The General Conference consists of the representatives of the States Members of the Organization. It meets every two years, and is attended by Member States and Associate Members, together with observers for non-Member-States, intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

     The General Conference determines the policies and the main lines of work of the Organization (article IV of the Constitution):

• discussing all the issues concerning the general policy of the Organization, and occasionally by focusing on certain major themes;
• adopting for the next two years a programme and budget, the draft of which is submitted to the General Conference and is the outcome of a consultation process between the Member States and the Secretariat;
• electing the Members of the Executive Board;
• appointing, every four years, the Director-General;
• adopting the (six-year) Medium-Term Strategy of the Organization.

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