Branch Statutes for RFSL

Revised by RFSL’s Congress in Linköping, 17–19 October 2025.

Branch Statutes for RFSL (pdf)

§ 1. Name of the Association

• 1.1 The name of the association is RFSL ___________ 

§ 2. Affiliation 

• 2.1 RFSL ____ (as above) ____ is a non-profit association and a branch within RFSL (The Swedish Federation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex Rights).

§ 3 Purpose, Objectives and Activities

• 3.1 The purpose and objective of the branch is to work for an equal world where all LGBTQI people’s human rights are respected and no one is left behind.
  
  § 3.2 The branch shall conduct political work, information activities, social activities and support activities, to the extent that the branch has the capacity and resources, for homosexual, bisexual, transgender people, people with queer expressions and identities, and intersex people. These activities shall be in accordance with RFSL’s political governance documents, RFSL’s statutes, decisions made by RFSL’s Congress, as well as other governance documents and national guidelines decided by the National Board in consultation with the branches.
  
• 3.3 The branch is based on every individual’s right to self-identification regarding their sexuality and gender identity, the right to their own body, and full participation in society.

The branch is a democratic organisation, based on principles of members’ participation, ownership, and joyful, meaningful engagement.

The branch is a norm-critical organisation.

The branch is a feminist organisation.

The branch is an anti-racist organisation.

The branch works to include everyone regardless of age and functional variation.

The branch is independent of religions and political parties.

§ 4 Membership 

• 4.1 The branch consists of members who acknowledge the purpose and objectives of the branch and the federation and who pay the membership fee.

• 4.2 The membership fee is decided by RFSL’s ordinary Congress.
• 4.3 The branch board may request that the National Board expel a member who has seriously damaged, or risks seriously damaging, the federation’s or a branch’s activities or reputation, who in a significant way counteracts the federation’s purposes and objectives, or if other serious reasons exist.
• 4.4 Every member of the branch has the right to attend, speak, vote, and make proposals at the annual meeting and extraordinary annual meetings, and to submit motions to the ordinary annual meeting.
• 5 Annual Meeting
• 5.1 The highest decision-making body of the branch is the annual meeting.
• 5.2 The annual meeting shall be held no later than 31 March each year.
• 5.3 Members shall have received the call to the annual meeting no later than six (6) weeks before the annual meeting.
• 5.4 The call shall contain information about the date, time and place of the meeting as well as the agenda. If the annual meeting is to address amendments to the statutes, this shall be stated in the call. Annual meetings may, when needed, be held digitally.
• 5.5 Motions to the annual meeting shall have reached the board no later than four (4) weeks before the annual meeting.
• 5.6 Documents for matters to be dealt with at the annual meeting shall be available to members no later than two (2) weeks before the annual meeting.
• 5.7 The following matters shall be dealt with at the annual meeting:

1. Opening of the annual meeting
2. Adoption of the voting list
3. Question of whether the annual meeting has been duly convened
4. Election of the annual meeting presidium

– Meeting chairperson

– Meeting secretary

5. Election of adjusters of the minutes
6. Election of tellers
7. Adoption of the agenda
8. The board’s report on activities and finances
9. Auditors’ report
10. Adoption of the income statement and balance sheet
11. Question of discharge from liability for the board
12. Proposals (propositioner)

12.1 Adoption of statutes (if amendments have been made at RFSL’s Congress)
12.2 Adoption of operational plan
12.3 Budget for the financial year

13. Motions
14. Election of the board

– Determination of term of office and number of board members

– Chair

– Treasurer

– Other ordinary members**

– Deputies

15. Election of Congress delegates
16. Election of Nominating Committee
17. Election of auditors
18. Election of any working groups and other elected representatives
19. Other matters (non-decision items)
20. Closing of the meeting

** When electing other board members, positions such as Vice Chair, Secretary or other designated board positions may also be appointed.

• 5.8 Documents may be signed with a qualified electronic signature.

§ 6 Extraordinary Annual Meeting

• 6.1 The board shall convene an extraordinary annual meeting if it itself deems it necessary.
• 6.2 The board shall convene an extraordinary annual meeting if any of the branch’s auditors or the federation’s auditors so request.
• 6.3 The extraordinary annual meeting may only deal with the matter(s) that prompted the meeting, which shall be stated in the call.
• 6.4 The board shall convene an extraordinary annual meeting if one tenth (1/10) of the branch’s members so request, but at least ten (10) persons. If the branch has fewer than ten (10) members, it is required that at least half of the members request it.
• 6.5 An extraordinary annual meeting shall be held no later than five (5) weeks after the request has been received by the board.
• 6.6 An extraordinary annual meeting may not be held until at least two (2) months have passed since the most recent ordinary annual meeting or extraordinary annual meeting. This does not apply if it is requested by an auditor in connection with audit activities.
• 6.7 Members shall have received the call to the extraordinary annual meeting no later than two (2) weeks before the meeting.
• 6.8 The call shall contain information about the date, time and place of the meeting. The call shall also contain the agenda for the meeting.
• 6.9 The following matters shall be dealt with at the extraordinary annual meeting:

1. Opening of the annual meeting
2. Adoption of the voting list
3. Question of whether the annual meeting has been duly convened
4. Election of the annual meeting presidium

– Meeting chairperson

Meeting secretary

5. Election of adjusters of the minutes
6. Election of tellers
7. Adoption of the agenda
8. The matter(s) that prompted the convening of the extraordinary annual meeting
9. Other matters (non-decision items)
10. Closing of the meeting

