International Federation of Social Workers

Global Online conference

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International Federation of Social Workers

Special General Meeting 2026

The IFSW 2026 Special General Meeting (SGM) will be held as an online gathering on 18 February 2026.

The General Meeting is the supreme governing body of the Federation and during the SGM, member organisations will discuss and vote upon the membership of the Israeli Union of Social Workers.

The SGM should be convened solely to determine the outcome requested by the movers of the motion. For this reason, the questions before the SGM should be limited to the following:
• Question 1: “That the Member Organisation be expelled from IFSW.”
• Question 2: “That the Member Organisation be suspended from IFSW.”

Briefing Note

Nota informativa

Please note the following submission deadlines and key dates:

Submission deadlines

  • Written Statements: 5 February 2026

Please note that submissions received after this date will still be uploaded to the website. We would, however, encourage you to submit your written statement by that date so that members have sufficient time to engage with the material in advance.

Key dates

  • Registration opens: 19 January 2026
  • Special General Meeting: 18 February 2026

Date and Venue

18 February 2026, 13h00 to 17h00 UTC, online

Each IFSW member organization is entitled to have 1 Main Representative who cast their votes and 2 Delegates to participate in the Special General Meeting. With regards to coordinating bodies, the number of delegates can be extended by written request to the President and Secretary-General, but only one person in a coordinating body can cast the votes on behalf of the body.

All discussions will take place live via the online Zoom platform. All voting will take place live on the voting platform.

Draft Agenda

The SGM should be convened solely to determine the outcome requested by the movers of the motion. For this reason, the questions before the SGM should be limited to the following:
• Question 1: “That the Member Organisation be expelled from IFSW.”
• Question 2: “That the Member Organisation be suspended from IFSW.”

The discussion of this agenda item will be followed by Voting Round 1 and Voting Round 2 (if applicable).

There are no other agenda items.

Members can engage through written and oral statements.

Download Draft Agenda

ORDEN DEL DÍA PROPUESTO (ESPAÑOL)

Structure of the Meeting

13h00 to 16h00: Discussion
16h00 to 16h30: Voting Round 1
16h30 to 17h00: Voting Round 2 (if applicable)

Meeting Structure & Speaking Order

The meeting will be chaired by IFSW President, Joachim Mumba, following this order:

  • President (Chair) – will call upon the Interim Secretary General to confirm if quorum has been formed to proceed with the meeting
  1. Opening: Welcome remarks, Report by Interim Secretary General Pascal Rudin, and Constitutional Information by the IFSW Parliamentarian Nicolai Paulsen.
  2. Presentation of the Motion: Movers of the motion (Ireland, Greece, Spain) – 15 minutes.
  3. Initial Response: Israel – 15 minutes.
  4. Oral Statements –Member Organization Contributions Speaking slots of maximum 3 minutes, following the strict order of registration.
  5. Open Floor: If time permits, a second round will open for all member associations (max 3 minutes).
  6. Right of Reply:A final reply session for Israel, Ireland, and Spain.
  7. Voting: Formal voting session after the conclusion of the debate.

Time Slots during Discussion

The discussion will be conducted as follows:

  • All initiators of the motions, collectively, will be allocated a total of up to 30 minutes to present their concerns. The initial speaking time will be 15 minutes to present a statement. A further total of 15 minutes of speaking time are guaranteed later in the discussion.
  • The member organisation that is the subject of the concerns will be allocated up to 30 minutes to respond and present its position. The initial speaking time will be 15 minutes to present a statement. A further total of 15 minutes of speaking time are guaranteed later in the discussion.
  • Each other member organisation may make one oral contribution of up to 5 minutes. The presentation of a statement is limited to 3 minutes and 2 minutes are guaranteed later in the discussion.

These are the guaranteed times. These are the guaranteed times. If time allows, the Chair may allocate additional speaking opportunities to both those who have already spoken and those who have not yet taken the floor.

Time slots for oral contributions may be requested in advance of the meeting. Further details on how to request a time slot are provided below on this page. Member organisations that have not reserved a time slot in advance may still be given the opportunity to speak during the discussion round, subject to the availability of time.

Voting

All votes have to be casted through the online voting platform. Please note that only IFSW member organizations in good standing can participate. All votes will be submitted to the committee of tellers who will count the votes. This committee will comprise regional nominated representatives, who are not themselves allowed to vote.

Instructions on how to cast your votes will be posted here on or before 11 February 2026.

  • Voting Round 1 will address Question 1: “That the Member Organisation be expelled from IFSW.”
  • Voting Round 2 (if applicable) will address Question 2: “That the Member Organisation be suspended from IFSW.”

Both motions are proposed by Ireland and seconded by Greece and Spain.

Description of IFSW Membership States

Download the 2026 Special General Meeting Voting Manual

Should you have any questions in regards to the voting platform, please contact the Secretariat at .

