Médecins Sans Frontières Reforms its Highest International Governance Structures

Geneva, 1 July 2011 - The international medical humanitarian organisation Médecins Sans Frontières last week unanimously adopted new statutes of Médecins Sans Frontières International, ending a two-year long process to reform its associative governing bodies.

During a meeting of the 19 currently existing Médecins Sans Frontières associations, Médecins Sans Frontières agreed to establish an International General Assembly and International Board that will be responsible for safeguarding Médecins Sans Frontières’ medical humanitarian identity and its mission.

The adoption of the new Statutes, and their entry into force on Monday 27 June, provide Médecins Sans Frontières with the framework and tools to improve the way the organisation works together at an international level in the face of internal and external challenges. The reforms aim to preserve Médecins Sans Frontières’ decentralised operational functioning while improving the organisation’s coherence and accountability at an international level.

“The objective of this reform of Médecins Sans Frontières’ international governance is to maintain and improve on Médecins Sans Frontières’ effectiveness and efficiency in providing medical humanitarian assistance to those in need,” stated Dr. Unni Karunakara, Médecins Sans Frontières International President. "Médecins Sans Frontières International will now be more inclusive and open to new associations emerging in regions where we work, especially in Africa, Latin America, and Asia. We hope that these associations will bring new voices and fresh perspectives to our movement and challenge us to continue to seek and adapt innovative medical approaches to improve our work."

The first meeting of the International General Assembly and election of members of the International Board will take place in December 2011 in Paris, also marking the 40th anniversary of the founding of Médecins Sans Frontières in 1971.