Adopted by the Executive Committee in Dallas, Texas, USA in October 1974. Amended by the Executive Committee as mandated by the Fifth General Assembly, Berlin, Germany, May 1994 and approved by the Board in October 1995.

On February 18, 1999, the Agency, jointly with the World Health Organization, launched the Global Initiative for the Elimination of Avoidable Blindness under the title “VISION 2020: The Right to Sight”. This major joint initiative has necessitated revisions in the structure and governance of the Agency as laid down in the current Constitution. Accordingly, the Constitution was revised and ratified at the Seventh General Assembly, Dubai, September 2004.

ARTICLE I - NAME AND LOCATION OF HEADQUARTERS

The name of the organization shall be "International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness" (hereinafter referred to as the Agency). The headquarters of the Agency shall be located at a place determined by the Board of Trustees.

The Agency came into operation on the first day of January, 1975, as an international non-governmental organization, in succession to International Association for the Prevention of Blindness, and was founded by organizations concerned internationally with blindness and with ophthalmology.

On February 18, 1999, the Agency, jointly with the World Health Organization, launched the Global Initiative for the Elimination of Avoidable Blindness under the title “VISION 2020: The Right to Sight”. This major joint initiative has necessitated revisions in the structure and governance of the Agency as laid down in the current constitution.

ARTICLE II - PURPOSE AND FUNCTIONS

1. Purpose

The purpose of the Agency is to promote and sustain a global initiative towards eliminating all forms of avoidable blindness, and the provision of rehabilitative care within the scope of this initiative, with emphasis on the underserved communities.

2. Functions

The functions of the Agency, in pursuance of its purpose and in support of its organizational membership at international, regional, and national levels, shall include the following:-

(a) To cooperate with the United Nations and its specialized agencies, particularly with the WHO Programme for the Prevention of Blindness and Deafness, with governments and with national and international organizations concerned in any way with blindness, and its prevention.

(b) To develop an advocacy role in working with public health authorities to promote national prevention of blindness programmes and activities especially in the context of the aforementioned global initiative.

(c) To promote the exchange of professional and technical information on all forms of avoidable blindness and visual impairment

(d) To promote and support regional and national conferences/workshops/ activities on all forms of avoidable blindness and visual impairment

(e) To assist in and support the monitoring of the progress towards achieving the collectively expressed goals of the Global initiative.

(f) To convene a General Assembly every 4 years, or as deemed appropriate by the Board of Trustees.

ARTICLE III – POWERS

The Agency may take any action, which is conducive to the attainment of its functions, including:

1. Resources

(a) The mobilization of resources, including the raising of funds from membership contributions and other means and the acceptance of grants, bequests and gifts of all kinds; provided that the Agency's income and property shall be applied solely towards the promotion of its functions.

(b) The investment of funds additional to those required for the annual budget in such investments, securities and property as might be approved by the Board on behalf of the Agency.

2. Secretariat

(a) The provision of an office and equipment in the headquarters.

(b) The employment of secretarial staff, their remuneration, and benefits in accordance with the employment legislation of the country in which the headquarters are located.