STATUTES - Details

Effective as amended on 18 July 2003

Chapter 1 General Rule

Chapter 2 Aims and Objectives

1. cooperate in the development of a regional geographic information infrastructure;
2. contribute to the development of the global geographic information infrastructure;
3. share experiences and consult on matters of common interest; and
4. participate in any other form of activity such as education, training, and technology transfer.

1. Institutional Framework which defines the policy, legislative and administrative arrangement for building, maintaining, accessing and applying standards and fundamental datasets
2. Technical Standards which define the technical characteristics of fundamental datasets
3. Fundamental Datasets which include the geodetic framework, topographic data bases and cadastral data bases
4. Technological Framework which enables users to identify and access fundamental datasets

• national or regional land administration;
• land rights and tenure;
• resource management and conservation; and
• economic development,

1. To define the nature of a regional geographic information infrastructure that each country in the region can contribute to in order to meet regional and global mapping and GIS requirements.
2. To determine the nature of legislative and administrative procedures and orders appropriate to the acquisition and sharing of spatial data.
3. To develop a regional geodetic framework, regional topographic datasets, national cadastral datasets and regional geographical names datasets as the basis for regional GIS activity.
4. To document the status of key geographic datasets and key agencies in each member nation, and develop a framework for the exchange of such information.
5. To prepare guidelines and strategies to assist member nations for the implementation of cadastral development to meet individual member nation needs.
6. To determine the need for research, training and technology and policy exchange in relation to the beneficial impact of geographic information on the social, economic and environmental objectives of member nations of Asia and the Pacific region.
7. To explore opportunities for aid funding to support development needs of member nations and for the development of a regional spatial data infrastructure.

• UNRCC for the Americas;
• International Steering Committee for Global Mapping (ISCGM)
• ESCAP Regional Space Applications Program (RSAP);
• EUROGI and EUROGEOGRAPHICS;
• GSDI Steering Committee;
• ISO TC 211;
• International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG);
• International Federation of Surveyors (FIG);
• International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS); and
• International Cartographic Association (ICA).

Chapter 3 Composition of Committee

• The Committee shall elect an Executive Board consisting of:-
  The President
  The Vice President
  Secretary,
  and up to nine other Members

• The term of the Executive Board shall be the period between United Nations Regional Cartographic conferences, currently about three years.
• The President, Vice President, Secretary and Executive Board Members shall be elected at the Committee meeting held in conjunction with the United Nations Regional Cartographic Conference for Asia and the Pacific (UNRCC-AP).
• The President, Vice President and Secretary may be re-elected, but shall not serve more than two consecutive terms in that office.
• If a vacancy occurs in the Presidency during the period between UNRCC-AP meetings, the Vice President shall act in that capacity until the next Committee meeting, at which a President shall be elected.
• If a vacancy occurs in the Vice Presidency or Secretary during the period between UNRCC-AP meetings the Executive Board may nominate a member of the Board to act in that capacity until the next Committee meeting.
• In the event of any other vacancy occurring in the Executive Board in the period between the UNRCC-AP meetings, the Executive Board, after consultation with the respective national member organization, shall appoint a replacement from the same nation if that nation has someone available, and if not, then nominations will be sought from other member nations, as the replacement member to serve until the next UNRCC-AP meeting. Should more than one nation nominate to fill the vacancy, an election by the Committee will be held to determine the new Board member.
• Each Working Group shall, where possible, be chaired by a member of the Executive Board, but if this is not the case then Chairs of Working Groups will be ex officio members of the Executive Board, and be in addition to the defined Executive Board positions.

1. plan and coordinate the Committee work program between plenary sessions of the Committee;
2. in consultation with the United Nations, plan and manage the activities that the Committee undertakes for the UNRCC-AP;
3. manage the continuing administrative affairs of the Committee;
4. define, monitor and assess the regional spatial data infrastructure;
5. make recommendations on objectives, and on activities and work programs to the Committee;
6. arrange and manage publications including directories, internet sites and promotional material, and to distribute appropriate documents to Members, individuals and organizations concerned;
7. coordinate funding proposals to aid agencies;
8. prepare and submit reports on activities of the Committee to the UNRCC-AP;
9. take opportunities to give presentations to related bodies such as ISO/TC211, ISCGM, the GSDI Steering Committee and other bodies (contained in the schedule referred to under Article 6 of these Statutes), at conferences and other relevant events.

