Part One
Name, objectives and means
Chapter One
Name, motto and headquarters
Article (1):
a. Name: Mauritanian Journalists’ Union.
b. Union motto: Freedom, solidarity, professionalism.
Article (2), new: The Union’s headquarters are in Nouakchott. If necessary, they may be moved to any Mauritanian city permanently or temporarily by decision of the Union’s Executive Board. Branches may also be opened elsewhere in the country after approval by its executive body.
Chapter Two
Principles and objectives
Article (3): The Mauritanian Journalists’ Union is a professional organisation with legal personality comprising journalists admitted to membership under the conditions of these statutes.
Article (4), new: The Mauritanian Journalists’ Union aims to:
1- Protect journalists’ unity, defend their material and moral rights, and provide full support and care to improve the journalism profession and strengthen the values of freedom, democracy and justice in public life.
2- Improve their professional standards and living conditions.
3- Protect journalists from arbitrary measures or persecution arising from their opinions or any other reason connected with practising their profession.
4- Develop journalism in form and substance so that it can fulfil its noble mission and consolidate press freedoms, the foundations of democratic life, and freedom to express opinions and differing views.
5- Work seriously and responsibly towards national legislation strengthening press freedom and helping keep pace with contemporary changes.
6- Promote professional and ethical compliance with the Mauritanian Journalists’ Union’s code of ethics and embody its values to ensure credibility, seek the truth and communicate it to the public.
7- Affirm shared national values, put the democratic approach into practice, and promote professional renewal and creativity.
8- Deepen and develop relations with professional unions and civil society organisations in order to build a modern society.
9- Deepen and develop union and professional relations with Arab and foreign journalists’ federations and unions, and with regional and international professional organisations and federations, to strengthen the Union’s role and develop professional and union expertise.
Part Two
Bodies and powers
Chapter One
Structures and bodies
Article (5): The Union comprises the following bodies:
1- The General Assembly.
2- The Union Council.
3- The Executive Board.
Chapter Two
General Assembly
Article (6), new: The General Assembly comprises all Union members entered on the membership register who meet the conditions defined in accordance with articles 5 and 6 of Ordinance No. 017 of 2006 on freedom of the press. Those articles define a journalist as anyone who practises journalism professionally and regularly and derives their main livelihood from it, whether in a publication, an agency, a radio station, an audiovisual or audio channel, or any other media organisation publishing in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania. The definition includes equivalent contributors in the news sector, such as editors, directors and photographers, otherwise described as participants in producing and disseminating news. Advertising agents are excluded from this definition.
A person holding a journalism diploma with at least two years of professional experience in a public or private print, audiovisual or audio medium is also considered a professional journalist, as is a person with intermediate-level training and at least 4 years of experience.
Membership requirements
1- Be a Mauritanian national.
2- Be at least 20 years old.
3- Not have been convicted of an offence involving dishonour or dishonesty, unless legally rehabilitated.
5- Work regularly in journalistic editing for a regularly issued publication covering public affairs, a news agency, radio or television news editing, or an electronic news publication meeting the institutional requirements applicable to printed newspapers.
7- Not be subject to any legal provision preventing membership.
Applicants for membership must include the following documents in their file:
1- A certified true copy of the university qualification or a certificate of professional experience.
2- A certified true copy of the employment certificate from the press organisation employing the applicant, or of the appointment decision in a public press organisation.
3- A copy of the identity card.
4- A certificate of the latest salary statement.
5- The completed membership registration application form, accompanied by proof of payment of the 2000 ouguiya membership application fee.
6- An accreditation letter for correspondents of foreign media who meet the membership requirements specified above.
7- Four 4X6 identity photographs.
At its annual session, the Union Council grants honorary membership to distinguished figures outside the journalism profession
who work to support and advance the profession and strengthen press freedoms.
Article (7): The General Assembly holds an ordinary session every three years. It may meet in an extraordinary session upon a call by the Executive Board or two thirds of its members, or following a request signed by one third of all General Assembly members whose subscriptions are paid. Extraordinary sessions may discuss only the items included in the notice convening them.
Article (8): The General Assembly is the Union’s highest authority.
Article (9): The Assembly’s powers are as follows:
1- Elect the chairing body and committees of the congress.
2- Adopt the congress agenda.
