World Council of Anthropological Associations
Founding Agreement

Article 1. The World Council of Anthropological Associations (WCAA) is a network of national and international associations that aims to promote worldwide communication and cooperation in anthropology.  

Article 2. Its primary objectives are:
§ 	To promote the discipline of anthropology in an international context.
§ 	To promote cooperation and the sharing of information among world 
anthropologists.
§ 	To promote jointly organized events of scientific debate and 
	cooperation in research activities and dissemination of anthropological 
	knowledge.

Article 3. Each member association will undertake to designate an International Delegate whose role will be to promote the sharing of information between the member associations.  One of the International Delegates will take on the role of WCAA Facilitator for a period of one year on a rotational basis.  

Article 4. Whenever appropriate, members of any of the WCAA associations will participate in the conferences of the other associations under the following terms:
§	If membership is required to attend the conference, this is waived for 
	members of the other associations.
§	If members receive a discount on registration fees, that same discount is 
	afforded to members of the other associations.

Article 5. The President (or equivalent) and/or an International Delegate of member associations will be welcome to the other members’ regular conferences waving or subsidizing registration fees. 

Article 6. Member associations undertake to promote events aimed at showcasing the activities of other member associations in their regular conferences.

Article 7. A WCAA website will be instituted by agreement among the founding members.  The WCAA Facilitator will create and maintain the information contained on the WCAA website.

Article 8. Members who have websites will 
§ prominently display their membership of the WCAA on their sites.
§ undertake to create a link to the WCAA.
§ whenever possible, create links to the other associations’ sites.  

Article 9. Members will encourage the debate of issues of relevance to anthropology and neighboring disciplines by such means as the organization of joint events (conferences, symposia, summer schools, etc.) by a number of member associations.

Article 10. The WCAA may produce joint statements on issues of common relevance to its member associations.  These have to be approved by all responding Presidents within a reasonable period of time.

Article 11. Member associations will assist in the exchange of information about programs, researchers and research opportunities for students and researchers.

Article 12. Application for membership in the WCAA is open to all national and international associations of anthropology. Associations who wish to join, do so in writing to the WCAA Facilitator describing their association and indicating that they subscribe to the terms of the present agreement.  For a new member association to be accepted a positive vote is required from two thirds of the presidents of member associations.

Article 13.  After inquiry from the facilitator, an association’s membership of the WCAA will lapse at the end of a calendar year in which it fails to designate an International Delegate.

Article 14. Any amendments to the present agreement should be reached through a consensus of member associations and voted by at least two thirds of the  Presidents of the member associations.

Article 15. The WCAA is not responsible or liable for any of the activities of member associations or of their respective members.

Recife, June 11, 2004.