Phasing out the Eurasia Scout Region

Global Support Centre
Global Support Centre • 23 March 2023

Circular No. GLB-C02-2023

Dear friends,

Following Circular 22/2022, the World Scout Committee (WSC) reviewed at its meeting in March 2023 the report of its Eurasia Contact Group. 

As a reminder:

  • The Eurasia Contact Group was created in April 2022 by the WSC due to a formal request by the Eurasia Scout Committee following the receipt of several letters from Eurasia National Scout Organizations (NSOs). The letters outlined continued challenges in the construct of the Eurasia Scout Region - a reality further complicated by escalating geopolitical events between countries in the Region. 
     
  • At its September 2022 meeting, following a review of its initial report, the WSC tasked this Contact Group to work with the leadership of the Europe, Eurasia, and Asia-Pacific Scout Regions. The overall aim of this collaborative work was to explore the operational impact, capacity, and timelines of a transition of NSOs from the Eurasia Scout Region to the Europe and Asia-Pacific Scout Regions
     
  • At that time, the WSC also tasked the World Scout Bureau (WSB) to develop an operational proposal that mapped out the financial, legal, institutional, and operational consequences and risks of potentially phasing out the governance structures of the Eurasia Scout Region while ensuring continued dedicated operational support to NSOs.
     

Members of the Eurasia Contact Group also had the opportunity to meet with NSO leadership representatives at the Eurasia NSO Gathering that took place from 12 to 13 March 2023 in Moldova and exchange views on the ongoing process.

In line with the recommendations presented by the Eurasia Contact Group, the WSC took the following decisions:

  • To expand, as of 30 September 2023, the current geographical boundaries of the Europe Scout Region with the countries of Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus, Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan.
     
  • To expand, as of 30 September 2023, the current geographical boundaries of the Asia-Pacific Scout Region with the countries of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan (noting Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan do not currently have a WOSM Member Organization).
     
  • As a consequence, phase out the Eurasia Scout Region and its bodies (Eurasia Scout Conference, Eurasia Scout Committee, and Eurasia Scout Office), effective 1 October 2023, and authorise the WSB to implement the necessary measures for this.
     

The WSC further tasked the Eurasia Contact Group to facilitate the transition period until the next WSC Meeting in September 2023, ensuring a continued collaboration platform between the Europe, Asia-Pacific and Eurasia Regional Scout Committee representatives. 

The WSC as well as the Eurasia, Europe and Asia-Pacific Regional Scout Committees appreciates this is an unprecedented process answering unprecedented challenges and complexities. Mindful that the Eurasia NSOs are the most affected by this decision, individual communications have gone out to these NSOs prior to the release of this World Circular. In the next period, regional communication will follow from the Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Eurasia Scout Regions to provide further insight on next steps in each Region to support the upcoming transition process. We have also provided an FAQ (see Annex 1) that provides answers to specific questions that Member Organizations might have on this file.

As we work to bring this process to a conclusion over the coming months, we also wish to recognise the extraordinary work of generations of leaders in the Eurasia Scout Region. As we move forward, our overarching objective remains to support, nurture, and grow Scouting in the countries of the Eurasia Scout Region and across the world. 

Should you have any further questions on this decision, please contact your Regional Support Centre or Srinath Tirumale, Eurasia Regional Director ([email protected]

Yours in Scouting,

 

Andy Chapman, Chairperson, World Scout Committee 

Ahmad Alhendawi, WOSM Secretary General

Matthias Gerth, Chairperson, European Regional Scout Committee

Yelena Luzyanina, Chairperson, Eurasia Regional Scout Committee

Dale Corvera, Chairperson, Asia-Pacific Regional Scout Committee

 

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