Governance and Founders

The organs of the association are the general assembly, the board, the audit committee and the disciplinary committee. The board may in addition set up working committees and commissions, for a fixed or indefinite term, in fields such as scholarly work, training, international relations and young arbitrators. These bodies are advisory in nature; their establishment, duties and working procedures are laid down in rules adopted by the board.

General assembly

The general assembly is the highest decision-making organ of the association and consists of the full members who are not in arrears with their dues. Its powers include electing the organs of the association, amending the Statutes, considering and adopting the budget, examining the reports of the board and the audit committee and discharging those bodies, deciding on appeals against expulsion decisions, and dissolving the association.

Board

The board consists of five full and five substitute members elected by the general assembly from among the full members, and serves for three years. At its first meeting following the election, the board allocates offices among its members, electing a president, a vice-president, a secretary and a treasurer.

The board's principal duties are to represent the association, to decide on membership applications, to set the admission fee and the annual dues, to determine the date, place and agenda of general assembly meetings and to convene the members, and to prepare the association's income and expenditure and the draft budget for the following period for the approval of the general assembly.

Decisions are taken by an absolute majority of the members present. At least three of the five members must attend for a meeting to be held, and attendance must be in person; participation through a representative is not permitted. The president may hold meetings online where this is considered appropriate.

Audit committee

The audit committee consists of three full and three substitute members elected by the general assembly from among the full members, and serves for three years. Its decisions require the affirmative vote of at least two of its three members.

The committee examines whether the association operates in accordance with the purposes set out in its Statutes, audits whether the statutory books are kept in the prescribed manner, and informs the board and the general assembly of any irregularities it identifies. Audits of the association's activities, books, accounts and records are carried out at intervals not exceeding one year.

Where financial irregularity, a serious breach of legislation or a situation endangering the interests of the association is identified, the committee convenes the general assembly in extraordinary session through the board. Where an element of a criminal offence such as embezzlement, misconduct in office or forgery is encountered, the matter is reported to the judicial authorities or to the civil administration.

Disciplinary committee

The disciplinary committee consists of three full and three substitute members elected by the general assembly from among the full members for a term of three years. Full membership of the disciplinary committee may not be combined in the same person with full membership of the board or of the audit committee.

The committee examines written complaints, reports and notifications referred to it by the board or submitted to it directly, in order to determine whether members have acted contrary to the Statutes, to the ethical principles of the association, to binding decisions of its organs, or to its purpose and working principles.

The acts or circumstances attributed to a member under examination are notified to that member in writing, and a period of at least fifteen days is allowed for a defence to be submitted. A committee member having a personal or professional interest in the matter under examination may not take part in the deliberation of the file; a substitute member is called in that member's place. Information and documents obtained in the course of disciplinary examinations are confidential.

Founding members

The founding members of the association are Rauf Karasu, Abdullah Yaman, Talat Canbolat, Süleyman Yılmaz, İbrahim Ermenek, Mustafa Ateş, Mustafa İsmail Kaya, Kürşat Göktürk, Abdulkerim Yıldırım and Alper Çağrı Yılmaz.

Interim board

Until the organs of the association are constituted at the first general assembly, the association is represented and its affairs are conducted by the interim board set out below.

The date and agenda of the first ordinary general assembly will be announced in the news section once determined.