Statute - DUOD Website

2024 revised version of the Statute (v 3.0)
of the Dachverband der Ukrainischen Organisationen in Deutschland e. V.
(Association of Ukrainian Organisations in Germany)
(adopted by the General Assembly on 14 June 2024)

Preamble

The association is guided by:

the joint preservation and cultivation of cultural, social, academic and economic relations between Ukrainians and Germans,
the preservation of Ukrainian identity, language, culture and the customs of Ukrainians abroad,
the coordination of the work of Ukrainian organisations in Germany.
It promotes democratic conditions in Ukraine and free, unimpaired elections and referendums.
It is guided by the ideal of the free human being and their dignity
and by fundamental and human rights in accordance with the European Convention on Human Rights.

§1 Name and registered office

The association bears the name Dachverband der Ukrainischen Organisationen in Deutschland (DUOD). In Ukrainian: “Objednannja ukrajinskych orhanisazij u Nimetschtschyni” (“Об’єднання Українських Організацій у Німеччині (ОУОН)”).
Following entry in the register of associations, the association bears the suffix “eingetragener Verein” (registered association), e. V.
The registered office of the association is Berlin, where it is entered in the register of associations.

§2 Purpose and tasks of the association

The association pursues exclusively and directly charitable purposes within the meaning of the section “tax-privileged purposes” as well as purposes within the meaning of §53 of the German Fiscal Code, through the selfless support of persons in need in the form of financial and social assistance.
The purpose of the association is:
the promotion of an international outlook, of tolerance in all areas of culture and of the idea of international understanding;
the promotion of education, general and vocational training as well as sport;
the promotion of the preservation and cultivation of Ukrainian customs and Ukrainian identity in Germany and Europe;
the promotion of art and culture, in particular between Ukraine and the Federal Republic of Germany;
the promotion and strengthening of the principles of democracy, the rule of law and fundamental human rights in accordance with the European Convention on Human Rights;
the central promotion and improvement of the situation of Ukrainians as a whole and of their constituent bodies in Germany, by way of talks, negotiations and agreements with the competent authorities of the Federal Republic;
the promotion of the protection and conservation of historical monuments.
The statutory purpose is realised
1. in particular by holding and supporting seminars, colloquia, congresses and other events;
2. through the support, advice, coordination and joint representation of Ukrainian and German-Ukrainian associations, friendship circles and other institutions with the same association purpose;
3. through the establishment and cultivation of relations with German institutions of political life and with the democratic parties of the Federal Republic of Germany, and the observation of elections and referendums;
4. through the promotion and cultivation of the Ukrainian language and Ukrainian cultural heritage, and through assistance in presenting this heritage in Germany;
5. through the promotion of and advice to Ukrainian schools and educational institutions in the Federal Republic, and assistance in integrating Ukrainians living in Germany into the democratic social system of Germany;
6. through cooperation with the Ukrainian World Congress and its members, as well as cooperation with the umbrella organisations of Ukrainians existing in the member states of the European Union.

In realising this purpose, the association will support, advise and promote its members, coordinate and pool supra-regional events and the work of individual members in the sense of the statutory purposes set out above, and provide assistance in planning and carrying out projects. The common goals of all members in the sense of the statutory purposes set out above are supported by the association through assistance with planning and implementation.

At the same time, it is incumbent on the association to develop common goals in the sense of the statutory purposes set out above, to present them to the members, and to enlist the cooperation of individual members in carrying out and implementing such goals.

§3 Non-profit status

The Dachverband der Ukrainischen Organisationen in Deutschland e. V. pursues exclusively and directly charitable purposes within the meaning of the section “tax-privileged purposes” of the German Fiscal Code. It acts selflessly and does not primarily pursue its own economic purposes. Funds of the association may be used only for purposes laid down in the Statute. Members receive no payments out of the funds of the association. No person may be favoured by expenditure that is alien to the purpose of the corporation or by disproportionately high remuneration. The assets of the association consist of donations, support and contributions from individual benefactors as well as from public and private institutions.

§4 Financial year

The financial year is the calendar year.

