PIKLER INTERNATIONAL

STATUTES

as amended on 20 June 2026

Legal form, purpose and registered office

Art. 1

A non-profit organisation has been established under the name “PIKLER INTERNATIONAL” (hereinafter “the Company”), governed by Section 60 et seq. of the Swiss Civil Code.

Art. 2

The Company’s objective is

• to network organisations that promote the Pikler approach in Europe and on other continents, and to encourage the exchange of ideas amongst them.
• to circulate information to societies and associations regarding new set-ups, publications and documents, research, meetings and practical implementations.
• to preserve the authenticity of the Pikler educational approach and remain true to its fundamental principles.
• to promote clinical and educational research in institutions that care for children.
• To recognise the experience and knowledge of the Pikler Institute and its staff regarding the care and support provided to children and babies, and to support the activities of the Lóczy Foundation for Children and the Pikler-Lóczy Society of Hungary in Budapest (and the nursery supported by these organisations).
• To compile existing materials for dissemination and training, to produce new ones, and to ensure that these are made available in various languages.
• To collaborate with organisations that champion a mindful approach to parents and children; to support efforts to improve the quality of training for staff in childcare settings.

Art. 3.

The Society has its provisional headquarters at the Emmi Pikler-Lóczy Society, rue des Jardins 14, 1018 Lausanne. The headquarters will be at the Pikler International secretariat once this has been established.

The Society shall exist for an indefinite period.

Organisation

Art. 4

The governing bodies of the Society are the General Assembly, the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee and the Auditors

Art. 5

The Society’s funds are raised through

• membership fees paid by the associations, groups, individuals and members of the Society
• proceeds from the sale of publications
• grants for specific projects
• Participation fees for conferences, symposia and study days
• Donations

The Society will take care not to compete with other national or regional associations and organisations, both in terms of its activities and with regard to sources of funding.

Members

Art. 6

The Society comprises collective members, associate members and individual members.

6.1.

Collective members are the various national and regional ‘Pikler’ societies. They pay an annual membership fee.

6.2.

Associate members are groups, societies and institutions established for a specific purpose. They pay an annual membership fee.

6.3.

Individual members are natural persons who join Pikler International in a private capacity. They pay an annual membership fee.

Art. 7

The Executive Board has the authority to accept or reject applications for membership from organisations, groups or individuals. It shall inform the General Assembly of its decision in this regard.

In the event of a rejection, it is not required to give reasons for its decision.

Art. 8 

Membership is valid for a period of twelve months from the date of joining and is automatically renewed for a further twelve months, provided the membership fee is paid on time. The membership fee is calculated on an individual basis. Each member will be informed in good time before their membership expires regarding renewal and payment.

Art. 9 

If the membership fee is not paid by the due date, membership shall automatically lapse at the end of the relevant membership period.

Art. 10 

Only members who hold a valid membership at the time of the general meeting and whose membership fees for all membership periods due up to that point have been paid in full are entitled to attend and vote at the general meeting. Members whose current membership period has not yet expired at the time of the general meeting are entitled to vote, provided there are no outstanding fees from previous periods.

Art. 11

A member may be expelled if their conduct is detrimental to the interests of the Society or its other members.

General Meeting

Art. 12 

The General Meeting is the supreme governing body of the company. The Annual General Meeting takes place annually during the first half of the year. The General Meeting is generally held by correspondence.

Art. 13 

An extraordinary General Meeting shall be held within four weeks:

• following a decision by the Executive Board or the Annual General Meeting
• upon written request by at least one third of the collective members and associate members
• at the request of the auditors

Art. 14 

All members shall receive the invitation, the agenda and the supporting documents for the Annual General Meeting or the Extraordinary General Meeting by post or by email. They have a period of four weeks in which to cast their vote. The Executive Committee, or failing that the auditors, shall be responsible for sending these out.

Art. 15 

Proposals from members to the General Assembly must be submitted to the Executive Committee by 31 January each year.

Art. 16 

Voters are divided into three groups:

a) the body of collective members

b) the body of associate members

c) the body of individual members

The position of each body is determined by a majority of its members. The body of collective members has two votes. The body of associate members and the body of individual members each have one vote.

Art. 17 

The decisions of the General Assembly are valid regardless of the number of participants.

Powers of the General Assembly

Art. 18 

The General Assembly elects 

• representatives of the associate members to the Executive Committee, upon the latter’s nomination, 
• as well as the representatives of individual members.
• It shall likewise elect the auditors.

