by all available means: directly, by fax or special telephone for the deaf with printout, and by connection to the Internet, receiving and sending of e-mail, etc.

  1. ADOPTING DECISIONS IN ASSOCIATION BODIES

Article 29

All Association bodies shall be electoral and elected as a rule by secret vote.
Public vote may be applied, if decided so by the majority of members of the body in question.
In election of each body, the number of candidates nominated must be greater than the number of body members elected.

Article 30

The bodies of the Association validly decide when the number of the members present at the session constitutes the majority.
The representatives adopt the decisions by majority of members present and voting.
For adopting of the Statute, or modifications and amendments thereto, a two-thirds majority of the representatives in the Assembly shall be required.

  1. SOURCES OF FUNDS AND FINANCIAL OPERATIONS

Article 31

For implementation of its objectives, programs and tasks, the Association provides the funds:

  1. from the National Budget;
  2. from the revenues of the games of chance;
  3. from the revenues of economic activities;
  4. from humanitarian aid, sponsorship and donations;
  5. from other sources, in accordance with the law.

Article 32

Financial operations of the Association and its bodies shall be carried out in accordance with the law and other regulations, on the basis of the financial plan and the program of operations.

The President of the Association shall have the exclusive mandatory authority of management of the Association funds, and the vice-president, secretary general and other members of the Executive Committee may have such authority to the extent delegated to them by the President.

Article 33

Financial and material documents relating the management of financial and other material assets and rights shall be signed by the President, and co-signed by the person appointed by the President

Article 34

The association may acquire immovable and movable property, in accordance with the law.
Unless regulated otherwise by the law, the Assembly adopts decisions in principle regarding acquiring of property and its transfer, and authorizes the Executive Committee to adopt definite decisions on acquiring, transfer and alienation of property.

  1. ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE OF THE ASSOCIATION

Article 35

For the purpose of carrying out material, financial, administrative, technical and other management tasks, essential for implementation of program objectives of the Association and its bodies, the Executive Committee shall, in accordance with the funds allocated for the functioning of the Association and for its programs, establish the Administrative Service with the required number of employees with adequate qualifications, and may, as appropriate, also employ external associates.

Mutual rights, liabilities and responsibilities of the Administrative Service staff and the officials of the Association shall be regulated by the contract, in accordance with the law.

  1. TERMINATION OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE ASSOCIATION

Article 36

The Association shall terminate its activities if and when the Assembly decides so, or if the legal prerequisites for the activity of the Association are not met, the final decision thereupon being made by the competent authority in accordance with the law.

The decision of the Assembly on termination of the activities of the Association is adopted by a two-thirds majority vote of the total number of member associations represented in the Assembly (one member – one vote).

In case of termination of the activities of the Association, after settlement of creditors' claims, costs of court and other proceedings, all property and rights shall belong to the legal successor of the Association.

  1. TRANSITIONAL AND FINAL COVENANTS

Article 37

The modifications and amendments of this Statute shall be made in accordance with the rules regulating adoption of the Statute.

Article 38

By adoption of this Statute, the former Statute of the Croatian Association of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing of January 10, 1998, shall no longer apply.

 

  
 Rights and privileges
     
  Publishing  
 Catalogue of written publications
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   

 
 
       

 

Comments and constructive criticisms are welcome via e-mail

Copyright © 2009. | Croatian association of the deaf and hard of hearing | Last change 31.03.2009. by A. Bakan