§5 Membership

Only legal entities that support the aims of the association may become members with full voting rights.
Admission to the association is granted by the Executive Board upon written application.
There is no automatic right to membership. Institutions, organisations or natural persons whose application for membership has been rejected may appeal to the General Assembly. A rejection by the General Assembly is final.
Membership ends by resignation, removal, exclusion or dissolution of the member association.
Members are entitled to resign from the association. Notice of resignation must be delivered to the Executive Board in writing no later than 6 weeks before the end of the calendar year.
Membership ends upon exclusion from the association in cases of conduct damaging to the association or serious contraventions of the association's interests. Exclusion proceedings are initiated by an application which any member of the association may submit to the Executive Board. The General Assembly decides on the application by a simple majority of votes.
Upon removal of membership, a member leaves the association. Membership is removed if the member fails to meet its obligation to pay the membership fee after two written reminders from the Executive Board, issued 30 calendar days apart. The organisation concerned (member) is notified of the removal of membership in writing.
The member concerned may lodge a written objection with the Executive Board within one month of delivery. The General Assembly decides on the appeal by a simple majority of votes. If the member does not exercise the right of objection within the deadline, it submits to the removal. If notification cannot be delivered either by post or by e-mail because the address is unknown, removal takes effect after six months.
Members are obliged to recognise the Statute of the association and to comply with its provisions, to promote and support the statutory purposes of the association, and to pay the membership fees as determined. Changes to the board, the address or the e-mail address must be reported to the Executive Board without delay.
Members have the right to take part in shaping the will of the association by exercising their right to vote, to be elected and to submit motions, and to attend association events.
Honorary membership for natural persons may be resolved upon and conferred by the Executive Board or the General Assembly. Honorary members are exempt from paying membership fees.
The Executive Board may propose associate membership to candidates for admission.
1. Associate membership may be resolved upon by the Executive Board for legal entities.
2. Associate members may attend assemblies of the association but have only the right to submit motions, and they are not subject to the obligation to pay membership fees.
3. Associate membership is valid for one year and converts into full membership upon submission of the necessary documents.
4. Associate members may be appointed as advisory board members for the duration of their membership and may be members of specialist committees.
5. Associate membership may be terminated by either side at any time. The other side must be notified of this in writing.
Domestic or foreign (not resident in Germany) legal entities or natural persons may become supporting members.
1. Their membership fee is determined separately but corresponds at least to the amount laid down in the schedule of fees.
1. Supporting members have only the right to submit motions, but may be elected to the Advisory Board and may chair specialist committees or be members of specialist committees.
Paragraphs 1–11 give rise to 4 types of membership:
1. Association member (full member, legal entity, entitled to vote, to be elected and to submit motions)
2. Honorary member (limited member, natural person, entitled to submit motions)
3. Associate member (limited member, legal entity, entitled to submit motions)
4. Supporting member (limited member, natural or legal person, entitled to submit motions)

§6 Obligation to pay membership fees

Every member is obliged to pay a membership fee. Only honorary members and associate members are exempt from this.
The amount of the membership fees and the terms of payment are determined by the schedule of fees. The schedule of fees is adopted by the General Assembly.

§7 Bodies of the association

The bodies of the association are:

The General Assembly
The Executive Board
The Audit Committee
The Advisory Board

§8 General Assembly

The General Assembly is the highest body of the association and elects the Executive Board by resolution. It bears the name “Dachverband der Ukrainischen Organisationen in Deutschland e.V.” and regulates all association matters that go beyond the competences of the Executive Board, in particular the receipt of the activity report of the Executive Board and the report of the three auditors to be appointed by the General Assembly, the discharge of the Executive Board, the holding of new elections and the adoption of amendments to the Statute.
The General Assembly is to be convened by the Executive Board after the regular duration of a term of office, at the latest by the end of the final quarter of the year.
The invitation to the General Assembly must contain the agenda and must be sent by post as well as by e-mail two months before the date.
The Executive Board convenes an extraordinary General Assembly on the basis of its own resolutions, in cases of urgent need, at the written request of the Audit Committee or of 30% of the association's members. The Executive Board may not refuse the request of the Audit Committee or of the 30% of the association's members. The convocation is made in writing, stating the place, time and agenda as well as the reason for convening, at the latest one month before the scheduled date.
Minutes must be kept of every General Assembly. The minutes are to be signed by the person keeping the minutes and by the chair of the assembly.
If fewer than half of the members entitled to vote are present, the Executive Board sets a new date, stating the date and time. Invitations are issued as laid down in § 8, point 3.
Every full member has one vote. A proxy may not be granted to another full member.
A member's right to vote at the General Assembly depends on the full payment of membership fees. Without a settled payment balance, the member is not entitled to vote. This does not apply to members who have been lawfully exempted from their fees.

§9 Quorum of General Assemblies

Every General Assembly that has been duly convened and at which more than half of the full members are present has a quorum. Resolutions of the General Assembly are adopted by a simple majority of the votes of the members present.
Voting takes place by show of hands. At the request of at least three of the members present who are entitled to vote, a written and secret ballot is permissible.
A resolution on the Statute of the association requires two thirds of the votes of the members present.
A resolution on the dissolution of the association (§ 41 of the German Civil Code) requires a two-thirds majority of the votes of the association's members. If a two-thirds majority of the association's members is not achieved, a General Assembly newly convened at a second attempt may resolve upon dissolution by a two-thirds majority of the votes of the members present.

