WPA Secretariat: playing a dynamic role

The WPA was established in 1950 as a non‐profit organization. It functions in compliance with the Swiss Civil Law and its registered office is in Geneva, Switzerland. The WPA Secretariat started functioning at the Geneva University Psychiatric Hospital “Belle Idée” since 2005, when J. Cox was the Secretary General. This followed an “accord of collaboration” which was signed in September 2004 by the then WPA President A. Okasha on behalf of WPA and the Dean of the Geneva University Hospital1.

English is the working language of the Association. WPA statutes provide that other languages (including Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish) may be used in official matters depending on specific needs and circumstances. The English text of the Association's statutes, by‐laws and manual of procedures is used for WPA administration. The WPA logo consists of a representation of the Greek letter psi and the earth globe in crimson red. The logo may be supplemented by the name of the Association in English or any other language.

The WPA Secretary General is in charge of the WPA Secretariat and is responsible for the administrative tasks of the Association. The basic goal of the Secretariat is to facilitate the administrative functioning of the WPA to achieve the purposes prescribed by the statutes as well as the policies and guidelines approved by the General Assembly, the Executive Committee and the Board. The Secretary General works closely with the interim chief executive officer and deputy administrator, in consultation with the President and the Executive Committee, whenever required.

The Secretariat ensures good communication and collaboration with all WPA components and provides administrative and institutional services to the various categories of WPA membership, including Member Societies, Affiliated Associations and Individual Members. Services encompass admission procedures, distribution of institutional information, facilitation of access to and interaction with WPA governing bodies and of participation in various institutional activities.

The WPA Secretary General coordinates the work of WPA Zonal Representatives and serves as liaison between them and the WPA governing bodies, and through the Secretariat coordinates and supports their work through various modes of communication. They in turn collaborate with the Secretariat in stimulating the activities of Member Societies in their respective Zones. The Secretariat also supports the work of members of the Executive Committee, Standing and Operational Committees, Task Forces, Scientific Sections, the Board and the Council. The organizational work related to the General Assembly, being held every three years, is a further major responsibility of the Secretary General and the Secretariat.

Liaison with the Geneva University Psychiatric Hospital, the World Health Organization and other international organizations is also one of the functions of the Secretariat. It also coordinates the provision of legal services to the WPA, including yearly reports to authorities in Switzerland. Furthermore, it holds the archives of the Association.

The WPA Executive Committee, chaired by President D. Bhugra, met at the Secretariat on July 17, 2016 and discussed various Association matters2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. The Planning Committee met a day earlier at the Secretariat, chaired by President Elect H. Herrman, to discuss draft changes in the statutes and bylaws.

V. Cameron, Chief Executive Officer of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, UK, and S. Levin, Chief Executive Officer of the American Psychiatric Association, visited the Secretariat in August 2015 and gave valuable inputs. WPA Past President N. Sartorius too has visited the WPA Secretariat on a number of occasions and given useful suggestions. We have also received constant support from B. Levrat, J.‐M. Aubry and F. Ferrero of the Geneva University Psychiatric Hospital.

The performance of the WPA website www.wpanet.org has been most encouraging. Its popularity is growing day by day, and in less than three months from February 1, 2017 we had 28,132 contacts. Of the 21,826 users, 72.3% were new ones. We also keep publishing the bulletin WPA News every three months. Unfortunately, we had to stop production of the printed version due to financial constraints.

The WPA Secretariat has collaborated with the Secretary for Meetings M. Takeda in the organization of various events. The recent WPA International Congress in Cape Town (November 18‐22, 2016) had more than 2,000 delegates. The organizers worked hard to ensure a comprehensive program which was aimed at setting the agenda on a number of issues, including psychiatry's and psychiatrists’ social contract, as well as forming continental alliances for integrated mental health in Africa.

The WPA International Conference on Education in Latin America entitled “Perspectives in Education and Research” was held on February 7‐11, 2017 in Cuenca, Ecuador as a joint initiative of the WPA and the Ecuadorian Association of Psychiatry. The exchange of ideas among the attendees allowed to explore the opportunities for education and research in the Latin American region.

The WPA Interzonal Congress on “Changing Society, Changing Psychiatry and Changing Self” was held in Vilnius, Lithuania on May 3‐6, 2017. A part of the Congress took place at the Lithuanian Parliament. More than 500 psychiatrists and other mental health professionals from over 40 countries attended.

The Secretariat plays a dynamic role in fulfilling the goals and mission of WPA!

Roy Abraham Kallivayalil
WPA Secretary General