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The International Association of Economic and Social Councils and Similar Institutions (AICESIS) is an international association governed by Dutch law. AICESIS's Articles of Association were adopted at its inaugural general meeting, held in Port-Louis (Mauritius) on 1-2 July 1999.
As its name suggests, AICESIS brings together national consultative bodies made up of organisations representing employers, trade unions, other areas of civil society (farmers, cooperatives, economic, social, environmental and cultural NGOs) and, sometimes, government representatives.
AICESIS has its headquarters in The Hague, at the premises of the Dutch Economic and Social Council (SER). Since the revised Articles of Association were adopted in Seoul on 14-15 September 2006, AICESIS's General Secretariat has been based in Paris, at the premises of the French Economic, Social and Environmental Council (CESE).
AICESIS is changing rapidly. Initially, the Association was made up of 24 full members and three associate members. At the beginning of 2010 however, AICESIS had 56 members (and eight candidate members) from four continents – Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America.
AICESIS's overall objective is to exemplify and promote the importance of consultative bodies and participatory governance throughout the world. AICESIS also aims to foster and promote dialogue and the exchange of experience among its members with complete respect for their independence and, more generally speaking, encourage dialogue between economic and social partners across the world.
A further objective is to strengthen Economic and Social Councils (ESCs), or encourage the creation of ESCs in countries which do not yet possess one. By exchanging experiences and organising meetings, AICESIS supports the economic development of nations, and the peaceful emergence of democratic civil societies. The Association works in line with UN principles, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the principles and the fundamental rights at work approved by all members of the ILO.
Members of AICESIS meet on a permanent basis to discuss issues such as the defence of freedoms, the right of peoples to make choices about their own future, how to combat poverty and exclusion, achieve sustainable development, social progress, promote social dialogue, and protect the most vulnerable members of society. The idea is to reach a consensus on what the big issues facing humanity are, how we need to tackle them, and to influence the global debate on these issues.
AICESIS also acts as a hub for new ESCs to gather information, and exchange experiences and good practice. New ESCs can then adapt the information and support they receive, tailoring it to their own economic, political, social and cultural circumstances. This enables them to strengthen social and/or civil dialogue in their country and significantly improve the extent to which civil society is involved in the national decision-making process.
AICESIS also gives members access to an international audience ? the Association has observer status at the UN and partnerships with various different UN agencies (ECOSOC, ILO, UNESCO, etc.) ? and the opportunity to work together to implement action plans, decisions and recommendations made by these bodies, especially the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the Global Jobs Pact for example. AICESIS therefore helps to ensure that the voice of organised civil society is heard at the UN, and, in turn, allows the organisations represented within each member ESC to better understand the decisions and policies of these organisations.
The members of AICESIS are Economic and Social Councils and similar institutions, consultative assemblies made up of organisations representing the social partners (employers, trade unions) and other actors in civil society as well as, on occasion, government representatives. Member ESCs are independent assemblies that were established through their national constitution, by a law, a decree, or are in some way are officially recognised by the public authorities and genuinely represent economic and social interests. The Association is currently represented across four continents: Africa, Latin America, Asia and Europe. The Association has two types of members: full members and associate members
Management structures
Presidency
The president of AICESIS is the president of the ESC elected by the General Assembly (for a non-renewable two-year term) to organise the next international meeting. Since 1999, the presidency has been held by the following ESCs (in chronological order): the Netherlands, Algeria, France, China, Brazil and Hungary. For 2009-2011, the president of AICESIS is Mr Antonio Marzano, president of the Italian CNEL.
The General Assembly
A General Assembly is held once a year to take decisions and work out AICESIS's strategy, and appoint the president, the secretary-general, and the members of the Board of Directors.
The General Secretariat
The secretary-general is nominated by the General Assembly, acting on a proposal from the Board of Directors, for a two-year renewable term. The secretary-general works closely with the presidency to implement the decisions taken by the Board and the General Assembly. Since 1 January 2009, Mr Patrick Venturini has been secretary-general of AICESIS.
The Board
AICESIS's Board has 15 members who are elected by the General Assembly, using a system to ensure that the four continents are represented fairly on the Board. For example, a continent that has at least four ESCs which are members of AICESIS has the right to have two representatives on the Board. Eventually, each continent acquires the right to have three representatives. Each continent appoints its own representatives for a renewable two-year term.
As well as the full members nominated by continent, the European Economic and Social Committee (whose special status as a full member has already been explained above) is also represented on the Board, as is UCESA, an associate member.
For 2009-2011, the following countries are represented on the Board:
ALGERIA/BENIN/BRAZIL/BURKINA FASO/CONGO/SOUTH KOREA/CHINA/SPAIN/EUROPE (EESC)/FRANCE/GREECE/HUNGARY/ITALY/ MAURITIUS/AFRICA (UCESA)
The Board determines AICESIS's policy, acting on a proposal from the president, one of the Board members, or the secretary-general. The Board meets twice a year (in June/July and November/December).
Every year, AICESIS holds a General Assembly and two meetings of the Board. At least three working groups are organised every year to prepare AICESIS statements at international meetings. AICESIS also holds workshops or conferences which are sometimes organised in partnership with other organisations. The president and the secretary-general, acting on behalf of the Association, participate in a number of international forums on economic and social issues.
Full members:
South Africa, Algeria, Dutch Antilles (Curacao), the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Belgium, Benin, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, China, Congo, South Korea, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Spain, Finland, France, Gabon, Greece, Guinea, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, Nicaragua, Niger, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, the Dominican Republic, the Czech Republic, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Slovenia, Chad, Thailand, Tunisia, Ukraine, Venezuela, European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), Armenia, Surinam, Central African Republic, Mauritania.
Associate Members:
Argentina (Province of Cordoba), Laos, Macao, MERCOSUR (Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay), Union of Economic and Social Councils and Similar Institutions of Africa (UCESA), Union of French-speaking Economic and Social Councils (UCESIF), Vietnam.
Working themes
- 2000Globalisation of world trade and its consequences.
- 2001Dialogue between economic and social players on the globalisation of trade
- 2002Managing globalisation: a necessity for the weakest players
- 2003Fighting poverty through sustainable development: towards a partnership approach
- 2004
Report on the social dimension of globalisation
Developing social dialogue across the world
Work of the 48th Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women
Measures to be taken to eradicate poverty in the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) - 2005
Global organisation of trade: globalisation of trade to ensure everyone can benefit ? what role should civil society organisations play.
Towards a new international tax system
The status of women - 2006
Creation at national and international level of a climate conducive to achieving full productive employment, creation
of decent work for all and a study of the impact on sustainable development.
New international resources for development and combating poverty - 2007Stepping up international cooperation and promoting joint development to build a peaceful world
- 2008
The promotion of rural employment for poverty reduction (ILO theme)
The implementation of internationally approved objectives and commitments concerning sustainable development
(ECOSOC theme) - 2007~2009Development with equity and environmental responsibility
- 2009
The global financial, economic and social crisis (ILO)
Gender equality and decent work: consequences for employment and social standards (ILO theme)
Public health and the Millennium Development Goals (ECOSOC theme) - 2010
The Global Jobs Pact and the ESCs (ILO theme)
Empowering women (ECOSOC theme) - 2010~2011The role of the ESCs/SIs in the new economic, social and environmental world governance