§10 Executive Board

The Executive Board is elected by resolution of the General Assembly for a term of three financial years in each case. It is the legal representation of the association and remains in office until new elections are held.
The Executive Board consists of the Chairperson, the first and second Deputy Chairpersons, the Treasurer and the Secretary. Any two of them jointly represent the association in and out of court. The Executive Board conducts the business of the association.
Members of the Executive Board and of the Audit Committee may be appointed only from among the members of the member organisations of the association.
After the expiry of the regular term of office, new elections must be held within the following two months. Each member of the Executive Board must be elected individually.
The Executive Board may appoint further representatives of organisations for special tasks and may appoint members of the Advisory Board and specialist committees.
The Executive Board has a quorum if three members are present. Resolutions of the Executive Board require at least three votes. Resolutions may also be adopted by vote in written proceedings or by teleconference. A vote in written proceedings requires five votes of the Executive Board. Resolutions by teleconference require a simple majority. Resolutions of the Executive Board must be communicated to the members of the association.
The Executive Board must be convened if at least one board member or at least three association members so request.
If a member of the Executive Board leaves during the term of office, the remaining board members appoint a new board member for the remainder of the term. If the Chairperson leaves, the first Deputy Chairperson becomes Chairperson. The second Deputy Chairperson then becomes first Deputy Chairperson. If a member of the Audit Committee leaves during the term of office, the remaining committee members appoint a new member for the remainder of the term.
Mutual notification of the replacement appointment to the Executive Board or the Audit Committee is mandatory.

§11 Audit Committee

The Audit Committee is elected by the General Assembly for the duration of the regular term of office.
The Audit Committee consists of a chairperson and two committee members.
The task of the Audit Committee is to examine the accounts and the business and bookkeeping records of the Executive Board every calendar year. The Audit Committee also monitors compliance with the Statute and with the purposes and aims laid down in it.
The Audit Committee has a quorum if at least two members are present. Resolutions of the Audit Committee require at least two votes.
If two members of the Audit Committee leave, the Executive Board must convene an extraordinary General Assembly.

§12 Advisory Board

The Advisory Board is an optional body supporting the Executive Board.
Advisory board members are experts or representatives elected by the General Assembly or appointed by the Executive Board who may coordinate and lead particular activities of the association. Advisory board members may chair and organise specialist committees (see § 13 Specialist committees).
Tasks and rights of the Advisory Board:
1. The Advisory Board advises the Executive Board on important matters of the association and supports it in strategic and financial questions.
2. Advisory board members are accountable to the Executive Board and to the General Assembly.
3. The Executive Board may grant advisory board members the right to attend board meetings. The Executive Board may also require them to attend.
4. Advisory board members have no voting rights on the Executive Board.
5. The number of advisory board members is not limited.
6. Advisory board members may be removed by the Executive Board or the General Assembly.
7. Former chairpersons automatically receive a seat on the Advisory Board unless they object.
8. The term of office of an advisory board member ends with the expiry of the term of office of the Executive Board, with the election of a new Executive Board, or upon their removal.

§13 Specialist committees

In agreement with the Executive Board, specialist committees may be founded at Ukrainian, German, German-Ukrainian and European level.
The tasks of the specialist committees are in particular
1. the promotion of cultural, economic, academic and social contacts with Ukraine and with Ukrainian institutions outside Germany and Ukraine;
2. informing the German public about Ukraine;
3. the representation of German-Ukrainian interests in public.

§14 Amendment of the Statute

A resolution on the Statute of the association requires a two-thirds majority of the votes of the members present. All members of the association must be notified of the intended amendment to the Statute by means of an agenda.
Amendments or additions to the Statute that are required by the competent register court or by the tax office are implemented by the Executive Board and do not require a resolution of the General Assembly. They must be communicated to the members.

§15 Dissolution of the association

The dissolution of the association falls exclusively within the competence of the General Assembly. The provisions of the German Civil Code apply to a dissolution of the association, whereby, however, the motion for dissolution must be supported by at least two thirds of the members of the Executive Board. All members of the association must be notified of the dissolution of the association by means of an agenda stating the place and time.
In the event of dissolution, of the association being wound up or of the association's purpose ceasing to apply, the existing assets of the association, after deduction of all liabilities, pass 50% to the “Apostolische Exarchie für kath. Ukrainer des byzantinischen Ritus in Deutschland” (Apostolic Exarchate for Catholic Ukrainians of the Byzantine Rite in Germany) and 50% to the “Ukrainische Orthodoxe Kirche in Deutschland” (Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Germany), both of which are registered as tax-privileged corporations. These funds are to be used exclusively and directly for the promotion of youth and elderly care and for the promotion of remembrance of the persecuted and of the victims of war and disaster.

§16 Founding of the association

The date of the founding of the association is 7 October 2012 in Berlin.

This English text is a translation provided for convenience. The German version of the Statute, as adopted by the General Assembly on 14 June 2024 and entered in the register of associations, is the legally binding one.

2024 revised version of the Statute (v 3.0)of the Dachverband der Ukrainischen Organisationen in Deutschland e. V.(Association of Ukrainian Organisations in Germany)(adopted by the General Assembly on 14 June 2024)