The General Assembly shall give its opinion on:

• the minutes of activities
• the financial reports and the audit reports
• the total amount of membership fees and financial contributions
• amendments to the Articles of Association
• proposals from the Executive Committee or members

Executive Committee

Art. 19 

The Executive Committee shall consist of one representative from each of the collective members and three representatives from the associate members. Individual members shall be represented by a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 6 representatives. 

The Executive Committee appoints a President and a Treasurer.

The delegates of the collective members are appointed by their respective associations. The delegates of the associate members and individual members are elected by the General Assembly.

Art. 20 

Members of the Executive Committee are elected or appointed for a term of two years. Their term of office is renewable.

Art. 21 

The term of office of a member of the Executive Board shall end upon expiry of their term, upon resignation or following a resolution of the General Assembly.

Art. 22 

The Executive Committee meets at least twice a year. The Chair convenes the members for these meetings.

Art. 23 

The Executive Committee has a quorum if all members have been invited and half or fewer are present.

Art. 24 

The Executive Committee passes its resolutions by a simple majority. In the event of a tie, the Chairperson has the casting vote.

Duties of the Executive Committee

Art. 25 

The Executive Committee is the governing body of the Society. All duties not assigned by the Articles of Association to any other body of the Society fall within its remit. These include

• the implementation of resolutions passed by the General Meeting.
• keeping accounts in accordance with the Society’s requirements, which must include at least the recording of income and expenditure, as well as the current status of the assets.
• the preparation of an annual activity report, a financial report and the annual accounts.
• informing the members of the report on the analysis of the annual financial statements.
• organising the General Meeting in accordance with Article 12 et seq. of these Articles of Association;
• The management of the Society’s assets.
• Admitting and expelling associate members and individual members.
• The appointment and dismissal of the Society’s staff.

Duties of the members of the Executive Committee

Art. 26 

The President is responsible for directing the Society’s activities. The Secretary-General assists him or her in this.

The President represents the Society externally in dealings with authorities and third parties. He or she may temporarily delegate this function to other members of the Executive Committee. Art. 27 

The Society is established upon the signature of the President and another member of the Executive Board.

Art. 28 

The President chairs the meetings of the Executive Board and the Executive Committee.

Art. 29 

The Treasurer is responsible for the Society’s financial management.

Executive Committee

Art. 30 

The Executive Committee is a delegation of the Board of Directors tasked with monitoring the direction and activities of the Society as closely as possible.

The Executive Committee shall consist of the President, at least two representatives of the collective members and one representative of the associate members or individual members.

Art. 31 

The Executive Committee shall normally meet once a quarter, but as often as necessary.

Art. 32 

The Executive Committee is responsible for implementing the decisions of the Board.

Art. 33 

It initiates the activities that enable the Society to achieve its objectives. It launches, supports and subsequently evaluates these activities.

Art. 34 

The Executive Committee organises the Society’s General Secretariat, which is based at the Society’s headquarters. It appoints a Secretary-General and proposes the appointment to the Board of Directors. The Executive Committee draws up the terms of reference for the Secretary-General and monitors his or her activities.

Auditors

Art. 35 

Two auditors are elected by the General Assembly for a term of two years. They may be re-elected once. If necessary, they may consult a fiduciary body or a financial expert.

Art. 36 

Auditors may not be members of the Executive Board or the Executive Committee.

Art. 37 

The audit covers the keeping of the accounts and the reconciliation of income and expenditure, as well as the compliance of the use of funds with the Society’s Articles of Association and the resolutions of the Board.

Art. 38 

The Board of Directors and the Executive Committee are obliged to provide the auditors with all necessary documents; the auditors are obliged to inform the Board of Directors of the results of their audit.

Dissolution of the Association

Art. 39 

The dissolution of the company may only be resolved by an extraordinary General Meeting convened for this purpose.

Art. 40 

The General Meeting shall consider the proposed plan for the liquidation of the company’s assets and, where appropriate, appoint a liquidator.

Art. 41 

In the event of dissolution, the Society’s assets shall pass to an organisation pursuing objectives similar to those of the Society. Under no circumstances shall they accrue to the members.

These Articles of Association were adopted by the constituent meeting in Budapest on 3 November 2012 and amended at the General Meeting held in Lausanne, Switzerland, on 14 November 2013. Further amendments were made by the General Meetings held on 28 June 2024 and 19 June 2026.