Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox WorldScouting The World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM Template:IPAc-en) is the largest and, after the Order of World Scouts (formed in 1911), is the second-oldest international organization in the Scout Movement, having been established in 1922.<ref name="constitution">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Colquhoun 1954">Template:Cite book</ref> It has 176 members.<ref name="Albania176" /> These members are national scout organizations that founded WOSM or have subsequently been recognised by WOSM, which collectively have around 43 million participants.<ref name="Final WOSM Census 2022" /> Its operational headquarters is in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, although it is legally based in Geneva, Switzerland.

WOSM's stated mission is "to contribute to the education of young people, through a value system based on the Scout Promise and Scout Law, to help build a better world where people are self-fulfilled as individuals and play a constructive role in society".<ref name="mission2017">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="mission">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

WOSM operates through conferences of its member organization representatives, its committee and its full-time bureau, structured into regions. It is associated with three World Scout Centres. A World Scout Jamboree is held approximately every four years under its auspices and it organizes World Scout Moots for 17- to 26-year-olds and previously organized World Scout Indabas, a gathering for Scout leaders. The World Scout Foundation is a separately governed fund, supported by donations, for the development of WOSM associated programs.

WOSM is the counterpart of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS).Template:ExplainTemplate:CN It is a non-governmental organization with General Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<ref name="wosmUN">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

HistoryEdit

In 1920, a conference held during the 1st World Scout Jamboree at Olympia, London agreed to create a Boy Scouts international bureau. An office was established at 25 Buckingham Palace Road, London and The Boy Scouts Association of the United Kingdom International Commissioner, Hubert S. Martin, was appointed as honorary director. The bureau's principal task was to co-ordinate discussions and prepare a second international conference in Paris in 1922.<ref name="constitution" /><ref name="Colquhoun 1954" /> At the 1922 Paris conference, The International Conference of the Boy Scout Movement and its committee were constituted and took over the bureau in London.<ref name="Colquhoun 1954" />

In 1961, the organization's conference reconstituted the organization under the name World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM). Its International Conference of the Boy Scout Movement became WOSM's World Scout Conference ("conference"), its Boy Scouts International Committee became WOSM's World Scout Committee ("committee") and its Boy Scouts International Bureau became WOSM's World Scout Bureau ("bureau").<ref name="Kroonenberg">Template:Cite book</ref>

Member organizationsEdit

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Membership policyEdit

WOSM's membership consists of its remaining founding member organizations and organizations recognized by WOSM as national scout organizations. WOSM's rules protect its founding and existing member organizations by permitting only one member organization in each country and locking-out all other Scout organizations from WOSM membership, recognition and participation no matter how worthy or large their membership.<ref name="constitution" /> Several member organizations are federations, some with different component groups divided on the basis of religion (e.g., France and Denmark), ethnic identification (e.g., Israel) or language (e.g., Belgium). However, WOSM has never required an existing member organization to federate with other Scout organizations in the country, in order to make WOSM more inclusive and representative. There are numerous Canadian Scout organizations but only one is a WOSM member organization (the Canadian branch of one of the organizations that founded WOSM) which has a French language affiliate which is thereby recognized by WOSM. Other than this inherent limitation on WOSM membership, the basis for WOSM membership includes adherence to WOSM's aims and principles and independence from political involvement on the part of each member organization.

Member organizations in non-sovereign territoriesEdit

WOSM has member organizations in some non-sovereign territories.

Non-national membersEdit

WOSM historically recognized some non-national Scout organizations:

  • "National" organizations operating outside their original homelands. WOSM's conference admitted and recognised the exile Russian Scouts as the "Representatives of Russian Scouting in Foreign Countries" on 30 August 1922 and the Armenian Scouts in France were recognized as a "National Movement on Foreign Soil" on 30 April 1929.<ref name=Kroonenberg/>
  • Small, non-voting associations. The International Boy Scouts of the Canal Zone, a group in Panama with Scouts that claimed British and not Panamanian nationality was originally placed under the Boy Scouts of America's Canal Zone Council but, in 1947, was transferred under WOSM's bureau.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The group had over 900 members in 1957 and existed as a directly registered group until the late 60s.Template:Cn The Boy Scouts of the United Nations began in 1945 and for years there was an active Boy Scouts of the United Nations with several troops at Parkway Village in New York City but only 14 members in 1959.Template:Cn Both the International Boy Scouts of the Canal Zone and the Boy Scouts of United Nations have long since disbanded.
  • Directly registered "mixed-nationality Troops" were registered after discussions concerning such troops took place at WOSM's 3rd conference in 1924<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref> at which WOSM's bureau was authorized to directly register such groups. It seems that the discussion at WOSM's 1924 conference was, at least in part, prompted by a letter to Baden-Powell from the Scoutmaster of one such troop in Yokohama, Japan.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Janning's troop became the first troop directly registered by WOSM's bureau.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Only a few troops were directly registered and the practice was soon discontinued with new "mixed" groups being encouraged to join the WOSM member organization of their country of residence. In 1955, only two such groups were still active, a troop in Iraq that disbanded that year,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and the first group to be so registered, the International Troop 1 in Yokohama.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The only remaining directly registered Troop is the International Boy Scouts, Troop 1 located in Yokohama, Japan.Template:Cn