3- Discuss the reports submitted by the Union’s Executive Council and take appropriate decisions concerning them.
4- Discuss and approve the financial report for the period between two sessions.
5- Discuss and approve amendments to the statutes and code of ethics.
6- Elect the Union President and members of the Executive Council.
7- Set the broad outlines of Union policy between sessions and issue such decisions and recommendations as it considers appropriate for implementation by the Executive Board.
Article (10), new: An ordinary or extraordinary session of the General Assembly reaches quorum when half the active members plus one are present. If quorum is not reached at the first meeting, the Assembly is called to another meeting within one week and convenes with one third of the members. If one third is not present, a third meeting is called one week later and convenes with those present.
It is put to an initial vote at the opening meeting. If it is not approved, proposals for an alternative agenda are invited and put to a vote; the proposal receiving the largest number of votes from those present is adopted.
Two hours after the scheduled time, registration reopens for one additional hour. If quorum is again not reached, the Assembly is postponed until the following day. If quorum is still unavailable, the congress may convene on the third day with one third of the members. The Assembly is postponed for three months if quorum is not reached, and the Executive Board continues managing the Union’s affairs during that period.
Article (12): General Assembly decisions and recommendations are valid upon approval by a majority of those present, except adoption or amendment of the statutes, which requires a majority of the General Assembly’s members.
Article (13): The Executive Board prepares the General Assembly agenda at least ten days before it convenes.
Article (14), new: Decisions and recommendations issued by the General Assembly’s general congress are binding on the Executive Council and other bodies, which must assume responsibility for implementing them.
Article (15), new: (a) Nominations for President and membership of the Executive Board open twenty-five days before the congress and remain open for ten days. After nominations close, five days are allowed for withdrawals and appeals. The list of candidates becomes final after that period.
(b) 20 per cent of the seats voted on for membership of the Executive Board are reserved for women journalists. This percentage is calculated from the total number of Executive Board members, including the Union President.
(c) Candidates are elected by list through a free, direct and secret ballot by the General Assembly members present at the voting meeting.
(d) The list receiving the most votes from those present wins. If two lists obtain equal votes, a second round is held. If the second round does not determine the result, it is decided by drawing lots.
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Chapter Three
Union Council: composition and duties
Article (16), new: The Union Council consists of 79 members, including the Executive Board members, and is elected by the General Assembly.
Article (17), new: The Union Council meets twice a year, chaired by the Union President or an Executive Board member delegated by the President. It may hold an extraordinary session upon a call by the Executive Board or at the request of two thirds of its members.
Article (18), new: In its ordinary sessions, the Union Council performs the following duties:
1. Discuss and approve the final accounts of the completed financial year.
2. Discuss and approve the estimated budget for the new year.
3- Discuss and approve the annual reports submitted by the Executive Council on the Union’s activities during the previous year and proposed plans for the new year.
1. Discuss and approve the state of relations with professional unions and local civil society organisations, Arab and foreign journalists’ federations and unions, and regional and international professional organisations and federations.
5- Review the Membership Committee’s report on the membership roll and registration records, and offer observations and recommendations concerning it.
6- Discuss and approve regulations issued by the Executive Board and any proposals or projects adopted by the Executive Council.
7- Ratify decisions of the Council for the Protection of the Profession imposing expulsion.
-8 The Union Council may form specialised committees from among its members to carry out these duties, and may draw on other expertise within or outside the Union.
Chapter Four
Executive Board: composition and duties
Article (19): The Executive Board is the Union’s executive body. It is accountable to the General Assembly for all its duties under these statutes and to the Union Council under article (18).
Article (20): The Executive Council consists of the Union President and sixteen members elected every three years at the general congress.
Article (21), new: (a) The Executive Board comprises:
1- The Union President.
2- The Union Delegate.
3- The Secretary-General.
4- The Deputy Secretary-General.
5- The officer responsible for training and skills improvement.
6- The officer responsible for the professional ethics charter.
7 The officer responsible for press freedoms.
8- The officer responsible for legal affairs.
9- The officer responsible for the Activities and Public Relations Committee.
10- The officer responsible for sections and associations.
11- The officer responsible for women journalists’ affairs.
11- The officer responsible for external relations.
12- The officer responsible for disputes and complaints.
13- The officer responsible for culture and media.
