Articles of Association

NAME, REGISTERED OFFICE AND PURPOSE

Article 1
ASsIST.CH is a non-profit association governed by these Articles of Association and, subsidiarily, by Articles 60 et seq. of the Swiss Civil Code.
It is politically neutral and denominationally independent.
It has no profit-making or commercial objectives.
The financial year begins on 1 January and ends on 31 December of each year.

Article 2
The association’s head office is in Matran (canton of Fribourg).
Its duration is indefinite.

Article 3
ASsIST.CH has the following objectives:

  • To provide information of a legal nature to applicants for international protection,
    beneficiaries of international protection and immigrants, regardless of their
    nationality, religion, gender, age, culture, skin colour, language, politics or any
    other type of belief, membership of a particular social group, social origin,
    property status, place of birth or any other condition or reason for which
    beneficiaries have been forced to leave their country of origin or origin.
  • To provide them with legal support in preparing the documents required by the
    authorities as part of their asylum application.
  • If necessary, offer the voluntary assistance of community interpreters.
    To provide the association’s volunteers with the additional training and support
    they need to carry out their work in the best possible conditions.

ORGANISATION
Article 4
The bodies of the association are:

  • General Meeting
  • The committee
  • The auditors

Article 5
THE GENERAL MEETING

The General Meeting is the supreme authority of the association.
The powers of the General Meeting are:

  • Elect the members of the Committee and appoint the Chairman
  • Set annual membership fees
  • To examine the reports and accounts for the year and vote on their approval
  • Appoint auditor(s)
  • Decide on any amendments to the Articles of Association
  • Decide to dissolve the Association

It meets once a year in ordinary session. The Chairman or Deputy Chairman is responsible for the running of the meeting.
Invitations to the General Meeting are sent individually to active members.
Supporting members who make donations are also welcome. The date must be sent to members at least 2 weeks in advance.
The General Meeting is validly constituted regardless of the number of members present.
Resolutions at the General Meeting are passed by a simple majority of the votes cast by the members present. In the event of a tie, the Chairman’s vote counts double.
Decisions to amend the Articles of Association or to dissolve the Association may only be taken by a 2/3 majority of the members present.
The General Meeting may hold an extraordinary meeting at the request of the Committee or 1/5th of the members.

Article 6
THE COMMITTEE

The committee decides and takes all measures necessary to achieve the aims of the association. It is made up of at least 3 people (a president, a secretary and a treasurer, elected for one year and eligible for re-election by the General Meeting).
It decides on its own internal organisation. Committee members work on a voluntary basis.
The committee’s remit is as follows:

  • It takes all necessary steps to achieve the objectives set
  • Its powers are extended to cover day-to-day matters
  • Decisions are taken by a majority of members present.
  • He convenes the General Meeting and presents his report and the statement of
    accounts.

The Association is validly bound by the joint signatures of the President and another
member of the Committee.

Article 7
THE MEMBERS

Membership of ASsIST.CH is open to any natural or legal person who shares the values of the association and is interested in its aims.
Members are informed of ASsIST.CH’s activities and invited to support or promote them.

The association is made up of :

  • Active members: An active member has the right to vote at the General Meeting. They pay the annual membership fee set by the General Meeting.
  • Donor members: By paying an annual subscription, the amount of which is freely determined, but the minimum amount is set by the General Meeting, any legal entity or individual becomes a donor member and thus contributes to the development of the association. Donor members have a consultative vote at the General Meeting.

Applications for admission are sent to the Committee, which admits new members and informs the General Meeting.

Membership is lost by death, by resignation sent at least two months before the end of the financial year, by non-payment of subscriptions for more than one year or by exclusion by the Committee for “just cause”, with the right of appeal to the General Meeting. The deadline for appeals is thirty days from notification of the Committee’s decision.
The Association’s assets alone are liable for the commitments entered into in its name. All personal liability of its members is excluded.

 

Article 8
RESOURCES

The Association’s resources come from donations or legacies, membership subscriptions and the proceeds of events organised by the Association.
Membership fees are set annually by the General Meeting on the recommendation of the Committee.
Funds are used in accordance with the Association’s corporate purpose.
The Association’s commitments are guaranteed by its assets, to the exclusion of any personal liability of its members.

Article 9
ACTIVITIES, MONITORING AND CONTROL

The association’s activities are carried out in Switzerland as well as in another European country, depending on demand.
The committee monitors and controls activities, which are the subject of an annual report.

Article 10
DISSOLUTION
The dissolution will be voted if at least 3 active members request it. The dissolution will be carried out by the committee.
In the event of dissolution, the Association’s assets will be donated to one or more tax-exempt institutions with a similar purpose to that of the Association.
These articles of association were adopted at the constituent general meeting of 2 September 2024.

Signed on behalf of the association by ASsIST.CH Chairperson Mary Wenker.