International South Asia Forum (INSAF) Charter

Adopted at the Second Conference at Vancouver August 10-12, 2001

Introduction: International South Asia Forum was founded at a conference in Montreal on September 4-5, 1999 attended by 124 delegates of South Asian origins from different cities of North America, Europe and UK. This charter affirms the political and organizational principles adopted at the founding meeting in Montreal and the subsequent Meeting of the Coordinating Committee held at Boston on April 22-23, 2000. The consensus at both meetings was that secularism, democracy and peace among South Asian countries and mutual respect on the principle of equality for each other is a precondition for the prosperity and well-being of its people.

Charter:

1. Acronym: Acronym of the International South Asia Forum will be INSAF.
   
   
2. Objectives:
1. To strengthen and expand secular democratic forces among the South Asian Diaspora — especially among the youth and to contribute to the betterment of life for the people of South Asia.
2. To promote peace and harmony among South Asian countries, particularly between India and Pakistan and combat national chauvinism and religious fundamentalism.
3. Actively work to create conditions for peaceful resolution of internal conflicts and regional conflicts in South Asia in accordance with the wishes of the affected people.
4. To oppose encroachment on the sovereignty of South Asian countries by imperialist powers.
5. To join hands with the people and organizations in South Asia and elsewhere to work for demilitarization of the region and de-nuclearization in India and Pakistan;
6. To work for the protection of human rights of the people and promote social justice especially of the most vulnerable sections of the society such as minorities (religious, ethnic, cultural, linguistic, sexual), women, dalits, indigenous people and workers and peasants.
7. To oppose such development projects and industrial ventures which adversely affect the environment and/or cause displacement of a large section of the population.

 

3. Activities:
1. To carry out extensive educational and organization work among the members of the South Asian Diaspora, especially among the youth to expose the dangers of religious fundamentalism, narrow national chauvinism, nuclearization of India and Pakistan and increasing control of the region by imperialism, especially the US imperialism.
2. To seek the support of trade unions and other democratic organizations in countries of our residence for the struggles and aspirations of South Asian people for secularism, democratic rights, peace and social justice.
3. Sponsor and coordinate seminars, and cultural and social events in order to fulfill the objectives of INSAF.
4. To issue statements to the media on political, economic, environmental, social and cultural developments in South Asia and among the South Asian Diaspora.
5. Create an electronic media and publish a newsletter for popularizing and promoting INSAF’s objectives.
6. Encourage all organizations and individuals affiliated with INSAF to work actively at all levels in community and local activities.
7. Develop specific programs in accordance with local conditions to encourage participation of youth with South Asian identity into progressive nonsectarian organizations and institutions.
8. Organize Annual South Asia Day preferably on the First Saturday of May.

 

4. Organizational Guidelines
1. Membership:

1. The membership of INSAF is open to anyone agreeing with the general objectives of the organization and paying membership dues.

1. All organizations in agreement with the objectives of INSAF may affiliate with INSAF and paying an affiliation fee of $25 per year.
2. INSAF will make a special attempt to recruit members with origin from all South Asian countries.

1. Executive body
1. Affairs of INSAF will be conducted by a Coordinating Committee (CC); 13 members of the CC will be elected at the General Conferences. The general Conference must be cognizant of regional representation, national origin and gender equity in election to the CC. The mandate of the Coordinating Committee will last until the next General Conference of INSAF. Additional names can be added to the CC at the suggestion of affiliate organizations or the existing CC.
2. The Coordinating Committee will decide upon most efficient and economical way of advancing the mandate of INSAF.
3. The Coordinating Committee will elect one President, two vice presidents, one secretary and one treasurer.
4. Given the long-distances involved, the Coordinating Committee can function through e-mail or conference calls; decisions reached in this manner will be treated as formal decisions of the Coordinating Committee. All decisions will be reached preferably by consensus; in the absence of a consensus, decisions will be made by simple majority.
2. INSAF Conference:

INSAF will hold a General Conference preferably every two to three years. It is the responsibility of the Coordinating Committee to identify the host city, preferably not the one where such a Conference has already taken place in the last five years.

2nd INSAF Conference Report

The Vancouver Declaration

Charter

Main Presentations

Tapan Bose
Parvez Hoodbhoy
Zafar Meraj
Vinod Mubayi
K. N. Panikkar
Shree Mulay
Abha Sur
Daya Varma

Resolutions

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