14- The officer responsible for the Journalists’ Solidarity Fund.
15- The officer responsible for legal affairs.
16- The officer responsible for finance and services.
17- The auditor.
Article (22): (a) The Executive Board meets under the Union President’s chairmanship at least once a month and may hold extraordinary meetings whenever necessary. In both cases, the meeting is valid with half the members plus one present. The Council takes decisions by majority; in a tie, the Union President has the casting vote. Decisions are communicated to members by announcement and publication.
(b) A Board member’s membership lapses automatically under the statutes after absence from six consecutive meetings without an acceptable excuse. The member is replaced by the next member in the Executive Board’s order or by a person proposed by the Board. If an Executive Board member resigns from Council membership, and the Board accepts that resignation, the member’s task within the Board is assigned to the next member in order.
(c) The Union’s Secretary-General prepares Council meeting agendas, records the minutes and decisions in the appropriate registers, and submits them for signature by the Union President and the members who attended.
Article (23): On the recommendation of its committee, the Executive Board appoints the staff required for administrative and financial work. Article (24): The Executive Board defines each employee’s duties and responsibilities in internal regulations that it issues.
Article (25), new: The Executive Board performs the following duties:
1- Establish the regulations needed to conduct Union business and appropriate plans and programmes to improve its performance.
2- Preserve the Union’s independence and unity, and protect and develop the profession.
3- Defend the interests of the Union and its members.
4- Call General Assembly and Union Council members to ordinary and extraordinary congresses and prepare for them.
5- Prepare the annual budget and final accounts.
6- Prepare annual reports for submission to the Union Council meeting.
7- Implement General Assembly decisions and recommendations.
8- Approve branches’ draft plans and annual financial budgets and manage their activities.
9- Approve the allocations needed to conduct Union business.
10- Accept government assistance and other donations, gifts and support from other bodies in accordance with these statutes.
11- Work to implement the statutes and comply with the journalistic code of ethics.
12- Prepare regulations governing the Union’s work.
13- Appoint Union representatives to other bodies and institutions and form delegations to professional conferences, seminars and events at national, Arab and international levels.
14- Exercise any other powers assigned to it and provided for in these statutes.
Chapter Five
Council Committee: composition and duties
Article (26), new: The Executive Board Committee comprises five members, chaired by the Union President, with the Union Delegate, Secretary-General, chair of the Freedoms Committee and chair of the Training and Skills Improvement Committee as members.
Article (27): The Committee performs the following duties:
1- Manage the Union’s daily activities and make the necessary recommendations, subject to ratification by the Executive Board.
2- Communicate Executive Board decisions to General Assembly members through the sections or by announcement and publication.
3- Prepare agendas for ordinary and extraordinary Executive Board meetings.
4- Take urgent measures when any Union member is subjected to arbitrary practices by any body.
5- Carry out tasks assigned by the Executive Board.
Chapter Six
Powers of the Union President and the Executive Board Committee
Article (29): The Journalists’ Union President exercises the following powers:
1- Oversee the administration of Union affairs and chair meetings of the Executive Board Committee, the Union Council and extraordinary General Assembly congresses.
2- Represent the Union before domestic and external bodies.
3- Monitor implementation of decisions by the General Assembly, Union Council, Executive Board and its Committee.
1. Endorse expenditure authorisations jointly signed by the Secretary-General and the officer responsible for finance and services.
5- Oversee application of the statutes and internal Union regulations issued by the Executive Board.
6- Sign all contracts and agreements approved by the Executive Board after their adoption by the Union Council.
7- Sign membership cards.
Article (30): The Union Delegate exercises the following powers:
1- Exercise the Union President’s powers in the President’s absence, when the President is unable to act, or as assigned by the President.
2- Perform the Union President’s work and duties if the President’s resignation is accepted or the office becomes vacant through death or any other cause under article 29, for no more than 30 days.
3- Chair the Membership Committee.
4- Submit a periodic report to the Executive Board on the results of the Membership Committee’s work.
5- Carry out any tasks assigned by the Executive Board or its Committee.
Article (31): The Secretary-General exercises the following powers:
1- Prepare Union Council, Executive Board and Committee meetings, oversee transactions within the Union and record them in registers.
2- Document Union activities and literature and monitor implementation of Union Council and Executive Board decisions.
