Constitution

The name of this Association remains as Asia Pacific Pediatric Association (APPA. The Association was formerly known as the Association of Pediatric Societies of the Southeast Asian Region (APSSEAR). APPA has been affiliated with the International Pediatric Association (IPA) since October 5th, 1974.

Vision : To enable every child and adolescent in the Asia Pacific Region to achieve their maximal potential.

Mission : To facilitate access to a better life for all children and adolescents in health, welfare, safety and equity, through leadership in advocacy, education and action in the Asia Pacific region.

3.1 The objective of the APPA shall be to promote the highest attainable standards of child health throughout the APPA region through this professional organization representing paediatricians of all APPA countries.

3.2 Plan of action

3.2.1    To achieve these objectives, APPA will represent member societies in working with the International Pediatric Association (IPA), professional organizations and other workgroups to:

1. Advocate for child health across and within member countries in the region
2. Facilitate opportunities in education and professional development for healthcare professionals in the region through the provision and coordination of training opportunities in child health
3. Undertake programmatic actions to address major local, regional and global child health issues

3.2.2    In addition, APPA will

1. Promote regional and international interaction and education in child health issues through regular hosting of the Asia Pacific Pediatric Congress (APCP), regional forums, and other activities
2. Foster and promote research in child and adolescent health
3. Facilitate and advance development in child health expertise and services especially in sub-specialized fields of pediatrics
4. Establish relationships with key strategic partners and stakeholders both regionally and internationally to broaden the effectiveness of the APPA in the global arena

4.1 Membership shall be composed of

(1) The national pediatric societies of nations located in the Asia and Pacific region, with each national society having only one vote. Eligibility for membership shall be determined by the Council of Delegates (CD). Each Member Society shall be represented by a Delegate who will serve on the CD, subject to the above.

There shall also be Associate Members which shall include regional federations or paediatric related associations. Associate Members can participate in meetings but have no voting rights. 

4.2 Applications for membership shall be made by National Delegates officially appointed by the national societies and shall be lodged with the Secretary-General of APPA at least six months before the next Council of Delegates (CD) Meeting so that they can be presented to the CD and be considered and voted at the CD meeting.

Applications for associate membership shall be made by the Associate society and submitted to the Secretary-General at least six months before the next Council of Delegates (CD) Meeting at which they are to be considered and shall be accompanied by a copy of the Constitution and By-Laws of the proposed associate society.

Termination of membership shall also be decided at the Council Meeting.

4.3 Member Societies shall pay dues according to the guidelines established by APPA and approved by the CD.

4.4 Failure of two dues payments will lead to suspension of membership until the next Council of Delegates meeting. The decision to terminate membership shall be decided at the Council of Delegates meeting. The termination clauses are as in the By-laws.

4.5 Each Member Society shall provide to the Secretary General of APPA with a list of the new officers and the number of members of the respective society immediately following each national election.

The APPA Secretariat shall be located in a city decided upon by the Council of Delegates. Historically, the inaugural secretariat of APSSEAR was in the city of Manila, Philippines. The location of the existing secretariat is in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, at the same location as the Secretary General to facilitate administrative work.

6.1 Standing Committee (SC)

The Standing Committee (SC) shall consist of 7 elected members and the APPA Executive Committee (EC) members.

Mechanism of the election of members to the Standing Committee will be developed by the Executive Committee (EC) / Standing Committee (SC) with approval at the Council of Delegates (CD) Meeting taking into account of the geographical regions.  The four geographic regions which shall duly elect total 7 representatives to represent Member Societies within their geographic region in SC are as follows:

• East Asia – 2 representatives
• South Asia – 2 representatives
• Southeast Asia - 2 representatives and
• Oceanian - 1 representative

The functions of the Standing Committee shall be:

(i) To develop the programs and strategic plan of the APPA and to make decisions

on behalf of the CD between its regularly scheduled meetings in case of necessity;

