We endorse the Plant Based Treaty

Bylaws for Dyrenes Alliance

Adopted June 10, 2024

 § 1 Name and Headquarters

The organization's name is Dyrenes Alliance.

The organization is headquartered in Denmark.

§ 2 Purpose

Dyrenes Alliance is a youth organization primarily working for and with children and young people. Its purpose is to influence society through education and activism to recognize animals as sentient, living individuals entitled to rights.

Our approach is based on:

  • Committed communities.

  • Exclusively lawful activities.

  • Activism supported by research from leading animal rights organizations.

    • The national association can always reference research from leading organizations in the movement.

§ 3 Members

  1. Anyone who supports the organization's purpose may become a member.

  2. Persons over 30 years old can only be admitted as supporting members upon paying dues. These supporting members have no voting rights but may run for the Board.

  3. Members who have paid dues this year, have an active payment arrangement, and have been members for at least three weeks before the General Assembly have voting rights.

§ 4 Dues

Members must pay the dues set by the General Assembly. The General Assembly determines the amount. If dues are paid monthly, the current dues rate counts as the first portion; any excess is a donation. Dues may be paid to the national organization or its local chapters.

§ 5 Amendments to Bylaws

  1. Amendments require a two-thirds majority of members present at the General Assembly.

  2. Amendments take effect immediately upon adoption at the General Assembly.

§ 6 Exclusion

  1. Membership rights lapse immediately if dues are unpaid until arrears are settled.

  2. The Board may exclude a member who undermines Dyrenes Alliance’s Code of Conduct, purpose, program, or activities. Exclusion requires unanimous Board approval and takes effect immediately.

  3. Members may appeal exclusion at the next General Assembly. A two-thirds majority of votes cast is needed to uphold exclusion.

§ 7 Board

  1. Generalforsamlingen vælger en Bestyrelse bestående af 3-5 medlemmer, og sekretariatet udpeger 2 af sine repræsentanter til Bestyrelsen, hvoraf den ene skal være Generalsekretæren. I alt består Bestyrelsen af 5-7 medlemmer. 

  2. After the General Assembly, the Board appoints a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Treasurer, and the Secretary General from the Secretariat representatives.

  3. The Board’s term runs from the end of one General Assembly to the start of the next.

  4. The Board is the highest authority between General Assemblies.

  5. Secretariat members on the Board have veto power over decisions conflicting with the organization's purpose or program, or harming effectiveness, reputation, or finances, supported by strategic or legal rationale. Vetos must be documented in writing and reviewed at the next Board meeting.

  6. All members, regardless of type, may run for the Board. The Board determines meeting frequency.

  7. The Board’s maximum term is 2 years and 1 month.

  8. The Board assists in drafting the budget and approves it at year-end
    for the upcoming year.

  9. The Board sets a distribution key determining the percentage of dues from affiliated members allocated to each local chapter, not exceeding 30% of total dues. Transfers occur in Q1 annually.
    de tilknyttede medlemmer der må tilgå den enkelte lokalforening. Beløbet må ikke overstige 30% af det samlede kontingent. Beløbet overføres i 1. kvartal hvert år.

§ 8 Local Chapters

  1. Local chapters may be freely established where none exist. Approval by the Board follows the founding General Assembly.

    1. Chapters democratically set their own bylaws.

    2. Bylaws must be democratically structured, align with Dyrenes Alliance's purpose (§ 2), and not conflict with these bylaws.

  2. Chapters must include Dyrenes Alliance and their geographic affiliation in their name.
    The Chairperson and Treasurer jointly represent the chapter financially. The Coordinator represents the chapter in communications. The Board appoints itself.

  3. The local Board must submit to the National Office within 14 days after its local General Assembly:

  4. a report on any bylaw changes,
    the revised budget,

    1. a set of the chapter's dues,

    2. notification of dues,

    3. and the chapter's fiscal and dues year follows the calendar year.

    4. If a chapter acts against its bylaws or these § 8 rules, the national Board may revoke approval and dissolve the chapter. Assets will then transfer to the national organization.

  5. Lokalforeningens regnskabs- og kontingentår følger kalenderåret. 

  6. Hvis en lokalforening handler i strid med sine vedtægter og/eller nærværende § 8, kan
    landsforeningens Bestyrelse tilbagekalde sin godkendelse og opløse lokalforeningen. I så tilfælde vil lokalforeningens aktiver m.v. overføres til landsforeningen.

§ 9 Finances

  1. The fiscal year runs January 1 to December 31.

  2. The organization's liabilities are limited to its assets; no one holds personal liability.

  3. The accounts are audited annually by a registered auditor elected at the ordinary General Assembly.

  4. Authorized signatories are the Chairperson, Treasurer, and Secretary General.

§ 10 General Assembly

  1. The General Assembly is the organization's highest authority.

  2. The ordinary General Assembly is held annually in the second quarter.

  3. Supporting members have no voting rights.

  4. Non-members may request observer status by emailing the Board at least 8 days prior to the General Assembly.

  5. The General Assembly may be a hybrid meeting but not exclusively digital, except when a physical meeting poses health risks.

  6. Notice of the General Assembly must be given at least 14 days in advance.

  7. Voting is by show of hands unless 10% of attendees demand a secret ballot.

  8. Decisions require a simple majority. A properly called General Assembly is quorate regardless of member count.

  9. Votes may not be cast by proxy.

  10. The ordinary General Assembly agenda must include at minimum:

    1. Election of chairperson.

    2. Election of secretary.

    3. Annual report.

    4. Approval of accounts.

    5. Vision and campaign goals until the next General Assembly.

    6. Budget approval.

    7. Dues approval.

    8. Consideration of proposals.

    9. Election of Board.

    10. Any other business.

  11. Proposals to be considered must be submitted in writing to the Board at least 8 days before the General Assembly.

  12. An Extraordinary General Assembly can be convened at any time by the Board and must also be held when at least 500 of the association's members submit a written request for it.

§ 11 Dissolution

  1. The association can be dissolved by at least a two-thirds majority at two consecutive General Assemblies, with the last one convened as an extraordinary meeting solely for this purpose. Dissolution requires that representatives from at least two-thirds of the association's local chapters are present at the General Assemblies.

  2. If the association is dissolved, its assets or surplus shall be transferred to another association, foundation, institution, or religious community based in this country or another EU/EEA country with a public-benefit or otherwise charitable purpose—preferably an animal rights organization or an animal sanctuary.