To register, please complete and submit one form only per organisation. The completed form must be submitted no later than 11 February 2026:

Register

With regard to coordinating bodies, each coordinating body may nominate up to three delegates. However, only one delegate may cast votes on behalf of the coordinating body.

The IFSW Secretariat strongly encourages all member organisations to take part in the Special General Meeting online. All relevant documents to support preparation for the Special General Meeting will be made available on this page.

With regards to coordinating bodies, the number of delegates can be extended by written request to the President and Secretary-General, but only one person in a coordinating body can cast the votes on behalf of the body.

Only member organizations in good standing shall be entitled to cast their vote in accordance with the Constitution and the By-Laws.

It would be appreciated if all participants can register before 11 February 2026 to help IFSW Secretariat with the logistics.

A member organization may act as proxy for another member organization not in attendance. The proxy must be received by IFSW Interim Secretary-General Pascal Rudin () not later than the commencement of the Special General Meeting. Download the proxy form 

Descargar Formulario de otorgamiento de poder (en español)

Should you have any questions, please contact the Secretariat at .

Statements in this section reflect the views of the respective office bearers in the exercise of their roles. They are provided for transparency and information, and do not constitute positions or decisions of the Federation, the General Meeting, or the membership.

Background to current Censure prepared by Joachim Mumba, IFSW President

Antecedentes de la censura actual. Documento formulado por Joachim Mumba – Presidente de la FITS (ESPAÑOL)

 

Statement by the IFSW Asia-Pacific Region President

 

Statements in this section reflect the views of the respective office bearers in the exercise of their roles. They are provided for transparency and information, and do not constitute positions or decisions of the Federation, the General Meeting, or the membership.

Statement to the IFSW Special General Meeting by the IFSW Global Education Commissioner

Member Statements

All written statements received by the Secretariat will be posted here:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please send your statement to Lucia Gandolfi, . Deadline for written Statements: 5 February 2026.

Please note that submissions received after this date will still be uploaded to the website. We would, however, encourage you to submit your written statement by that date so that members have sufficient time to engage with the material in advance.

Oral Statements

Each other member organisation may make one oral contribution of up to 5 minutes.

Please register your time slot for oral contributions via this form no later than 11 February 2026: https://forms.office.com/e/3bcDaerd8h

Member organisations that have not reserved a time slot in advance may still be given the opportunity to speak during the discussion round, subject to the availability of time.

PROCEDURAL RULES FOR THE SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING

Download Procedural Rules

DESCARGAR NORMAS DE PROCEDIMIENTO (EN ESPAÑOL)

1. Purpose of the Meeting

1.1 These Procedural Rules govern the conduct of a Special General Meeting (“SGM”) convened for the purpose of determining whether a Member Organisation shall:
(a) be expelled from IFSW; or
(b) be suspended from IFSW.

1.2 These Rules operationalize the provisions contained in the IFSW Constitution and IFSW By-Laws, including but not limited to Articles 6 and 7 and By-Laws 4 and 5.

2. Convening Authority and Notice Requirements

2.1 In accordance with the Constitution, the SGM may be convened:
(a) by the President at the direction of the Executive Committee; or
(b) upon written request of not less than one-fifth of Members in good standing.

2.2 Members in good standing are those not suspended or expelled and current on dues.

2.3 Notice of the SGM, including date and preliminary agenda, shall be circulated to all Members and to the Executive Committee not less than 90 days prior to the SGM.

2.4 The notice period may be reduced to 30 days if so decided by the President, provided the business of the meeting is strictly limited to matters included in the preliminary agenda.

3. Agenda and Documentation

3.1 The Agenda shall set out the sanction questions in explicit form.

3.2 In accordance with By-Law 4.5, the Secretary-General shall circulate to all Member Organisations a written report detailing the grounds for proposed suspension or expulsion not less than 30 days prior to the SGM.

3.3 In accordance with By Law 11, any question, resolution or motion for voting that is referred to in the Agenda shall require both a proposer and a seconder, who shall be identified prior to the vote being taken.

3.4 No sanction may be voted upon unless procedural compliance with By-Law 4.4 and 4.5 has been satisfied.

4. Due Process and Right of Defence

4.1 In accordance with By-Law 4.4, the SGM shall ensure that the Member concerned is given:
(a) reasonable opportunity to explain or defend itself; and
(b) reasonable opportunity to respond to claims or allegations.

4.2 The Member concerned and/or the proposer and seconder of the motion or question under consideration may submit written representations and may also be heard orally at the Special General Meeting. Oral submissions will be limited to a maximum of twenty minutes.

4.3 Any member with an interest in the matter may submit written arguments, preferably no later than two weeks prior to the Special General Meeting. These submissions will be uploaded to the Special General Meeting platform for the information and consideration of all members. Alternatively, members may notify the Interim Secretary-General of their intention to make an oral submission during the meeting. Oral submissions will be limited to a maximum of five minutes.

