Article (1):
The registered name is: Network for the rehabilitation of victims of Violence and Torture in the Middle East and North Africa (IRCT – AMAN)

Article (2):
AMAN is a group of centers working in the area of rehabilitating victims of violence and torture. Membership is open to centers that wish to join the network, if they fulfill membership terms and approve the network’s internal by-laws.

Article (3):
The Secretariat General of the Network may choose to establish premises in any country in the region provided that the headquarters do not remain in the same country for more than two terms. The headquarters shall be within the premises of a member of the network. The headquarters shall be moved once every second year.

Article (4):
Objective of the Network
To encourage and reinforce cooperation and interaction between researchers, workers and individuals interested in the areas of torture prevention and providing treatment and rehabilitation for victims of torture at the local and international levels.

Article (5):
Goals of the Network:
1- Encourage the participation of researchers and workers in the fields of social and health sciences in defining and investigating problems related to violence and torture and contributing to solving these problems.

2- Support and encourage initiatives and activities in these fields at the local and regional levels, including the establishment of specialized centers for the care and rehabilitation of victims of violence and torture.

3- Cooperate with local and international bodies within the framework of serving the network goals.

Article (6):
The network carries out several activities to achieve its goals:
1- Initiate and facilitate contact and communication among all interested individuals and institutions.
2- Establish a databank.
3- Work on the issuance of a publication as means of communication and education.
4- Support local programs that support with the network’s goals.
5-Organize annual and periodic conferences for researchers, workers and persons interested in the areas of action of the network
6- Encourage training, raising awareness and research in the areas of torture and rehabilitation of victims of torture.

Chapter Two: Membership

Article (1)
Membership shall be open to non-governmental centers and programs in the Middle East and North Africa in accordance with the following guidelines:

1- Every non-governmental center or institution shall be considered a member that if it applies for membership after accepting the principles, goals and internal by-laws of the network and payment of membership dues. The General Secretariat may exempt a member from paying the annual fees depending on the objective circumstances at the member organization.

2- Membership of institutions, centers and associations shall be accepted on the basis of a formal application submitted by the institution, center or association explanation the name of the member representing the organization in the meetings of the General Assembly. The institution may assign a proxy to this member if he/she is unable to attend meetings.

3- Membership applications shall be submitted in writing to the General Secretariat in a formal application endorsed by two members of the network. The application shall gain initial acceptation after submission to the General Secretariat provided that applications are debated in the first subsequent meeting of the General Assembly. Final acceptance is gained after the majority approval of the General Assembly.

4- Membership shall be terminated upon a written request by the member, due to the dissolution of the institution to which this member belongs, in reason of violating of one of the terms of membership, because of a delay in payment of membership dues, or as a result of termination of membership by a two-third majority of the General Assembly members provided that the concerned member is invited to the meeting that discusses the termination of his/her membership.

5- Honorary Members: Honorary membership shall be granted by a decision of the General Assembly upon suggestion of the General Secretariat or two members to individuals and institutions who provide distinguished material or moral support to the network.

Chapter Three: Assemblies, Committees and Conferences

Article (1):
The organizational structure of the network shall comprise of the General Assembly and the General Secretariat.

Article (2):
General Assembly

1-The General Assembly is the highest authority of the network; it shall define the policies, general goals, and main programs of the network that include, but not exclusively so, the following items:
A-Approval of its agenda
B-Look into acceptance or nullification of membership
C-Election of the General Secretariat.
D-Discussion and approval of reports of the General Secretariat on the previous term and ratification of next term’s plans.
E-Ratification of final accounts of the network in light of its report and the report of the auditor in the host institution.
G-Look into items presented by the General Secretariat and members including amendment of internal by-laws provided the request of amendment is submitted within five months before convening the General Assembly.

2- The General Assembly shall consist of representatives of institutions and centers. Each center or institution shall have one representative assigned to this position in writing.

3- The General Assembly shall meet and upon invitation from the General Secretariat once every year provided that invitations are sent in writing with the agenda of the meeting and reports of the General Secretariat at least one month before the date set for the meeting.

