Articles of Association

Conscience and Peace Tax International (CPTI)

Albert II, King of the Belgians,

To all those present and to come,
Greetings.

Considering the law of October 25, 1919 relating to the accordance of legal status to international associations which pursue a philanthropic, religious, scientific, artistic or educational objective, in particular article 1, as changed by the law of December 6, 1954;

Considering the request of February 19, 1996 in which Mister D. PANHUIS, acting as secretary of the international association "Conscience and Peace Tax International" (CPTI), asks legal status for that international association;

Considering the articles of association of said association;

On proposal of Our Minister of Justice,

WE HAVE DECIDED AND DECIDE:

Article 1. To the international association "Conscience and Peace Tax International" (CPTI), whose head office is located in 3010 Leuven, Bruineveld 11, legal status is granted.

Art. 2. The articles of association, added to this decree, are approved.

Art. 3. Our Minister of Justice is charged with the execution of this decree.

Given in Brussels, March 20, 1996.

(signed) ALBERT I
IOn behalf of the King:
The Minister of Justice,

(signed) Stefaan DE CLERCK.

International non profit association

Conscience and Peace Tax International

ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION

Name and headquarters

Article 1. "Conscience and Peace Tax International", hereafter referred to as "the association", has been constituted and incorporated as an International non-profit Association in accordance with the Belgian law of October 25, 1919 modified by the law of December 6,1954. The abbreviation "CPTI" may also be used.

Article 2. The association has its head office in Belgium, currently at 3010 Leuven, Bruineveld 11. It may be transferred to any other location in Belgium by simple decision of the Board published within the month in the Bijlagen tot het Belgisch Staatsblad.

Objects

Article 3. The association has no lucrative purpose and its aim is to obtain recognition of the right to conscientious objection to paying for armaments and war preparation and war conduct through taxes. The pursuit of that recognition will take place by means that conform to Belgian and international law.

Article 4. The association may also support the struggle of conscientious objectors and the struggle for the recognition of other conscientious objections and of human rights generally.

Article 5. In furtherance of these objects the association lobbies international organizations in order to obtain and/or improve legal and other instruments. The instruments can be national and international legislation, conventions, resolutions, directives, declarations, etc.

Article 6. The association shall publicize efforts to obtain recognition of the afore-said right and shall spread information about this right.

Article 7. The association facilitates co-ordination of similar activities of national movements at the international level.

Article 8. The association may also, as a secondary activity, pursue certain economic activities, provided the proceeds are employed exclusively for the objects of the association.

Members

Article 9. The association is open to members of all nationalities. The members are physical persons or legal entities, legally constituted in accordance with the laws of their country of origin. The first members are the undersigned founders.

Article 10. New members should subscribe to the objects of the association. The admittance of new members is subject to the approval of the Board.

Article 11. A member may always resign by notifying the Board in writing.

Article 12. Exclusion of a member can only be effected by decision of the General Assembly with a two third majority of the members present or represented, and after the member concerned has been given the opportunity to defend himself. Due reasons for exclusion must be given.

Article 13. Any member who, through resignation or exclusion, ceases to belong to the association, shall forfeit any right to any part of the assets of the association. The same applies to their heirs.

General Assembly

Article 14. The General Assembly is composed of all members and is responsible for the general policy of the association.

Article 15. The General Assembly meets at least once every two years at the invitation of the Board at an address, date and hour to be mentioned in the invitation. The Board also has to call for an extraordinary meeting of the General Assembly, if one fifth of the members ask for it.

Article 16. The invitation, accompanied by the agenda, shall be sent by regular mail at least six weeks before the ordinary or extraordinary General Assembly.

Article 17. A member may be represented at the General Assembly by another member holding a proxy. No member shall hold more than two proxies. The General Assembly is validly constituted if at least one third of the members are present or represented.

Article 18. The General Assembly has the exclusive authority over the following matters: a) approval of the budget and the accounts, b) nomination and dismissal of the members of the Board, c) amendments to the articles of association, d) exclusion of members, e) dissolution of the association.

Article 19. Without prejudice to article 32 the decisions of the General Assembly are taken with simple majority of the members present or represented. The decisions of the General Assembly shall be entered in a minute-book, signed by the chairperson and held by the secretary at the disposal of all members.

Board

Article 20. The association is administered by a board of at least four and no more than nine members, elected for four years by the General Assembly. They may be re-elected without limit. At the elections equitable representation should be sought.

Article 21. At least one member of the Board must be of Belgian nationality.

Article 22. Members whose term expires remain responsible and in office till they have been replaced.

Article 23. The board itself decides upon the allocation of tasks.

Article 24. The board is authorized to run the association. Anything not reserved explicitly by these articles or the law for the General Assembly, falls under the authority of the Board.

Article 25. A member of the Board can be represented by another Board member who shall however not hold more than two proxies.

Article 26. Decisions are taken by a simple majority of the members present or represented. At least half of the board members have to be present or represented. In the event of a tie the chairperson has a casting vote. The decisions shall be entered in a minute-book signed by the chairperson and kept by the secretary at the disposal of the members of the Association.

Article 27. The day-to-day management may be delegated to the chairperson, a board member or a third party. In addition the Board on its own responsibility may entrust well-defined tasks to one or more third parties.

Article 28. Except as otherwise decided, all acts which bind the association shall be signed by two board members who need not give evidence of their powers.

Article 29. All juridical action, either as plaintiff or defendant, will be handled by the Board represented by its chairperson or by a board member designated to this effect.

Budget and accounts

Article 30. The financial year opens on January 1 and closes on December 31.

Article 31. The Board submits the accounts of the previous years and the budgets for the coming years for the approval of the General Assembly.

Changes of the statutes and dissolution

Article 32. Without prejudice to article 5 of the law of October 25, 1919, the present articles may be amended at any time by an Extraordinary General Assembly of members convened on the initiative of the Board or at the request of at least one fifth of the members of the association.

The date of the General Assembly which will decide on the proposed amendment(s) must be notified to the members at least three months in advance.

No decision shall be adopted unless it is approved by a majority of at least two thirds of the members of the association present or represented. A change of the objects for which the association was constituted, can only be adopted by unanimity of the members of the General Assembly.

However if less than two thirds of the members of the association are present or represented at the General Assembly, a new General Assembly shall be convened in the same conditions as the preceeding one, to definitely and validly decide on the proposals in question, irrespective the number of the members present or represented.

Amendments to the articles of associaton will not take effect until approved by Royal Decree and until they have been published in the Bijlagen van het Belgisch Staatsblad in accordance with article 3 of the law of October 25, 1919.

The General Assembly shall determine the modalities of dissolution and liquidation of the association. The assets of the association shall be given to a purpose that corresponds as much as possible to the aims of the association.

Final disposition.

Article 33. Matters not covered by these articles of association, including publications in the
Bijlagen tot het Belgisch Staatsblad, will be governed by the provisions of the law.

Thus accepted by unanimity at the founding assembly held in Hondarribia (Fuenterrabia), Spain, on September 17, 1994.

Seen in order to be added to the royal decree of March 20, 1996.

Nr 7/EGLS/13.611/S.

The Minister of Justice,
(signed) Stefaan DE CLERCK