  • Temporary recognition was extended to Scouts in displaced persons camps after World War II. In 1947, at WOSM's 11th conference the "Displaced Persons Division" of WOSM's bureau was established to register and support Scouts in displaced person camps in Austria, Northern Italy, and Germany.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> These Scouts did not receive the right of WOSM membership but gained recognition as Scouts under WOSM's bureau until they took up residence in a country that had a recognized national Scout organization, which they could join.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The D.P. Division was closed on 30 June 1950.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

StructureEdit

ConferenceEdit

WOSM's conference is its general meeting of member organizations' representatives which meet every three years, hosted by a member association. Each member organizations may send six delegates. The conference is usually preceded by the World Scout Youth Forum.<ref name="World Scouting" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Date Number Location Country Member Countries Host Candidate Countries
1920 Retrospectively referred to as the "First International Conference" London Template:Flag 33
1922 First International Conference (retrospectively referred to as the "Second")<ref name="Colquhoun 1954" /> Paris Template:Flag 30
1924 Third International Conference Copenhagen Template:Flag 34
1926 Fourth International Conference Kandersteg Template:Flag 29
1929 Fifth International Conference Birkenhead Template:Flag 33
1931 Sixth International Conference Baden bei Wien Template:Flag 44
1933 Seventh International Conference Gödöllő Template:Flag 31
1935 Eighth International Conference Stockholm Template:Flag 28
1937 Ninth International Conference The Hague Template:Flag 34
1939 10th International Conference Edinburgh Template:Flag 27
1947 11th International Conference Château de Rosny-sur-Seine Template:Flag 32
1949 12th International Conference Elvesæter Template:Flag 25
1951 13th International Conference Salzburg Template:Flag 34
1953 14th International Conference Vaduz Template:Flag 35
1955 15th International Conference Niagara Falls, Ontario Template:Flag 44
1957 16th International Conference Cambridge Template:Flag 52
1959 17th International Conference New Delhi Template:Flag 35
1961 18th International Conference Lisbon Template:Flag<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> 50
1963 19th World Scout Conference Rhodes Template:Flag 52
1965 20th World Scout Conference Mexico City Template:Flag 59
1967 21st World Scout Conference Seattle Template:Flag 70
1969 22nd World Scout Conference Espoo Template:Flag 64
1971 23rd World Scout Conference Tokyo Template:Flag 71
1973 24th World Scout Conference Nairobi Template:Flag 77
1975 25th World Scout Conference Lundtoft Template:Flag 87
1977 26th World Scout Conference Montreal Template:Flag 81
1979 27th World Scout Conference Birmingham Template:Flag 81
1981 28th World Scout Conference Dakar Template:Flag 74
1983 29th World Scout Conference Dearborn Template:Flag 90
1985 30th World Scout Conference Munich Template:Flag 93
1988 31st World Scout Conference Melbourne Template:Flag 77
1990 32nd World Scout Conference Paris Template:Flag 100
1993 33rd World Scout Conference Sattahip Template:Flag 99
1996 34th World Scout Conference Oslo Template:Flag 108
1999 35th World Scout Conference Durban Template:Flag 116
2002 36th World Scout Conference Thessaloniki Template:Flag 125
2005 37th World Scout Conference Hammamet Template:Flag 122 Template:Flag
2008 38th World Scout Conference Jeju-do Template:Flag 150
2011 39th World Scout Conference Curitiba Template:Flag 138 Template:Flag, Template:Flag,Template:Flag
2014 40th World Scout Conference Ljubljana Template:Flag 143 Template:Flag
2017 41st World Scout Conference Baku Template:Flag citation CitationClass=web

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2021 42nd World Scout Conference Digital citation CitationClass=web

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2024 43rd World Scout Conference Cairo Template:Flag<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

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176 Template:Flag, Template:Flag
2027 44th World Scout Conference London Template:Flag<ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

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CommitteeEdit

WOSM's committee is its executive governing body, composed of elected volunteers and its secretary general, which is responsible for the implementation of the resolutions of its conference and governs the organization between meetings of its conference. The committee meets at least twice a year. Its steering committee, consisting of the chairperson, two vice-chairpersons and its youth advisor and secretary general meet as needed.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The committee has 21 members. Twelve, each from a different country, are elected for three-year terms by WOSM's conference. The members, elected without regard to their nationality, represent the interests of the movement as a whole, not those of their country. The secretary general, the treasurer of WOSM and a representative member of the board of the World Scout Foundation and the chairpersons of the regional Scout committees are ex-officio members of the committee. From 2008 to 2021 six Youth Advisors to the WSC were elected by the World Scout Youth Forum. The Youth Advisors participated in all of the WSC meetings and were also part of the governing structure between the meetings.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> There will be no Youth Advisors from 2024.

