Rules and Regulations of the Istanbul Initiative
- Full Membership, Council Membership and Hosting
The Istanbul Initiative is a global advocacy platform composed of civil society organizations working to prevent chemical and behavioral addictions and to promote recovery.
The Initiative operates under the collective leadership of all members and is hosted by the Turkish Green Crescent Society.
Each member organization may appoint one main representative and up to four additional representatives. Regardless of the number of representatives, each organization has only one vote.
Organizations that signed the Istanbul Initiative Declaration at the first meeting in 2019 are founding members. Their representatives also serve as natural members of the Council, which ensures the Initiative’s functioning.
The Turkish Green Crescent organizes the annual Istanbul Initiative Summit (usually held in October in Istanbul) and online meetings throughout the year. Travel and accommodation support for one representative per member may be provided, subject to budget availability. The hosting arrangements remain at the discretion of the Green Crescent.
Withdrawal and Termination of Membership:
- Members may voluntarily withdraw from the Initiative.
- Membership may be terminated by a majority vote if an organization acts against the aims and principles of the Declaration or no longer serves these objectives.
- New Members: Full Members and Observer Members
- New organizations are first invited as Observer Members.
- Observer candidates must be nominated in writing (via email) by at least two existing members. Admission requires the unanimous approval (full consensus) of all current members. Voting is conducted anonymously.
- A formal Letter of Intent must be submitted to info@istanbulinitiative.com by nominees.
- Observer Members remain in this status for two years (covering two Summits). During this period, they have no voting rights and cover their own participation costs.
- After completing the two-year term, organizations may be invited as Full Members, subject to the consensus of all members.
- Invited Full Members must provide written confirmation of their commitment to the Istanbul Initiative Declaration.
Evaluation Process:
- Membership matters are discussed and decided during online meetings or, most often, in the margins of the annual Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) in Vienna.
- Chair of the Istanbul Initiative
- The Chair is elected for a one-year term.
- The Chair provides leadership in decision-making, facilitates discussions, ensures compliance with the rules, and maintains balance among members, bringing international experience to the role.
- During their mandate, the Chair serves as the highest-level representative of the Initiative and is responsible for the opening, conduct, and closing of meetings.
- The Chairmanship is transferred annually on a rotating basis during the Summit, with due consideration for gender balance and regional diversity.
- At the end of the term, the outgoing Chair oversees the transition, nominates a new candidate, and presents the nomination for a vote.
- The new Chair is nominated by the outgoing Chair and elected by vote at the Istanbul Initiative Summit.
These rules and regulations remain in force until revisions are introduced with the consensus of the Istanbul Initiative members.