§ 7 The Board

• 7.1 The board is elected by the annual meeting. The board is the branch’s second highest decision-making body.
• 7.2 The board shall consist of an odd number of members, at least three (3) and at most thirteen (13), including the Chair, Treasurer, and any other designated positions. Deputies for board members may also be elected to the board. Diversity, for example regarding sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, health, ethnic affiliation, religion or other belief, functional capacity, age and socio-economic background, should be sought as far as is practically possible.
• 7.3 The board leads the association’s activities and is responsible for the branch’s finances. The board shall also implement and follow up the decisions made by the annual meeting.
• 7.4 The board shall hold at least four (4) minuted meetings per year.
• 7.5 In order for the board to make decisions, all board members must have been duly called to the meeting at least seven days before the meeting, and the number of board members present must be at least half of the total number of ordinary members.
• 7.6 At board meetings, members of the branch have the right to attend, speak and submit proposals. This does not apply if the board decides otherwise for the handling of a specific matter. The board shall inform the members when board meetings are to be held.
• 7.7 The board may decide that certain matters shall be confidential. Such agenda items are then not open to anyone other than board members, deputies and specially invited presenters.
• 7.8 Decisions made outside ordinary board meetings (for example by an executive committee or similar) shall be recorded in minutes and shall be presented at the next board meeting.
• 7.9 Only a person who is a member of the branch can be elected as a board member.
• 7.10 A person who is employed by the branch or who is a member of the Nominating Committee or an auditor in the branch cannot be a board member.
• 7.11 The Chair convenes board meetings. This task may be delegated.
• 7.12 The board is responsible for submitting an annual report on activities and an annual financial report concerning the branch’s activities during the past financial year to the annual meeting.
• 7.13 The board is responsible for submitting an operational plan and a budget for the next financial year to the annual meeting.
• 7.14 The board may co-opt (adjungera) persons either for individual matters, for an entire meeting or for a longer period.

§ 8. Decisions

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  8.1 Decisions are made by simple majority unless otherwise stated. In elections of persons, relative majority shall be applied.
• 8.2 In elections of persons, voting shall be by secret ballot if anyone requests it.
• 8.3 The annual meeting may apply secret ballot in matters other than elections of persons if a simple majority votes in favour of it. It is not possible for the board or other bodies in the branch to apply secret ballot in matters other than elections of persons.
• 8.4 If two alternatives receive the same number of votes, the meeting chair has a casting vote. However, this does not apply at annual meetings, in elections of persons or in secret ballots. In the event of a tie in those cases, the matter is instead decided by drawing lots.
• 8.5 It is never permitted to vote by proxy.
• 8.6 Decisions may, when needed, be made by digital voting.
  

§ 9. Administration

• 9.1 The branch’s financial and operational year is 1 January–31 December.
• 9.2 Board members may be appointed as authorised signatories (firmatecknare) by the board.
• 9.3 The association’s signature shall be made jointly by two (2) persons in a manner determined by the board.
• 9.4 The board or authorised signatories have the right to issue limited powers of attorney, for example for banking and postal matters.

§ 10. Audit 

• 10.1 The branch shall have at least two (2) auditors. If an authorised public accountant is engaged, only one (1) is required.
• 10.2 The auditors shall continuously during the financial year review the work and administration of the board and any working groups.
• 10.3 The branch’s or the federation’s auditors have the right to immediately access all documents concerning the branch.
• 10.4 The annual accounts shall have reached the auditors no later than four (4) weeks before the annual meeting.
• 10.5 The auditors shall, before the ordinary annual meeting, draw up an audit report for the past financial year. The audit report shall contain a recommendation to the annual meeting on whether the outgoing board of the branch should be granted discharge from liability or not. The auditors shall also express their opinion on the board’s proposal for handling the income statement and balance sheet.
• 10.6 The audit report shall have reached the board no later than three (3) weeks before the ordinary annual meeting.

§ 11. Interpretation and Amendment of the Statutes

• 11.1 Each branch shall adopt the Branch Statutes adopted by the Congress. Amendments to the Branch Statutes are decided at the federation’s Congress by simple majority among the voting delegates present. For amendments to § 1, § 2, § 3, § 9 and § 10, a decision with a two-thirds (2/3) majority among the voting delegates present is required, or a decision with simple majority at two (2) consecutive ordinary federation Congresses. 
• 11.2 The branch’s annual meeting may adopt local supplementary statutes. These supplementary statutes may not conflict with or overturn the content of these Branch Statutes. Supplementary statutes shall be sent to the National Board.
• 11.3 For adoption and/or repeal of supplementary statutes, a decision at the branch’s ordinary annual meeting with a two-thirds (2/3) majority of those entitled to vote is required, or a decision with simple majority at two (2) consecutive ordinary annual meetings.
• 11.4 The National Board decides disputes within the branch concerning interpretation of these statutes and any supplementary statutes.

§ 12. Dissolution of the Branch

• 12.1 A decision to dissolve the branch can only be made at two (2) consecutive annual meetings, one of which must be an ordinary annual meeting. The decision must be supported by at least two-thirds (2/3) of those entitled to vote.
• 12.2 The association cannot be dissolved if at least ten (10) of the branch’s members oppose it. If the branch has fewer than ten (10) members, the association cannot be dissolved if at least half of the members oppose it.
• 12.3 The branch’s funds and assets shall, after dissolution, be transferred to RFSL.
  
  § 12.4 The branch cannot leave RFSL if at least ten (10) members oppose it. If the branch has fewer than ten (10) members, the branch cannot leave the federation RFSL if at least half of the members oppose it.
• 
  12.5 The National Board may decide to close down a branch if it has fewer than three members and has not held a statutory annual meeting during the current and the previous year. The decision shall be taken after the branch’s members have been given the opportunity to make a statement. The branch’s members are given the opportunity to be affiliated to a neighbouring branch.