The 2021–2024 committee set up work streams to address the top strategic priorities, as defined by WOSM's conference.

Task forces include:

  • Youth Engagement in Decision-Making
  • Sustainability

Workstream Coordination Group

  • Project management support
  • Volunteer management support
  • Monitoring and evaluation support

Standing committees include:

  • Audit
  • Budget
  • Constitutions
  • Ethics
  • Honours and Awards
  • Steering

Incumbent committee membersEdit

Name Country Position until
Daniël Corsen Template:Flag Chairperson 2027
Mori Chi-Kin Cheng Template:Flag Vice Chairperson 2027
Julius Kramer Template:Flag Vice Chairperson 2027
Victor Atipagah Template:Flag Voting member 2027
Elise Drouet Template:Flag Voting member 2027
Callum Kaye Template:Flag Voting member 2027
Steve Kent Template:Flag Voting member 2027
Nour Elhouda Mahmoudi Template:Flag Voting member 2027
Martin Meier Template:Flag Voting member 2027
Mohammad Omar Template:Flag Voting member 2027
Christine Pollithy Template:Flag Voting member 2027
Marie-Louise C. S. Ycossie Template:Flag Voting member 2027
Rubem Tadeu Cordeiro Perlingeiro Template:Flag Chair, Interamerican Region 2025
Matthias Gerth Template:Flag Chair, European Region 2025
Abdullah Mohammad Al-Turaiji Template:Flag Chair, Arab Region 2025
Maina Kiranga Template:Flag Chair, African Region 2025
Dale Corvera Template:Flag Chair, Asia-Pacific Region 2025
Hong Leng Chay Template:Flag Treasurer
David Berg Belgium TF Secretary General
Jennifer Hancock Template:Flag World Scout Foundation
Note: In 2008, WOSM's conference decided that, starting at the conference in 2011, elected committee members will serve for only three years but be eligible for re-election for one additional term. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, WOSM's conference was rescheduled from Aug 2020 to Aug 2021.

BureauEdit

WOSM's bureau is its secretariat, which carries out the instructions of its conference and committee. The bureau is administered by the secretary general, supported by a staff of technical resource personnel.<ref name="World Scouting">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

A bureau was established in London, England in 1922, moved to Ottawa, Ontario, Canada in 1959, Geneva, Switzerland after 1 May 1968<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and Kuala Lumpur after August 2013.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Directors/Secretaries GeneralEdit

Number Title Years Name Country
1st Director 1920–1938 Hubert S. Martin Template:Flag
2nd Director 1938–1951 John Skinner Wilson Template:Flag
3rd Director 1951–1965 Daniel Spry Template:Flag
4th Director 1965–1968 Richard T. Lund Template:Flag
5th Secretary General 1968–1988 László Nagy Template:Flag
6th Secretary General 1988–2004 Jacques Moreillon Template:Flag
7th Secretary General 2004–2007 Eduardo Missoni Template:Flag
8th Secretary General 2007–2012 Luc Panissod Template:Flag
9th Secretary General 2013–2016 Scott Teare Template:Flag
10th Secretary General 2017–2024 Ahmad Alhendawi Template:Flag

Deputy Secretaries GeneralEdit

Title Years Name Country
Deputy Secretary General 1991–2004 Malek Gabr Template:Flag
Deputy Secretary General 1991–2004 Luc Panissod Template:Flag
Deputy Secretary General 2004–2007 Dominique Bénard Template:Flag
Deputy Secretary General 2004–2007 Luc Panissod Template:Flag

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Kandersteg International Scout CentreEdit

Kandersteg International Scout Centre in Switzerland, operated by The KISC Association, is the only WOSM activity centre.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

ProgrammesEdit

The Better World Framework combines the Scouts of the World Award, Messengers of Peace and World Scout Environment Programmes as programme initiatives administered by WOSM's bureau.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

WOSM emblemEdit

Template:Infobox WorldScouting

WOSM's emblem and trademark is a purple circular logo with a white fleur-de-lis in the center with a purple five-point star in each outer lobe, surrounded by a circle of white rope tied with a reef or square knot at the base.

