» Statute of the Inter-American Juridical Committee

CHAPTER V

SEAT OF THE COMMITTEE AND MEETINGS

Article 14: The Inter-American Juridical Committee shall have its seat in Rio de Janeiro. However, in special cases, the Committee may hold meetings in any other place that it may duly designate. It shall first obtain agreement from the Member State concerned and obtain the proper funding.

Article 15: The Committee shall hold two regular meetings each year, lasting a total of up to three months. However, these meetings may be extended for an additional period of up to ten days, when the Committee considers it necessary. It shall also hold special meetings when convoked by the General Assembly or by the Meeting of Consultation of Ministers of Foreign Affairs or when the Committee itself decides to do so in view of the importance and urgency of the matter or matters it is to study, taking into account the provisions of article 17 of the Rules of Procedure.

Article 16: If, while the Committee is in recess, any of its members should propose the holding of a special meeting, the Chairman shall consult with the other members as to whether they agree to hold such a meeting.

When at least six of its members so agree, and in such cases as are referred to in the second part of the previous article, the Chairman shall issue the corresponding notice of convocation through the General Secretariat of the Organization.

Article 17: When the Inter-American Juridical Committee decides to hold a meeting away from its seat, to hold a special meeting, to extend a regular meeting, or to engage in any other activity involving expenditures, it shall request the Secretary General of the Organization to take the necessary measures to provide the corresponding funds, in accordance with the financial and budgetary regulations in force.

Article 18: At the beginning of a regular meeting, the Committee shall add to the agenda prepared prior to the close of the previous regular meeting any new matters that, pursuant to article 100 of the Charter, may have been assigned to it after the approval of the agenda, or that it may, by a majority decision by six of the members participating, decide to include thereon.

Prior to the close of each regular meeting, the Committee shall determine the opening date of the next one.

Article 19: When the Chairman of the Committee convokes the members to a special meeting, he shall list in the notice of convocation the matters that are to be considered, as the respective organs may have determined in accordance with articles 15 and 16 of these Statutes.

At a special meeting, the Committee shall consider only the matters indicated in the notice of convocation.

Article 20: While it is in recess, and at the request of any of its members, the Committee may decide, by a majority of eight votes, given in reply to the inquire made by the Chairman for this purpose, by mail, cable, or any other means of communication, as to a change of the date already set for a regular or special meeting.

Article 21: The Secretary General of the Organization or his representative may participate with voice but without vote in the discussions of the Committee and of such subcommittees or working groups as may be established.

Article 22: The Committee may invite the organs and agencies of the Organization, world or regional international institutions, and the national entities referred to in article 12 e) of these Statutes to be represented in its discussions by observers. The observers may take the floor when the Chairman invites them to do so.

The expenses occasioned by the participation of observes shall be paid by the observers themselves or by the entities they represent.

Article 23: The Committee may invite specialists in a certain subject to take part in its discussions on that subject. In the event that such an invitation involves expenditures, it shall make the corresponding request for funds to the General Secretariat.

Article 24: The Inter-American Juridical Committee may, during its sessions, hold joint meetings with bar associations and other associations of lawyers, groups of law professors, or authors or entities that specialize in the study of international juridical problems.

The purpose of these joint meetings will be:

a) To study topics on the agenda of the Committee;

b) To strengthen cooperative relations between the Committee and the natural or juridical persons referred to above; and

c) To afford these professional persons an opportunity to become familiar with the activities of the Committee and to cooperate with it.