3- Oversee Union activities and monitor those of section bodies and journalists’ committees.
4- Oversee the Union’s financial and administrative work.
5- Carry out any other tasks assigned by the Executive Board or its Committee.
Article (32), new: The finance officer exercises the following powers:
1- Submit the proposals needed to develop financial resources to the Executive Council for approval.
2- Establish an accurate, modern financial and accounting system based on varied funding sources and Union investment projects.
3- Monitor collection of members’ subscriptions and oversee purchasing, stores, supplies and expenditure.
4- Oversee the annual inventory of Union assets and property and retain title documents and other documents relating to financial affairs.
5- Sign expenditure documents and cheques with the Secretary-General.
6- Prepare the final accounts for the completed year and the draft budget.
7- Prepare plans for service projects benefiting journalists.
Part Three
Membership provisions, rights and duties
Chapter One
Composition and duties of the Membership Committee
Article (35): The Union Membership Committee consists of five members, chaired by the Union President, with four Executive Board members chosen by the Board from among its members.
Article (36): The Membership Committee considers applications for Union membership, examines applicants’ files and decides on them under these statutes.
Article (37): (a) The Membership Committee meets to decide applications twice a year, in the first week of March and the first week of September. It announces its decisions within thirty days after its meetings begin. On completion of the application review, the results of its work are announced and appeals are accepted within ten days after announcement.
(b) The Membership Committee takes decisions unanimously. If unanimity cannot be reached, the matter is referred to the Executive Board for a decision. A rejection must state its reasons, and the applicant is notified within two weeks after results are announced by registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt or by delivery to the applicant against a signed receipt.
Article (38): The Committee secretariat records meeting minutes and decisions in a special register with sequential numbering.
Article (39): The Committee secretariat receives membership applications and records them in a register with sequentially numbered pages, after confirming that the applicant has supplied the documents required by the membership conditions in these statutes.
Article (40): The Membership Committee holds one meeting each year to review the active membership roll, recommends to the Executive Council those it considers should be transferred to the inactive roll, and submits a report on the validity of membership.
Article (41): (a) The Committee secretariat organises and retains all rolls and registers, archives and preserves members’ files, and prepares annual membership-list tables.
(b) The Membership Committee concludes its work six months before any ordinary General Assembly session. Its work remains suspended if the session is postponed.
Chapter Two
Membership provisions and conditions
Article (43): Union membership is granted to anyone whose main, regular occupation is journalism in a media outlet and whose journalistic work is their main livelihood, under article (57). This includes:
1- The press editor.
2- The press photographer.
3- The press translator.
4- The cartoonist.
5- The radio and television news editor.
6- The press correspondent.
Article (44): A person whose membership application was rejected by the Membership Committee may reapply only when the reasons preventing acceptance have ceased and at least one year has elapsed since the rejection became final.
Article (45): An applicant whose application is rejected may challenge the decision before the Membership Appeals Committee within thirty days after notification.
Article (46): The conditions and procedures in these statutes apply to Mauritanian journalists working outside Mauritania.
Chapter Three
Membership rights and duties
Article (47): Union members enjoy the following rights:
1- Obtain accurate information from various sources in a manner enabling them to perform their work fully, with the Union requesting official bodies to facilitate this task.
2- Stand for election and elect members of the Union’s various bodies, and vote on resolutions of its congresses.
3- The Union bears the costs of advocacy and defence of members before the courts and public prosecution in cases concerning the expression of opinions.
4- Have the Union President or a Union Council member deputising for the President present when a journalist member is summoned before the public prosecution.
5- Work to prevent a journalist’s arrest for reasons related to freedom of opinion or practising their profession.
6- Receive Union support in the event of arbitrary dismissal by an employer until reinstatement or suitable alternative work in the same field is obtained.
7- Guarantee a Union member an independent pension and provide health insurance upon reaching retirement age, under the Social Solidarity Fund’s applicable system once the fund is established, begins operating and the system is implemented.
8- Access qualification and training courses available through the Union to improve professional and technical standards.
9- Receive the benefits and discounts that the Union may provide.
Article (48): Union members must fulfil the following duties:
1- Comply with the Union’s internal rules, General Assembly and Union Council decisions, and internal regulations.
2- Comply with the journalistic code of ethics and professional ethics.