SymbolismEdit

The fleur-de-lis, commonly with a five-point star in each of outer lobe, is a more widely used symbol of the Scout Movement. The fleur-de-lis represents the north point on a map or compass and is intended to point Scouts on the path to service. The three lobes on the fleur-de-lis represent the three parts of the Scout Promise: duty to God, service to others and obedience to the Scout Law.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> A "bond", tying the three lobes of the fleur-de-lis together, symbolizes the family of Scouts.<ref name="tsa_worldbadge">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The two five-point stars stand for truth and knowledge, with the ten points representing the ten points of the Scout Law.

The WOSM emblem adds an encircling rope, tied with a knot at the base, which symbolizes the unity and bond of the Scout MovementTemplate:Cn and uses purple and white colours. In heraldry, the white of the fleur-de-lis and rope denotes purity and the royal purple denotes leadership and service.<ref name="tsa_worldbadge" />

WOSM emblem historyEdit

For the origin of the fleur-de-lis as a more widely used Scout symbol see: Scout Movement.

From its origin in 1922 until 1939, WOSM did not have its own emblem. In 1939, its director, J. S. Wilson, introduced an international Scout badge, a silver fleur-de-lis on a purple background containing the five continent names in silver framed between two concentric circles. Wearing of the badge was confined to WOSM committee members and bureau staff and their past members. The design became WOSM's logo and a purple flag containing the design followed, the flying of which was restricted to WOSM international Scout gatherings.

File:World Scout Emblem.png
1955–2024 WOSM emblem.

In 1955, WOSM's emblem was redesigned in mid-century minimalist style, dropping the continent names and circles and replacing them with a circle of tied rope in the style of family clan emblems. The redesign was introduced at WOSM's 8th World Scout Jamboree by former Boy Scouts of Greece National Commissioner Demetrios Alexatos.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

In August 2024, WOSM introduced a minor redesign of its emblem.

Use by WOSM member organizationsEdit

WOSM's emblem is worn by Scouts and Scouters of several of its member organizations, which determine the manner in which WOSM's emblem is worn.

The Scout Association (United Kingdom)Edit

The Scout Association refers to WOSM's emblem as its "Membership Award"<ref name="tsa_worldbadge"/> and uses it as its joining badge for its Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Explorer Scouts and Scout Network, with progressing requirements intended to help the member understand their commitment.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Boy Scouts of AmericaEdit

The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) refers to WOSM's emblem as the World Crest. It may be worn on BSA uniforms as an emblem of the worldwide Scout Movement. BSA first used the badge as an award for Scouts and Scouters who participated in an international Scouting event from early 1956 through 1991 with requirements devised by each council. In 1991, BSA made it part of the uniform for all Scouts and its International Activity Patch replaced the World Scout Crest as an award.<ref name="walton">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Scouts South AfricaEdit

Scouts South Africa uses the WOSM emblem badge when new members join as a Cub, a Scout or an Adult Leader. The badge is worn on the left front pocket of the uniform, over the heart.Template:Citation needed

Further reading about WOSM emblemEdit

AwardsEdit

Bronze Wolf AwardEdit

WOSM's Bronze Wolf Award is given for exceptional services to the international Scout Movement. It was first awarded to Robert Baden-Powell by a unanimous decision of the committee on the day the award was instituted in 1935.Template:Cn

Scouts of the World AwardEdit

See article: Scouts of the World Award

Inter-religious forumEdit

Template:See also WOSM's Inter-religious Forum serves as a working-group for eight main religious groups:<ref name="wsis">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

PublicationsEdit

Publications of WOSM include:

Countries and territories with Scouts run by overseas branches of WOSM member organizationsEdit

Ten of these overseas branches of accredited National Scout Organizations are considered "potential members" by the WOSM (marked by *).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Sovereign countriesEdit

Served by Scouting America

Served by The Scout Association (UK)'

Served by Scouts Australia

Non-sovereign territoriesEdit

Template:Update Australia

Template:Fix }}

Template:Fix }}

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Denmark

France

New Zealand

United Kingdom

United States

Antarctica

See alsoEdit

ReferencesEdit

Template:Reflist

Further readingEdit

  • Facts on World Scouting, Boy Scouts International Bureau, Ottawa, Canada, 1961
  • Laszlo Nagy, 250 Million Scouts, The World Scout Foundation and Dartnell Publishers, 1985
  • Eduard Vallory, "World Scouting: Educating for Global Citizenship", Palgrave Macmillan, New York, 2012

External linksEdit

Template:WOSM

Template:Scouting Template:Authority control Template:Sister project