International Life Saving Federation

Constitution 2021

Page 1World Water Safety

INTERNATIONAL LIFE SAVING FEDERATION
Gemeenteplein 26 – 3010 Leuven – Belgium
Tel: (32.16) 89.60.60 – E-mail: ils.hq@telenet.be - Web: www.ilsf.org

CONSTITUTION(Articles of Association - Statutes)

Article 1. Name and Formation
1.1.
1.2.

1.3.

1.4.

The association bears the name "International Life Saving Federation", abbreviated "ILS". The ILS
is an international non-profit association.
The ILS was established on 24 February 1993 in Leuven (Belgium) and constituted on 3 September
1994 in Cardiff (United Kingdom) by an integration of the Fédération Internationale de Sauvetage
Aquatique (FIS) founded in 1910 and the World Life Saving (WLS) founded in 1956.
The ILS was incorporated by Royal Decree signed by H.M. the King of Belgium on 3 April 1997 as
an international non-profit association in accordance with, and is currently governed by, theprovisions of Section III of the Act of 27 June 1921 on international non-profit associations
established in Belgium, as amended from time to time.
The ILS is established for an indefinite duration.

Article 2. Registered Office - Seat
The registered office is located in the juridical district of Leuven, Gemeenteplein 26 - 3010 Leuven, Belgium.
The location of the registered office may be changed within Belgium from time to time by the Board ofDirectors.
Article 3. Objectives
The ILS leads, collaborates and partners with national and international organisations to preventdrowning, to promote the provision of lifesaving services and to oversee lifesaving sport throughout theworld with the following specific objectives:
3.1. Lead the global effort to develop and recommend best practice in drowning prevention, aquaticlifesaving, resuscitation and emergency care.
3.2. Teach lifesaving and establish educational exchanges of aquatic lifesaving techniques andoperations.
3.3. Exchange medical and scientific knowledge in the field of aquatic lifesaving and drowning prevention.
3.4. Encourage the conduct of training and development of standards worldwide to advance drowning
prevention, lifesaving and lifesaving sport.
3.5. Extend the teachings and activities of the ILS to all places throughout the world and communicate
and act in co-operation with other international humanitarian bodies.
3.6. Promote uniformity concerning lifesaving equipment, public information, symbols and laws for control
and regulation within the aquatic environment.
3.7. Promote lifesaving sport and regularly organise international aquatic lifesaving competitions in orderto stimulate the interest of competitors to improve their skills and preparedness to save people whoare in danger in the aquatic environment.

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3.8.

Encourage and oversee the convening of international conferences for the purpose of exchanging
information, creating links of friendship, and encouraging collaboration among Members and otherinternational bodies which pursue the same humanitarian goals.
3.9. To respond to and assist in co-ordinating the urgent response to flooding, landslide, earthquake andall similar disasters and events where lifesaving, rescue, resuscitation, first aid and similar skills arelikely to be required.
3.10. Encourage measures to prevent the pollution of the aquatic environment.
3.11. Take such other actions as the ILS considers will advance these Objectives.
The ILS is allowed to undertake all actions, engage in all activities and execute all legal instruments, which
are useful, necessary or which directly or indirectly contribute to the achievement of the above-mentionedobjectives.
Article 4. Members
The ILS is composed of two categories of Members, namely:
4.1. Voting Members: Full Members.
4.2. Non-Voting Members: Associate, Corresponding and other categories of Members described in theBye-Laws.
Article 5. Membership
5.1.
5.2.

5.3.

Voting Members are admitted by the General Assembly upon recommendation of the Board ofDirectors. Non-Voting Members are admitted by the Board of Directors.
Conditions, applications, review and admission processes, rights and obligations for membership,suspension and expulsion and the rules about discipline and appeal procedures are set out in thisConstitution and the Bye-Laws.
A Member may resign by sending written notice. Any Member resigning may claim no part of the ILS
assets.

Article 6. Regional Branches
6.1.

6.2.
6.3.

The Members of the ILS in the regions of Africa, Americas, Asia-Pacific and Europe have formed
Regional Branches to promote closer relationships and activities within the Region. The rules
applicable to such Regional Branches are set out in the Bye-Laws.
A lifesaving organisation cannot be a member of a Regional Branch without being a Member of theILS.
A Regional Branch shall at all times remain subject to the ILS Constitution and the ILS Bye-Laws.

Article 7. General Assembly
7.1.

7.2.

