The World Congress Committee

CONSTITUTION

Link: the WCC Constitution (PDF file 132K)

MINUTES

Link: the Minutes of WCC Meeting 2005 (Washington) (PDF document)

Link: the Minutes of WCC Meeting 2004 (New Orleans) (PDF document)

MEMBERS

The need to establish a decision body for deciding about future World Congresses (WC) in Behaviour Therapy and Cognitive Therapy has been discussed for many years. Representatives for the world community of Behaviour Therapy and Cognitive Therapy have worked together to establish the World Congree Committee (WCC).

The World Congress Committee was established by mutual agreement of seven organizations, each of which are represented on the WCC.

These organizations are as follows:

• Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT). The ABCT is based in North America and previously known as the Association for the Advancement of Behavior Therapy.

• Australian Association for Cognitive and Behaviour Therapy (AACBT). The AACBT is based in Australia and formerly known as the Australian Behaviour Modification Association.

• La Asociación Latinoamericana de Análisis y Modificación del Comportamiento (ALAMOC) (based in South America). ALAMOC is a regional umbrella organization representing a series of national cognitive and behaviour therapy associations.

• European Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Therapies (EABCT). EABCT is an umbrella organization for a series of national cognitive and behaviour therapy associations based in Europe.

• International Association of Cognitive Psychotherapy (IACP). IACP is an organization with members drawn globally with a focus on cognitive therapies.

• Japanese Association of Behaviour Therapy (JABT). The JABT is a national organization and also represents Asian groups interested in cognitive behaviour therapy in the absence of an regional umbrella organization.

• South African Behaviour Therapy Association (SABTA). The SABTA is a national organization that represents Africa in the absence of a regional association.

REPRESENTATION

Each umbrella association elects ONE (1) representative (along with one deputy) to serve on the WORLD CONGRESS COMMITTEE (WCC) for a period corresponding to the interval between World Congresses. The chairman of the organization committee of the previous WC is also included in the WCC for the sake of continuity. Among themselves, the representatives elect one person as chairman and one as secretary. A representative should be a person who is well known to the umbrella association and regularly participates in its meetings. He/she should be responsible for reporting back to the AGM on the WCC work, especially concerning submissions for future WC’s. The purpose is to obtain input from the national representatives at the AGM regarding their views on the submissions. This does not mean that the umbrella associations decide how the representative must vote at the WCC meeting, only that the representative should be well versed regarding its opinion.

MEETINGS AND COMMUNICATION

The mandate period for a WCC is from one WC to the next. At that time, a new WCC is established. Questions arising anytime will be addressed by the WCC presiding at that moment.

The WCC convenes at least once every three years. Its primary task will be to decide the venue of the next-but-one WC. Most of the other communications can take place via fax or phone (teleconferences). Extra meetings will take place at the discretion of the chairman or if at least three committee members require a meeting. For the past several years, annual meetings have occurred at the AABT convention each November. As the WCC will have no budget of its own, the representatives or the umbrella organizations are responsible for their own travel expenses in relation to the WCC work.