1. The Executive Board shall meet at least once a year. The date and place shall be determined by the Executive Board and an official meeting shall consist of at least fifty per cent of the members of that Executive Board.
2. The meetings of the Board shall be governed by the Rules and Procedures set down for the Committee.
3. The President shall chair the meetings of both the Committee and the Board.
4. The Executive Board should operate primarily through e-mail, with ad hoc meetings between the full Committee meetings only as required.

1. Working Groups may be established, with the approval of the Committee, to carry out the objectives of the Committee.
2. Working Groups may initiate and terminate projects in areas of concern to the Committee.
3. Working Groups shall report regularly and at not less than six monthly intervals to the Committee on their activities, together with recommendations for consideration by the Committee.
4. Each Working Group shall, where possible, be chaired by a Member of the Exectuive Board, but in the case of a Working Group Chair not being a Board Member then he/she will be an ex officio member of the Board.
5. Working Group Chairs are able to appoint coordinators for key activities within their work program and these coordinators would report to the Working Group Chairs.
6. In so far as they are applicable the Rules and Procedures set down for the Committee shall apply to the proceedings of the working groups.

Chapter 4 Committee Meetings

• The format should be that of a conference, with both invited and presented papers. Attendance should comprise country delegations led by the Committee member.
• The Executive Board, along with the Member from the host country, should be responsible for organising the conference agenda, including identification of the Chairman and invited speakers.
• The United Nations should continue providing administrative support, including the issuing of invitations, provision of translation facilities, and publication of proceedings.
• Some sessions of each UNRCC-AP meeting should be run as part of the PCGIAP meeting.
• Key elements of the conference would include:
  • report from the Executive Board covering achievements over the three year period since the previous Conference, and plans for the following three years, for consideration by the Conference; the three year planning cycle coinciding with the UNRCC-AP meeting dates.
  • invited presentations on global and other UNRCC developments; and
  • national reports from participating countries.
• Resolutions of the UNRCC-AP should be categorised, with those requiring action to include the person or agency responsible, and the due date. The Committee should include all UNRCC-AP resolutions on its web site, along with a statement of the status of the action items. The UNRCC-AP agenda should include an item for review of the status of "Action resolutions" from the previous UNRCC-AP meeting, with the Executive Board providing a written report as the basis for the review.

• The Committee should meet once per year, with every third meeting being incorporated within the UNRCC-AP.
• The format of these meetings should be that of a committee, focused on work plans and technical issues.
• Attendance should be limited to the Committee Member (head of national surveying and mapping agency, or equivalent), a small number of technical advisers, and invited observers. The key elements of the meetings would be:
  • standing agenda items;
  • Working Group progress reports and plans; and
  • Working Group technical meetings.

Chapter 5 Finance and Expenses

• Expenses for arranging the Committee and Board meetings shall be borne by the host country.
• Expenses for the administration of the Committee and Board shall be met by the Members according to their respective responsibilities.

• The Committee may invite Members to make a financial contribution, in order to achieve some special purpose or objectives approved by the Committee.
• The Board may also invite financial support from other sponsors.

Chapter 6 General

• The Statutes may be amended at a Committee meeting by a two-thirds majority of those voting.Members unable to attend a Committee meeting may nominate in writing another Member to vote on their behalf.
• Any proposal for amendment shall be submitted to the Secretary in time for inclusion in the notice of meeting and agenda.
• Statutes should be a standing agenda item of Board meetings and Committee meetings.

Chapter 7 Rules of Procedure for Committee and Board Meetings

I. Officers

II. Secretariat

III. Conduct of Business

• No one may address the Committee without having previously obtained the permission of the President. The President shall call upon speakers in the order in which they have signified their desire to speak.
• Debate shall be confined to the question before the Committee and the President may call a speaker to order if his remarks are not relevant to the subject under discussion.

IV. Voting

V. Official and Working Languages

VI. Public and Private Meetings

VII. Participation of Advisors and Observers

VIII. General

Return to Home Page