The General Assembly is the supreme governing body of the ILS and is composed of representatives
from Voting Members that are present or represented. Non-Voting Members may attend the General
Assembly but have no voting rights.
The General Assembly is empowered to:a) Approve and modify the Constitution and Bye-Laws.
b) Elect and dismiss the President, the Secretary General and the Financial Auditors and ratify theelection of and dismiss the other Directors.
c) Approve the accounts and accept budgets.
d) Exonerate or discharge from responsibility the Board of Directors and the Financial Auditors.
e) Determine the annual membership fees.
f)Approve Full Members.
g) Expel Full Members for reasons other than non-payment of fees.
h) Voluntarily dissolve the ILS.
i)
Adopt programmes of activities.
j)
Decide upon proposals submitted by the Board of Directors, the Regional Branches and FullMembers.
k) Decide on all other cases foreseen in the Constitution and Bye-Laws.

International Life Saving Federation

7.3.

7.4.

7.5.

7.6.

7.7.

7.8.

7.9.

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Meeting frequencya) An Annual General Assembly is called at least once a year, except in the year where theElective General Assembly is held.
b) An Elective General Assembly is organised every four calendar years.
c) An Extraordinary General Assembly will be convened upon the request of the Elective General
Assembly not less than 15 days after such request.
d) An Extraordinary General Assembly will be convened upon the request of the Board of Directorsor upon a written request by at least 20% of all Full Members representing no less than twoRegions and must be convened within three months after such request.
e) General Assemblies can be held through electronic meeting systems through procedures
described in the Bye-Laws.
Convening Noticea) The convening notice and the agenda for a General Assembly shall be promulgated by theSecretary General within the timelines and by the means described in the Bye-Laws.
Agenda Itemsa) The agenda for an Annual General Assembly shall only include matters under point 7.2. c, dand f.
b) The agenda for an Elective General Assembly and an Extraordinary General Assembly shallbe composed by the Board of Directors. An agenda item shall be added if requested in writingby at least 1/20 of the Full Members and received at least 14 days before the Extraordinary
General Assembly and 75 days before the Elective General Assembly.
Representation to Votea) In an Annual General Assembly, the authorised representative of each of the Regional
Branches, is empowered to vote on behalf of the Region’s respective Full Members. EachRegional Branch has one vote.
b) In an Elective General Assembly and an Extraordinary General Assembly, the delegates of theFull Members are empowered to vote on behalf of their respective Full Members. Each Full
Member has one vote. Each Full Member can have one proxy from one other Full Member asper procedures specified in the Bye Laws to establish the quorum.
A General Assembly is only validly constituted if the convening thereof has occurred in accordancewith this Constitution. A General Assembly can only decide on items on the agenda, except in urgent
circumstances as given in the Bye-Laws.
The following quorum and majorities are required:a) Annual General Assembly: Quorum of 75% - Majority of 50%+1.
b) Elective General Assembly or Extraordinary General Assembly convened upon request by theBoard of Directors or upon a written request by at least 20% of the Full Members.
•Normal decisions: Quorum of 30% - Majority of 50%+1.
•
Expulsion of Members: Quorum of 2/3 - Majority of 2/3.
•
Amendments to the Constitution: Quorum of 2/3 – Majority of 2/3.
•
Amendments to the objectives of the ILS, dissolution and liquidation of the ILS, distributionof assets: Quorum of 2/3 – Majority of 4/5.
c) Extraordinary General Assembly convened upon the request of the Elective General Assembly:
Quorum of 30%.
•Normal decisions: Majority of 50%+1.
•Exclusion of Members. Majority of 2/3.
•Amendments to the Constitution: Majority of 2/3.
•Amendments to the objectives of the ILS, dissolution and liquidation of the ILS, distributionof assets: Majority of 4/5.
Decisions of any General Assembly take immediate effect unless otherwise stated. The minutes ofthe meeting shall be distributed to all Members within two months after the closing of the General
Assembly as described in the Bye-Laws.
A decision can be made by way of a written-decision making procedure that is detailed in the ByeLaws. The following majorities are required:a) Dissolution and liquidation of the ILS: Majority of 4/5.
b) All other motions: Majority of 2/3.

