Memorandum of Association

About

This was the Memorandum of Association used to establish the RCE Network as a non-hierarchical community of practice, where all members have equal rights and opportunities. The Founding Members of the RCE Network "signed" (physically or virtually) this Memorandum to consent to being a Founding Member of the Network.

The Memorandum was open for "signing" commencing on July 24th 2024 where 3 founding individual members and 2 founding organizational members met in person, and signed physical copies of the Memorandum in the presence of witnesses.

It was initially planned to accept Founding Members until September 20th, which was extended to October 20th. Some "late" signings were accepted without prejudice.

Initially, it was only possible to consent by means of a physical signature that was witnessed (to avoid the possibility of fraudulent signatories), but as the Network grew, easier options (signing virtually and being introduced by an existing Founding Member, signing by publishing the text of the Memorandum on a valid Social Media account, etc) were introduced

The Memorandum of Association

1. Name

The name of the association shall be the “Rights-Centric Education Network” (hereinafter referred to as “RCE Network”).

2. Location

The RCE Network has no physical location or legal incorporation at present and will exist online at the RCE website https://www.rights-centric.education

3. Objective

The primary objective of the RCE Network is to advance the protection and realisation of international human rights law in all educational environments, with a special focus on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The initial activities of the RCE Network will include:

• The promotion of a Declaration of Rights-Centric Education calling for all practices in all environments providing for the education of the child (as defined in the declaration) to be overhauled to ensure the rights of the child are respected, protected, and fulfilled. A draft of this declaration is available for comment at the RCE website.
• The establishment of a Rights-based Quality Assurance System for educational environments, based on a proposal in the World Programme for Human Rights Education (First Phase, 2005-2007). A draft of this process is available for comment at the RCE website.

4. Founding Members

This Memorandum of Association permits individuals and organisations to join the RCE Network as Founding Members.

4.1. Eligibility:

Any individual or organisation is eligible to join as a Founding member, providing they sign this memorandum within the period beginning from 24th July 2024 and ending no earlier than 20th September 202420th October 2024 Registered organisations must use their full legal name and provide registration details in the country/ies of registration.

4.2. Joining Procedure

The procedures to “sign” this Memorandum and submit it are detailed at https://www.rights-centric.education/join-RCE-network.

4.3. Withdrawal Procedure

Founding Members may request to withdraw from membership of the RCE Network by sending an email to network@rights-centric.education

5. Responsibilities of Founding Members

The Founding Members shall be responsible for determining, and publishing on the RCE website, no later than 20th October 2024

The Objectives, Activities, and Membership procedures and obligations of the RCE Network. The Governance procedures of the RCE Network, including for Amendments to this Memorandum, Legal Incorporation, and Dissolution.

6. Privacy

Founding Members consent to the publication of all details of themselves and witnesses submitted (including any video evidence).

(The originating email address will not be published)

You can either print it as is and write in the information necessary (the template has room for 2 witnesses, but 1 is sufficient), or make a copy and edit the last page to reflect the details that you wish to include (or if you need to have more than one signatory representing an organization).

Signing the Memorandum

Procedure for Joining

Potential signatories were invited to review the Memorandum, and if they wished to join the RCE Network as a Founding Member, to please "sign" and submit the Memorandum using one of the following methods:

Physical Signature + Video Confirmation

1. Make a copy of this document and edit it according to your requirements (Required / Optional information is given below)
2. Sign a printed copy in the presence of at least 1 witness, who will sign as witness/es
3. Record a video of the signing and witnessing
4. Send a scanned copy of the signed Memorandum and the video (preferably using a file sharing service) to network@rights-centric.education

Digital Signature + Video Confirmation

1. Make a copy of this document and edit it according to your requirements (Required / Optional information is given below)
2. Place a scanned signature in the document in the presence of at least 1 witness, who will also place a scanned signature
3. Record a video of the signing and witnessing
4. Send the soft copy of the signed Memorandum and the video (preferably using a file sharing service) to network@rights-centric.education

Physical Signature + Social Media Confirmation

1. Make a copy of this document and edit it according to your requirements (Required / Optional information is given below)
2. Sign a printed copy in the presence of at least 1 witness, who will sign as witness/es
3. Follow the steps for the Physical Signature / Scan above, but instead of recording and sharing a video, make a public post on an active social media profile including the statement "I (Name and Capacity) hereby "sign" the Memorandum to join the Rights-Centric Education Network as a Founding Member".
4. Send a scanned copy of the signed Memorandum (preferably using a file sharing service) and the link to the Social Media post to network@rights-centric.education
5. If your post is on Facebook, LinkedIn or X, it would be helpful if you tag our profiles (FB, LI, X)

Social Media Signature

1. Make a public post on an active social media profile including the statement "I (Name, Capacity and any Optional Information you wish to include) hereby "sign" the Memorandum to join the Rights-Centric Education Network as a Founding Member".
2. Include the entire text of the Memorandum in the post.
3. Send a link to the the Social Media post to network@rights-centric.education
4. If your post is on Facebook, LinkedIn or X, it would be helpful if you tag our profiles (FB, LI, X)

Introduction Email (only if an existing Founding Members knows you well enough to introduce you)

1. Send an email to the Founding Member including the statement "I (Name, Capacity and any Optional Information you wish to include) hereby "sign" the Memorandum to join the Rights-Centric Education Network as a Founding Member"
2. Include the entire text of the Memorandum in the post.
3. Ask them to forward the e-mail, including a brief introduction of you, to network@rights-centric.education

Details to be included

Individuals

• Required: Signature
• Required: Name
• Required: Date and Place of Signing
• Optional: Citizenship, Registration Details (e.g. Passport Number)
• Optional: Contact Information (Maximum one each of Website or Social Media account, Telephone number, email address)

Registered Organisations

• Required: Signature/s
• Required: Name/s of Signatory/ies
• Required: Full legal name of Organization
• Required: Date and Place of Signing
• Required: Any requirements based on Company Articles / Domestic law (e.g. Rubber Stamp, Embossed Seal)
• Required: Registration details (e.g. registration number, registry) and country/ies of incorporation
• Optional: Contact Information (Maximum one each of Website or Social Media account, Telephone number, email address)

Unregistered Organisations

• Required: Signature/s
• Required: Name/s of Signatory/ies
• Required: Full name of Organization
• Required: Date and Place of Signing
• Optional: Contact Information (Maximum one each of Website or Social Media account, Telephone number, email address)

Witnesses (at least 1 Witness is required)

• Required: Signature/s
• Required: Name
• Required: Date and Place of Signing
• Optional: Designations / Affiliations
• Optional: Contact Information (Maximum one each of Website or Social Media account, Telephone number, email address)