4.4 The SGM may set reasonable time limits for oral interventions to ensure fairness and efficiency.

5. Quorum

5.1 A quorum of the General Meeting shall consist of representatives present in person at the opening of the meeting, representing at least one-third of the Members with voting rights and in good standing, in accordance with Article 11(d). For the avoidance of doubt, ‘present in person’ includes online or virtual participation by the representative themselves, but does not include participation through an avatar, proxy recording, or other non-human representation.

5.2 Quorum for business includes all Members present and entitled to vote, provided they are in good standing.

5.3 Members are therefore strongly encouraged to ensure that their duly authorised representatives are present at the announced starting time of the SGM, as quorum is determined at the opening of the meeting.

5.4 The quorum is deemed satisfied unless challenged before the vote is taken. If challenged, the Chair shall verify quorum before proceeding.

6. Voting Entitlement and Voting Principle

6.1 Voting shall be on a one Member, one vote basis.

6.2 Only Members in good standing may vote.

7. Form of Questions and Sequencing of Votes

7.1 The SGM shall consider the following propositions in hierarchical sequence:
Question 1: “That the Member Organisation be expelled from IFSW.”
Question 2: “That the Member Organisation be suspended from IFSW.”

7.2 No direct vote on retention shall be taken; retention results from the failure of both Questions 1 and 2.

7.3 A vote on Question 2 shall occur only if Question 1 fails to reach the required threshold.

7.4 This sequencing reflects the legal hierarchy whereby expulsion is the most severe sanction and suspension is the lesser.

8. Voting Thresholds

8.1 In accordance with By-Law 4.3, expulsion and suspension require:
a 75% majority of Members present and voting.

8.2 Members who abstain shall not be counted as ‘voting,’ since to abstain means to withhold a vote on a particular question. An abstention indicates a decision not to register a vote either for or against the motion – that is, a choice not to use a vote.

8.3 If Question 1 obtains ≥75% in favour, the Member is expelled and no further sanction vote shall be taken.

8.4 If Question 1 fails but Question 2 obtains ≥75% in favour, the Member is suspended.

8.5 If neither Question 1 nor Question 2 obtains ≥75%, the Member retains membership.

9. Ballots and Voting Method

9.1 Voting shall take place during the Special General Meeting without a separate or dedicated voting slot. Representatives must therefore be present and prepared to vote at any time during the announced meeting hours.

9.2 Voting shall occur by secret ballot unless the SGM decides otherwise by simple majority.

9.3 Ballot papers shall contain the resolution text and the following options:
□ For □ Against □ Abstain

9.4 An electronic voting system shall be used where appropriate and shall be capable of conducting secret ballots, provided that secrecy, integrity, and auditability are ensured.

10. Scrutineers and Observers

10.1 The Chair shall appoint two independent scrutineers to supervise balloting and counting.

10.2 Scrutineers shall verify eligibility, count ballots, and report results to the Chair.

10.3 The Member concerned may nominate one observer to observe counting for transparency.

11. Announcement of Results

11.1 Results shall be announced numerically with the following information:
(a) total ballots cast
(b) votes for
(c) votes against
(d) abstentions
(e) calculation of percentage in favour

11.2 The Chair shall immediately declare the outcome per Section 8.

12. Appeals and Challenges

12.1 Challenges to procedure must be raised before announcement of results.

12.2 Challenges to the validity of the vote may be submitted in writing to the Executive Committee within 30 days of the SGM.

12.3 The filing of an appeal does not stop or delay implementation of the sanction, unless the Executive Committee expressly orders otherwise.

13. Time Limits

13.1 Time limits for speakers, the presentation of evidence, or procedural motions may be adopted by a simple majority of the Special General Meeting. Any such adoption will be based on the time-limit proposals made pursuant to Article 4 (Due Process and Right of Defence), Sub-Articles 4.3 and 4.4 of the procedural rules paper for the Special General Meeting.

14. Minutes and Record

14.1 Full Minutes shall be taken, including:
(a) procedural rulings
(b) interventions by the Member concerned
(c) the wording of resolutions
(d) vote counts
(e) declared outcomes

14.2 Minutes shall be circulated to Members within 60 days.

15. Effect of Sanction

15.1 Expulsion takes effect immediately upon declaration of results.

15.2 Suspension takes effect immediately.

16. Reinstatement

16.1 Reinstatement following violation-based sanctions shall follow By-Law 5.3 and 5.4 and require:
(a) recommendation of the Executive Committee; and
(b) majority vote of Members present and voting at a General Meeting.

16.2 The foregoing shall be subject to the reinstatement provisions set out in By-Law 5

17. Non-Rule Explanation

17.1 These procedural rules:

a) align fully with the Constitution & By-Laws
b) protect due process and defensibility
c) prevent contradictory outcomes
d) provide a clear path for restoration (reinstatement)
e) ensure transparency and legitimacy
f) preserve one-Member-one-vote principle

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