NGO Statute

This is a translation of the official statutes, which were adopted in French on 15 February 2026.

Legal form, purpose and registered office

Art. 1 A non-profit association is hereby established under the name Mukti Switzerland, governed by these statutes and by Articles 60 et seq. of the Swiss Civil Code. It is politically neutral and denominationally independent.

Art. 2 The purpose of the Association is to:

  • serve as a structured platform for fundraising and donor engagement in Switzerland and Europe;
  • ensure governance, compliance and financial transparency in accordance with Swiss standards;
  • act as a bridge between Swiss stakeholders and the field programmes of Mukti India;
  • support thematic areas such as climate resilience, education, livelihoods, health and women-led development.

To achieve this purpose, the Association develops in particular:

  1. The Mukti Kishalaya Support School (MKSS) project: it provides primary education to young learners in classes I to IV (ages 6 to 10) while empowering unemployed local women as teachers.

The main objectives are as follows:

  • to build a solid learning foundation for classes I to IV;
  • to create dignified jobs for local women who have completed their education.

Suraksha Songlap project: a 12-month, school-based gender-equality initiative designed to strengthen awareness, preparedness and shared responsibility among adolescent girls and boys in order to prevent and respond to risks related to violence, abuse and exploitation.

Art. 3 The registered office of the Association is at Chemin de Coumont 6, St Saphorin 1071.

Its duration is unlimited.

Organisation

Art. 4 The bodies of the Association are:

  • the General Meeting;
  • the Committee.

Art. 5 The resources of the Association consist of ordinary or extraordinary membership fees, donations or bequests, proceeds from the Association’s activities and, where applicable, public grants.

The financial year begins on 1 January and ends on 31 December of each year.

The Association’s commitments are guaranteed by its assets, to the exclusion of any personal liability of its members.

Members

Art. 6 Any person or organisation interested in achieving the objectives set out in Art. 2 may become a member.

Art. 8 Applications for admission are addressed to the Committee. The Committee decides on the admission of new members and informs the General Meeting.

Art. 9 Membership is lost:

  • a) by resignation. In all cases the subscription for the current year remains due.
  • b) by expulsion, if a member harms the Association, its image, reputation or interests. Repeated non-payment of subscriptions also leads to expulsion.

Expulsion is a matter for the Committee. The person concerned may appeal against that decision to the General Meeting.

General Meeting

Art. 10 The General Meeting is the supreme body of the Association. It comprises all of its members.

Art. 11 The powers of the General Meeting are as follows; it:

  • adopts the agenda of the meeting and approves the minutes of the previous meeting;
  • takes note of the reports, the accounts for the financial year and the budget, and votes on their approval;
  • discharges the Committee from its mandate;
  • appoints the members of the Committee;
  • adopts and amends the statutes;
  • hears and deals with expulsion appeals;
  • takes a position on the other items placed on the agenda.

The General Meeting may take up or be seised of any matter that it has not entrusted to another body.

Art. 12 The General Meeting meets at least once a year when convened by the Committee.

The Committee may convene extraordinary general meetings as often as necessary. An extraordinary General Meeting shall also be held at the request of at least one fifth of the members of the Association.

Art. 13 Meetings are convened by the Committee at least 20 calendar days in advance. The notice is sent by email and includes the agenda of the meeting.

If the Committee considers it necessary, the meeting may also be held by electronic means.

Art. 14 The Committee must place on the agenda of the General Meeting (ordinary or extraordinary) any proposal from a member submitted by email at least 10 calendar days in advance.

Art. 15 The meeting is chaired by the President of the Association or by another member proposed by the Committee.

The Secretary of the Association or another member of the Committee takes the minutes of the Meeting; they are signed together with the person who chaired the meeting.

Art. 16 Decisions of the General Meeting are taken by a simple majority of the votes cast, without taking into account abstentions and any spoilt ballots. In the event of a tie, the chair of the meeting has the casting vote.

Decisions relating to the amendment of the statutes may be taken only by a two-thirds majority of the members present.

Art. 17 Votes are taken by show of hands. At the request of at least 5 members, they shall be held by secret ballot. There is no proxy voting.

Committee

Art. 18 The Committee implements and applies the decisions of the General Meeting. It manages the Association and takes all appropriate measures to achieve the stated purpose. The Committee decides on all matters that are not expressly reserved to the General Meeting.

Art. 19 The Committee consists of at least three members, appointed for two years by the General Meeting and eligible for re-election.

Art. 20 The Committee constitutes itself. It meets as often as the business of the Association requires. If necessary, it may hold its meetings remotely by electronic means. Failing consensus, decisions are taken by an absolute majority of the members present.

Art. 21 In the event of a vacancy during a term of office, the Committee may co-opt a replacement until the next General Meeting.

OPTION Art. XX

Members of the Association’s Committee work on a voluntary basis, subject to reimbursement of their actual expenses. The Association’s mission is in the public interest.

Art. 22 The Association is validly bound by the joint signature of two members of the Committee.

Art. 23 The Committee is responsible for:

  • taking appropriate measures to achieve the stated objectives;
  • convening ordinary and extraordinary general meetings;
  • taking decisions relating to the admission and possible expulsion of members;
  • ensuring the application of the statutes, drafting regulations and administering the assets of the Association;
  • keeping the Association’s accounts.

Art. 24 The Committee hires (and dismisses) the Association’s paid and volunteer staff. It may entrust any person within or outside the Association with a time-limited mandate.

Audit body

Art. 25 At the request of the General Meeting or the Committee, an audit body verifies the financial management of the Association and presents a report to the General Meeting. It is appointed by the General Meeting from outside the members of the Committee.

Dissolution

Art. 26 Dissolution of the Association is decided by the General Meeting by a two-thirds majority of the members present. It must be mentioned in the notice convening that meeting. Any remaining assets shall be transferred to a Swiss institution that is tax-exempt by reason of its public-benefit or public-service purpose.

These statutes were adopted by videoconference at the constitutive meeting of 15 February 2026.