Togo: The Togolese Association for the Blind, particularly its mission, the list of its elected members, and the term of their respective mandates (1990-2004)

In 3 September 2004 correspondence, the president of the Francophone Blind Union (Union francophone des aveugles, UFA) in Paris provided the following information. She confirmed the existence of the Togolese Association for the Blind (Association togolaise des aveugles, ATA) and added that the ATA was a member of the UFA. The ATA president's name and the Association's contact information were also provided in the document, as follows:

L'Association togolaise des aveugles (ATA)
M. Kossivi Awou, président
BP 310 Kpalime TOGO
Tél. : 228-441-01-72
[Courriel] : [email protected]

This information is also available on the UFA's Website (UFA n.d.a). The UFA membership form indicates that, when registering for the first time, an organization must submit its charter, as well as a document attesting to the fact that the association is certified and recognized by the local authorities (ibid. n.d.b).

The ATA has also been a member of the World Blind Union since 2003 (World Blind Union n.d.).

During a 7 September 2004 telephone interview, the present of the ATA said that the Association was founded in 1990.

In correspondence sent to the Research Directorate on 3 September 2004, the UFA indicated that ATA's mission was to provide assistance to the blind.

In correspondence sent to the Research Directorate on 10 September 2004, the ATA president provided the following information:

[translation]

INFORMATION ON THE ATA CHARTER

Togolese Association for the Blind

MOTTO: Unity-Work-Perseverance

TITLE I: CREATION – NAME – HEADQUARTERS – TERM

Article 1: A non-profit organization was created in Togo on 5 September 1990 under the name of the Association togolaise des aveugles (ATA).

Article 2: The term of the Association is unlimited.

Article 3: The Association's headquarters are located in Lomé. They can be moved to any other location within the Republic by decision of the General Assembly.

TITLE II: OBJECTIVES

Article 4: The ATA aims to ensure the physical, material and psychological well-being of its members who suffer from partial or total blindness. To do this, it has committed to

– providing group support by offering members opportunities to meet;

– promoting the development of its members and their reintegration into society;

– strengthening existing structures for training and employment, and – creating new jobs so that its members do not become beggars.

TITLE III: COMPOSITION – ADMISSION – EXCLUSION – AFFILIATION

Article 5: The ATA is made up of

– regular members

– pledging members

– patron members

– distinguished members

TITLE IV: ORGANIZATION – OPERATION

Article 10: The ATA consists of four bodies:

– General Assembly

– Headquarters

– Sections

– Administration

No information was given to the Research Directorate regarding the names of the elected members between 1990 and today, or regarding their respective terms.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection.

References

Association togolaise des aveugles, Lomé. 10 September 2004. Correspondence sent to the Research Directorate by the president.
_____. . 7 September 2004. Telephone interview with the president.

Union francophone des aveugles (UFA), Paris. 3 September 2004. Correspondence sent to the Research Directorate by the president.
_____. . n.d.a. "Nom des associations adhérentes." [Accessed 2 Sept. 2004]
_____. . n.d.b. "Bulletin d'adhésion à l'Union francophone des aveugles pour l'année 2004." [Accessed 2 Sept. 2004]

World Blind Union. n.d. "African Members." [Accessed 8 Sept. 2004]