Common Rules for National Member Networks

Organisation and the BoardRFSL

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1. About the Policy Document

1.1. Adopted 

The Common Rules for National Member Networks were first established by RFSL’s executive board in December 2018 and subsequently by RFSL’s congress on 18–20 October 2019.

1.2. Previous policy documents 

The common rules replace the Policy for Member Groups.

1.3. Superior policy documents 

Statutes of RFSL. Programme of Principles of RFSL.

1.4. Subordinate policy documents 

There are no subordinate policy documents.

1.5. Purpose of the policy document 

The purpose of this policy is to clarify members’ opportunities for engagement and activism that is organised thematically rather than geographically.

1.6. Organisations and individuals concerned 

The common rules apply to the federation and the branches.

1.7. Delegations in the policy document 

The Common Rules for National Member Networks contain no delegations.

2. About National Member Networks within RFSL

Members form the foundation of RFSL’s operations, and every member belongs to a branch (with the exception of RFSL Regnbågen) with a geographical home base. As a federation, we want to enable the creation of networks for members who wish to engage with specific issues or thematic groupings, regardless of where in the country they live or work.

For RFSL as an organisation and popular movement, it is important to enable different forms of engagement and activism. In this way, more of us come together within the framework of RFSL’s operations, and more of us create social change through collective effort.

RFSL has some capacity to support networks and can in this way serve a capacity-building function for networks at the national level. At the same time, RFSL is strengthened when expertise and engagement are gathered within the federation.

Examples of possible thematic networks:

  • Senior network
  • Proud Parents
  • Trans network
  • Pride network

2.1. A national member network in RFSL is:

  • an association of activists who come together around a specific issue or area of interest. The scope and form of engagement are determined by those who make up the network.
  • not an association, and therefore has no requirements for annual meetings or statutes, and has no capacity to elect delegates who can vote at RFSL’s congresses.
  • affiliated with RFSL at the national level, approved by the executive committee, and confirmed by the executive board.

2.2. By being part of RFSL, the national member network has the opportunity to:

  • collaborate with other networks, branches, the federation office, and the executive board within RFSL.
  • participate in conferences and congresses arranged by RFSL for capacity building, advocacy, and internal anchoring.
  • in dialogue with the executive board or federation office, seek funding that can be administered from RFSL’s federation office.
  • support the federation’s work on political advocacy, including by serving as a consultation body and being able to submit statements to the executive board.

3. Provisions on National Member Networks in RFSL

3.1. All operations are based on:

  • there being interested activists who are willing to lead the operations.
  • those who lead the network being members of RFSL and encouraging other engaged individuals to become members.
  • the purpose and goals of the operations being consistent with RFSL’s statutes and programme of principles, including RFSL’s political positions.
  • the operations following the common rules adopted by RFSL.

3.2. As the leader of a national member network, you:

  • lead and develop your network’s operations, but do not make decisions on behalf of RFSL in the network’s political matters — those are made by the congress and the executive board.
  • serve as the internal contact person within RFSL.
  • present a brief plan defining the group’s purpose, goals, and activities; the plan is approved by the executive board.
  • report to the executive board at the end of each year on what the group has done and what challenges and opportunities lie ahead. The report is sent to the executive board, which reports to the congress so that we can share knowledge of each other’s operations.
  • communicate externally as a representative of the group, but not of RFSL.
  • are responsible for the group’s finances.
  • engage in dialogue with others working on similar issues, for example within the executive board or in RFSL’s branches.
  • may delegate tasks to others in the national member network, but retain responsibility for follow-up and results.

3.3. Possibility of separatist operations:

  • Networks may target defined groups in order to create safe spaces and to achieve the group’s purpose.
  • The separatist approach shall strengthen group members in their broader activism and participation within RFSL.
  • Separatist operations shall respect the right to self-identification and shall contribute to RFSL’s purpose.
  • National networks may not operate in a separatist manner with the aim of excluding marginalised groups.

3.4. Collaboration with a branch:

  • The network’s operations take place nationally and collectively; local organising is handled primarily by the branch and not under a national network.
  • Where national networks carry out activities in a location where a branch exists, the branch shall be informed of the activities.
  • For local activities hosted by the branch, the current branch’s policy documents apply.