CONSTITUTION OF STIRLING PALESTINE SOLIDARITY CAMPAIGN

Aims and Principles

1. Founded on 22 September 2005 the group shall be called Stirling Palestine Solidarity Campaign herein referred to as the Stirling Palestine Group (SPG) or the Group.
2. The SPG is a group where all decisions of policy etc are reflective of its own members at meetings. The SPG is an affiliated branch of the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign.
3. The SPG aims to raise awareness of Palestine to the people of Stirling and Central Scotland/Forth Valley. The SPG stands for solidarity with the people of Palestine in their struggle to achieve a peaceful settlement to the Israel-Palestine conflict but there can’t be peace without justice.  SPG stands for solidarity with the people of Palestine in their struggle to achieve the following;

a) Stop the Wall - The barrier (known as the Wall) that upon completion will annexe over 10% of the ‘bread-basket’ of the West Bank. The SPG believe that the barrier should be removed completely. The land annexed and/or destroyed shall be returned to the original Palestinian owners of the land before the barriers construction and compensation should be paid by the Israeli government to those Palestinians.

b) Dismantle the Settlements – We note the illegal settlements in the West Bank including East Jerusalem. SPG believe that all these settlements should be removed in line with the Gaza withdrawal and the strategic military outposts within the OPT (Occupied Palestinian Territories) be dismantled.

c) End the Occupation - The Israeli Defence Force occupy the West Bank and E Jerusalem. The SPG support the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the OPT.

d) Right to Education - The right of Palestinians to education, which the above restrict.

e) Right of Return – The SPG supports the Palestinian right to return stipulated under UN resolution 194.

3. The Group will oppose discrimination in any form on the basis of race, religion, language, nationality, sex, sexual orientation, age or disability. The group also opposes State Terrorism. We condemn the actions of the Israel State because we believe it is they who are hindering the Universal right to education in Palestine and infringing on the human rights of Palestinians.

Structures and Procedures

1. The SPG will preferably meet on the first and third Tuesday of every month except in January were a meeting shall be held in the third week of the month. Unless requested by at least ten members meetings shall not take place in June or July due to the holidays. Meetings shall be held on rotation in Salsa Alba Lounge (behind Albion Bar) or in the Stirling Islamic Centre or at Stirling University.
2 The SPG will hold an event on Holocaust Memorial Day at the end of January.
3. Minutes or Action Points will be taken at every meeting and distributed to all members of the SPG by email at least 1 week before the next meeting.
4. The SPG shall have a web site and email list to keep members informed of the progress of the campaigns.

Membership
1.A member of the group is someone who accepts the aims and objectives of the group and agrees to abide by the constitution.
2. No membership charge is payable for being in the SPG.

3. The group shall organise fundraising events to generate any money needed for the group’s costs.

Positions and decision making

1. The group shall elect a Secretary, a Facilitator, Publicity organiser and a Treasurer annually in October. Members will be allowed to volunteer for the position of vice-secretary, vice-facilitator, vice-publicity organiser and vice-treasurer. Representatives to Birzeit University Twinning Working Group (BUTWG) shall be elected prior to the commencement of the first University Semester.
2. All members will be kept informed of all major decisions made between meetings via email.
3. a) Sub-groups and can be established at the fortnightly meetings. Any decisions made by these groups can be overturned via a vote called by any member at a monthly meeting were it will then be discussed at the meeting. b) There shall be a Publicity Team and a Fundraising Team.  
4. The SPG note the importance of having a balance of students and non-students within elected positions for the success of the group and therefore will continuously strive for a balance. The Group shall also aim for gender equality for all its elected reps and sub group members where necessary however there should not be any mechanism implemented unless agreed by a consensus.
5. Group decisions will aim to be made by consensus. When this is not possible a vote shall be taken. Changes to the constitution will require a two-thirds majority at a special meeting; members shall be made aware of proposed changes to the constitution two weeks in advance.