(ii) To establish policies in accordance with the objectives of APPA, subject to

ratification by the CD at its following meeting;

(iii) To appoint advisors and advisory committees;

(iv) To approve of the APPA budgets and operations on the recommendation of the

President, Treasurer, and the Secretary General;

6.2 Executive Committee

There shall be an Executive Committee, consisting of the following officers of the Association:

• A President;
• A President-Elect (who shall be the person who is appointed as the President of the forthcoming Congress, he/she will become president after the next Congress) 
• The Immediate Past President;
• A Secretary-General - will be elected by Council of Delegates and can be reappointed to serve up to three terms.
• A Treasurer (who shall be responsible for the finances of the Association, shall work in close cooperation with the Secretary-General, and shall submit a biennial financial statement to the Council of National Delegates. The Treasurer shall also assist the Secretary General in other matters including minutes taking).
• Executives can serve up to 3 terms.
• The APPA Treasurer shall receive a half-yearly statement of accounts from the APPA Administrative Office which will be analyzed and then recommended, or not, for approval to the EC and SC. These financial statements of accounts must be audited prior to the Treasurer’s evaluation.
• The functions of the Executive Committee shall be:
  1. To carry out the policies of the APPA;
  2. To assist the President of the forthcoming Asia Pacific Congress of Pediatrics with its preparation;
  3. To recommend the budget of APPA to the Standing Committee for approval;
  4. To refer to the Council of Delegates applications for membership from prospective Member Societies and Associate Societies; and
  5. To exercise such authority as may be delegated by the Council of Delegates or the Standing Committee.

6.3 The Officers of APPA

The Officers shall be the President, the President-Elect and the Secretary General. 

The President of APPA

• shall preside at meetings of the Council of Delegates (CD), Standing Committee (SC) and Executive Committee (EC) and may convene emergency meetings of the EC or SC as indicated.
• Following a two year term, the President shall continue in an on-voting advisory capacity to the SC and EC for one two year term as Immediate Past President

The President-Elect

• In the event of the President's unavailability or temporary or permanent incapacity, the President-Elect shall serve as Acting President

The Secretary General of APPA

• The Secretary General, along with the President, shall be responsible to the CD and to the SC for carrying out their policies and decisions.
• The EC and the SC may delegate such authority to the Secretary General as may be needed for efficient functioning of the APPA.
• The Secretary General shall be responsible for the running of the Secretariat.

6.4 Council of Delegates (CD)

The control of the policies of the APPA shall be vested in a CD, consisting of one delegate from each Member Society.

The post of Honorary President shall be given to outstanding individuals who have contributed significantly to the Association and to pediatrics and child health in the Asia Pacific region. Nomination of prospective candidates should be forwarded to the secretariat at least three (3) months before the next Council of Delegates Meeting to be held at the biennial Asia Pacific Congress of Pediatrics. All nominations shall be discussed and decided at the Council of Delegates Meeting.

8.1 The Asia Pacific Congress of Pediatrics (APCP) will be organized every two years at a venue as decided by the Council of Delegates. The Congress shall consist of the following activities:

• Activities in the field of science, and
• A Council of Delegates Meeting

8.2 The Chairperson of the Congress shall determine the date of the Congress after consultation with the Executive Committee and Standing Committee.

8.3 The program and publications of each Congress shall have the authority to appoint such committees as are necessary for the conduct of the Congress.

8.4 The Member-Society of the country in which the Congress is to be held should assume full responsibility for its organization and financing and for such arrangements as are necessary with the government of the host country.

To revise the Constitution and By-Laws, a two-thirds majority vote in the Council of Delegates Meeting is needed. A simple majority vote in the CD Meeting shall be valid for all other matters.

Notice of any proposals to revise the Constitution and By-Laws shall be sent to the Secretary-General not later than six months, prior to the next Council Meeting of National Delegates, and must appear in the Agenda of the Council Meeting.