4- The General Assembly may hold extraordinary meetings upon invitation from the General Secretariat or upon request of half of the members through mail ballots (voting) executed by the General Secretariat provided that the request of meeting includes the necessary justifications. Extraordinary General Assembly meetings shall be convened in conformity with the procedures of convening an ordinary session as is explained in the Network’s internal by-laws.

5- The General Assembly shall start the meetings by electing a chairperson. He/she may assign a reporter to take down the minutes of the meeting. The minutes shall be signed by the Secretary General and reporter and copies shall be distributed to all members.

6- If the Secretary General is unable to attend the meetings; another member nominated by the Secretary General shall replace him/her.

7- The quorum of the General Assembly shall be of half of the members plus one.

8- Decisions of the General Assembly shall be made by the unanimous vote of the members present in the meeting, except for decisions related to acceptance or dismissal of members or amendment of the internal by-laws or dissolution of the network, which require a two-third majority of the member attending the meeting.

9- If the quorum is not obtained, the meeting shall be postponed to the following day. The quorum shall be considered achieved in the following day if half of the members of the General Assembly are present. If this is not achieved, the attendants shall hold discussions and suggestions shall be submitted to the General Assembly for opinion and ratification by mail within a period of no more than three months.

Article (3)

The General Secretariat, under the supervision of the Secretary General, shall undertake management of the network’s activities and provision of its needs.

Article (4)
The Secretary General shall be elected via a secret ballot by the General Assembly. Any candidate for the position must fulfill the following criteria:

1- Member of the General Assembly.
2- Be given the jurisdiction of one of the member centers to host the Secretariat General.
3- The center must commit to provide the network’s premises with the necessary equipment to support the General Secretariat and provide the needed facilities.

Article (5)

Responsibilities of the Secretary General:

1- Represent the network in official local and international meetings.
2- Work on the implementation of decisions and recommendations of the General Assembly.
3- Supervise the work of the General Secretariat.
4- Chair the meetings of the General Assembly.
5- Follow up on the activities of the member centers and institutions in the network and suggest plans to support these activities and establish new centers.
6- Sign and follow up on the relationship with IRCT.
7- Cooperate with the treasurer the checks and invoices related to the network.
8- Issue invitations to the meetings of the General Assembly and prepare the agenda of these meetings in consultation with the Assembly’s members.
9-Supervise the work of the administrative staff
10- Representing the Network in the (IRCT).

Chapter Four: Finance of the network

Article (1)
Resources of the network:
The financial resources of the network comprise of:
1- Membership dues.
2- Grants and donations approved by the General Assembly.
3- Returns from banks from the network’s accounts.
4- Income from the network’s activities.

Article (2)
The funds of the network shall be in a bank account in an external country. The checks of the account need the signature of the Secretary General. The host institution supervises the accounts and provides other administrative services and provides the space in return of financial pay approved by the general assembly in its yearly meeting, and supervises the account or an external expert, preferably from international establishment.

Article (3)
The expenses of the network shall include:

1- Salaries, bonuses and rewards according to the Financial system adopted by General Assembly decisions.
2- Transportation, accommodation and expenses paid by members on assignment from the General Secretariat and within General Assembly standards, according to the network’s financial system
3- Cost of printing and publication.
4- Any other expenditure conforming with the projects and programs approved by the General Assembly.

Article (4)
The budget of the network shall be distributed to the above mentioned items in terms of executive rulings ratified by the General Assembly.

Article (5)
The network’s fiscal year shall start on the first day of January every year and shall end on the last day of December of the same year.

Chapter Five: Additional General Provisions:

Article (1)
These internal by-laws shall come into effect after ratification and the election of the General Secretary.

Article (2)
Dissolution of the Network:
The decision to dissolve the network shall be made by a two-third majority during an ordinary General Assembly meeting. The General Assembly shall assign a legal liquidate for the determination of the assets, rights and commitments of the network provided that any assets of the Network be transferred to the institution hosting the network at the time of liquidation or to any other concerned party determined by the General Assembly in the dissolution decision.

Article (3)
Enforcement rulings or explanatory memos may be prepared to complement the articles of the internal by-laws with the ratification of the General Assembly.

Article (4)
When there is need to purchase equipment to complement the facilities provided by the host institutions, this equipment should be transferred to the new headquarters of the General Secretariat provided that the cost of transportation does not bypass the actual cost of the equipment.