Legal Framework

Statutes and legal foundations

Govonos is established as a Swiss non-profit association, headquartered in Geneva. Its statutes define its purpose, organs and operating principles. They guarantee the continuity, independence and transparency of its missions.

Main articles:

•Name and headquarters – Govonos Institute – Institute of Tangible Governance, Geneva.
•Purposes – research, training, dialogue and humanization of governance.
•Neutrality – political, economic and religious independence.
•Resources – ethical financing, patronage, academic contributions.
•Organs – General Assembly, Academic and Ethics Council, Presidency, Management.
•Liability – commitments are guaranteed by the association's assets.
•Dissolution – in case of dissolution, transfer to a non-profit institution pursuing similar objectives.

(Full version available upon official request to the Presidency.)

Access to complete statutes

The complete version of the statutes — including all articles, internal provisions, rights and obligations of members, as well as governance procedures — is available for Institute members and persons registered in our programs and activities.

To access: please log in to your member area or contact the Institute

STATUTES OF THE ASSOCIATION « GOVONOS INSTITUTE »

Association within the meaning of articles 60 et seq. of the Swiss Civil Code (SCC)

Headquarters: Route de Meyrin 267, 1217 Meyrin–Genève, Switzerland

Article 1 – Name and legal form

Under the name Govonos Institute, a non-profit association is established within the meaning of articles 60 et seq. of the Swiss Civil Code.

Article 2 – Headquarters and duration

The association's headquarters are located at Route de Meyrin 267, 1217 Meyrin–Geneva.

The duration of the association is unlimited.

Article 3 – Purposes and mission

The Govonos Institute pursues a public, intellectual and academic interest purpose.

develop, promote and transmit research work in governance, applied ethics, humanities and social sciences;
establish a research and reflection space of the Acta Tank type;
promote rigorous, independent and measurable analytical methods;
contribute to academic, institutional and public debate, without political or confessional objectives;
collaborate with universities, research centers and public or private institutions.

Article 4 – Editorial activities

The Institute may carry out editorial activities under the name 'IG Editions', on a non-profit basis, with the aim of disseminating knowledge.

Article 5 – Resources

possible member contributions;
donations, bequests and contributions;
public or private grants;
income from publications, conferences, training courses or seminars;
any other resource consistent with the association's purposes.

Resources are exclusively allocated to achieving the statutory objectives.

Article 6 – Members

Natural or legal persons supporting the Institute's purposes may become members. Admission and exclusion are decided by the Board of Directors.

Article 7 – Organs

General Assembly
Board of Directors
Academic Council
Scientific Committee
Ethics Committee
International Advisory Committee
College of Fellows

Article 8 – General Assembly

The General Assembly is the supreme organ of the association. It elects the Board of Directors, approves the accounts, modifies the statutes and decides on dissolution.

Article 9 – Board of Directors

The Board consists of at least a President, a Vice-President, a General Secretary and a Treasurer. Terms of office are two years, renewable.

Article 10 – Academic Council

The Academic Council oversees the Institute's intellectual, scientific and methodological directions.

Founder: Pascal Berchem is a permanent statutory member of the Academic Council and serves as Founder and Dean for the entire duration of the Institute.

Articles 11 to 14 – Committees and Fellows

The Institute may establish specialized committees and award different Fellow statuses on the proposal of the Academic Council.

Article 15 – Liability

The association alone is responsible for its commitments. Members are not personally liable.

Article 16 – Internal regulations

Internal regulations may specify the organization without modifying these statutes.

Article 17 – Dissolution

In the event of dissolution, the net assets are transferred to an institution pursuing a similar public interest purpose.

Article 18 – Entry into force

These statutes enter into force upon their adoption by the constitutive General Assembly.