3- Contribute actively to Union activities and preserve its unity.
4- Provide all citizens with a right of reply, in accordance with freedom of opinion and the expression of differing views.
5- Comply with disciplinary measures imposed on them by the Union.
6- Pay the monthly membership subscriptions set by the Executive Council.
7- Respect professional colleagues and not harm them personally in any manner.
Part Four
Disciplinary liability and penalties
Article (49): (a) Disciplinary measures and penalties apply to any member committing any of the following acts:
1- Breach of the duties specified in these statutes.
2- Breach of professional ethics and the profession’s noble mission.
3- Providing inaccurate information when applying for membership.
4- Breach of provisions of the journalistic code of ethics.
(b) A person found guilty is subject to one of the following penalties:
1) Oral admonition.
Written request for explanations.
3) Written warning.
5) Suspension of Union membership for no more than six months.
6) Permanent expulsion, which takes effect only after Union Council approval.
Article (51): No more than one of the preceding penalties may be imposed for a single violation committed by a Union member.
Part Five
Union finances
Article (52): The Union’s financial resources come from the following sources:
1- Members’ subscriptions.
2- The annual government subsidy.
3- Unconditional gifts, assistance and grants.
4- Membership application fees.
5- Investment returns, if any.
6- Any other lawful source approved by the General Assembly.
Article (53): The Executive Board issues financial regulations governing expenditure by the Council and branch bodies.
Article (54): The Executive Board is responsible for collecting, preserving and spending Union resources in accordance with the annual budget and the procedures set out in the financial and accounting regulations.
Article (55): (a) The Union’s financial year begins on the first of January and ends at the end of December of the same year.
(b) The Executive Board prepares final accounts for each completed financial year and an estimated budget for the new year, submitted to the General Council at its annual session.
Article (56): The Executive Board prepares the Union’s annual budget and submits it to the Union Council for approval. The financial and accounting regulations set out the rules and procedures for preparing estimated budgets and the deadlines for submitting them.
Article (57): If the Union Council cannot meet for any reason, the previous year’s estimated budget remains in effect until the General Council meets and approves the new budget.
Article (58): (a) Union funds and property may not be used for purposes other than those for which they are allocated or for purposes that do not serve its objectives.
(b) The Union’s cash funds are deposited in an account at an authorised bank, and withdrawals are made under the Union’s financial regulations; withdrawals are made under the financial regulations.
(c) Union funds are protected by all laws protecting public money.
Article (59): No expenditure exceeding the approved budget may be paid or charged to the Union.
Article (60): The finance officer must maintain records and books under recognised accounting principles. Expenditure is permitted only within budget allocations and with Executive Board approval for the central office or branch-body approval for a branch. Failure by the finance officer to maintain records gives rise to disciplinary accountability.
Article (61): The Union’s property and real estate belong to the General Assembly and may be disposed of only by its decision.
Article (62): The Executive Board issues financial regulations governing categories of expenditure and assistance.
General provisions
Article (64): (a) Only the General Assembly may adopt or amend the Union’s statutes.
(b) The Union’s statutes or any of their articles may not be suspended. The authority to review them belongs to the General Assembly.
Article (65): The Union may be dissolved and its funds liquidated only by a decision of all the General Assembly’s members or three quarters of them. The General Assembly determines the body to which the Union’s property passes.
Article (66): The Union President may not be elected for more than two consecutive terms.
Article (67): The Executive Board may establish funds and investment and administrative projects temporarily until the General Council’s first ordinary or extraordinary meeting. At that meeting, the Council ratifies the proposed regulations governing their activities and the appointment of their board of directors submitted by the Executive Council.
Article (68): Active membership may under no circumstances be withdrawn from a person without a university degree who acquired it before these statutes were adopted, on the ground of not holding that degree, for as long as the person continues practising journalism.
Article (69): A Union member may not bring proceedings against a fellow Union member before the courts or public prosecution in a matter connected with practising the profession without first obtaining litigation authorisation from the Executive Board.
Article (70): A Union member may not participate in General Assembly meetings and proceedings unless monthly subscriptions have been paid before they begin. A member may not benefit from services provided by the Union to its members unless those subscriptions are paid.
Article (71): Membership lapses automatically under the statutes for anyone proven to have submitted forged documents to obtain Union membership.