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Article 8. Board of Directors
The Board of Directors is composed of one President, one Secretary General, four Vice Presidents,
Regional Directors and one Director representing athletes. Vice-Presidents and Regional Directors must
belong to different Full Members.
8.1. Members of the Board of Directors shall be elected normally for a term of four years, commencing atthe conclusion of the Elective or any associated Extraordinary General Assembly. They must benominated from Full Members within their Region, approved by the Full Member of which they are amember, and be elected by the Full Members of the Region.
8.2. The President and Secretary General shall be elected by the Full Members during the Elective
General Assembly according to the procedures set out in the Bye-Laws.
8.3. The four Vice Presidents, one from each of the Regions of Africa, Americas, Asia/ Pacific and Europe,shall be nominated and elected by the Full Members of their respective Regional Branch. The Vice
President is preferably the Regional President.
8.4. The Regional Directors shall be elected on the basis of one Director per eight (8) Full Members ofeach Region (1:1-8, 2:9-16, 3:17-24 etc.) and should include a minimum of one person of eachgender.
8.5. The Director representing the athletes shall be the Chair of the Athletes Commission.
8.6. The qualifications and tasks of Directors shall be as set out in the Bye-Laws. The nomination, removaland retirement of directors shall also be as set out in the Bye-Laws.
8.7. The Board of Directors shall meet at least once a year and the place and date shall be promulgatedby procedures set out in the Bye-Laws. Board of Directors meetings can be held through electronic
meeting systems through procedures described in the Bye-Laws.
8.8. The Board of Directors shall be empowered to:a) Implement the decisions of the General Assembly.
b) Create and dissolve commissions and committees including their composition, membership,
their tasks and working procedures.
c) Approve the organisation and rules for all competitions conducted under the authority of theILS.
d) Approve the conditions and criteria concerning merits awards.
e) Establish, maintain, publish and distribute the calendar of ILS activities.
f)Adopt the activity reports and the future projects.
g) Submit to the General Assembly all proposals which it has agreed upon.
h) Accept Non-Voting Members.
i)
Determine fees for publications, awards, competitions and other matters as necessary.
j)Appoint Honorary and Honoured Members.
k) Appoint and dismiss Advisors.
l)Appoint and dismiss such officers and employees of the ILS as the Board considers necessary
to carry out the day to day business of the ILS.
m) Adopt regulations (policies and procedures) to guide the management of the ILS.
n) Enter into strategic alliances and other collaborative arrangements with national, internationaland other external organisations.
8.9. The quorum of the Board of Directors is reached when more than 50% of the Directors are present.
The resolutions of the Board of Directors shall be approved by a majority of 50%+1 of Directors
present or represented. A decision can be made by way of an electronic decision-making
procedure that is detailed in the Bye-Laws.
8.10. The ILS President and the ILS Secretary General are empowered to jointly represent the ILS visà-vis third parties and as such to enter into legally binding transactions and sign any agreement
or other document on behalf of the ILS provided that such transactions and agreements do notconflict with the Constitution and the Bye-Laws and that they were approved by the Board ofDirectors or the Elective or Extraordinary General Assembly. The Board of Directors may appoint
the ILS President, the ILS Secretary General, or a Director or Directors to represent the ILS in anylegal matter.
Article 9. Commissions and Committees
The Board of Directors may decide upon the creation and dissolution of Commissions and Committees.
Their duties, obligations, timelines, responsibilities, composition, frequency of meetings, tasks, working

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Page 5procedures and voting rights shall be set out in the Bye-Laws. Commissions/Committees meetings can beheld through electronic meeting systems through procedures described in the Bye-Laws
Article 10. Budgets and Accounts
10.1. The financial year begins on 1 January and ends on 31 December of the same year.
10.2. The Board of Directors shall present the audited financial statements and proposed budgets to theGeneral Assembly by the procedures as set out in the Bye-Laws. The account auditing procedures
are also set out in the Bye-Laws.
10.3. The Board of Directors is allowed to enter into financial transactions for the purchase of fixed ormovable assets, or for other purposes which the Board of Directors consider appropriate for itsoperation.
Article 11. Arbitration – Rules of Conduct
Any decision made by the ILS Disciplinary Committee may be submitted exclusively by way of appeal to
the Court of Arbitration for Sports in Lausanne, Switzerland, which will resolve, within the set timelines, thedisputes in a final manner in accordance with the Code of Sports-Related arbitration. The current
Constitution is in full compliance with the Olympic Charter. The ILS shall conduct its affairs in fullcompliance with the World Anti-Doping Agency requirements for lifesaving sports.
Article 12. Dissolution – Liquidation
In the case of the ILS being dissolved, its assets shall be distributed to a non-profit organisation similar tothat of the ILS, in accordance with the decisions taken at such Elective or Extraordinary General Assemblyin which it was decided to dissolve and liquidate the ILS.
END OF DOCUMENT
The above Constitution (Statutes) was approved by the 2021 Elective General Assembly on 21/03/2021.