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The World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) is made up of 172 National Scout Organizations all over the world, divided into six Regions: Africa, Arab, Asia-Pacific, Eurasia, Europe and Interamerica. The World Scout Conference, which takes place every three years, is the governing body of WOSM. It elects a World Scout Committee, which is the executive body of the organisation. The World Scout Bureau is the secretariat and is headed by a Secretary General.

The World Scout Conference is the governing body, the "general assembly" of Scouting, and is composed of all the members of the World Organization: the National Scout Organizations (NSOs). An NSO can have a maximum of six delegates at a World Scout Conference.

The function of the Conference is to consider the policy and standards of the Scout Movement throughout the world, formulate the general policy of the World Organization, and take the action required to further the purpose of the Movement. The Conference takes place every three years. In addition to delegates, observers authorized by their National Scout Organization are also eligible to attend the event. Delegations usually include International Commissioners, the Scout responsible for relations with WOSM and with Scout Organizations in other countries.

In conjunction to the Conference, a World Scout Youth Forum is held. Through preparing inputs and making recommendations to the World Scout Conference and to the World Scout Committee, participants develop the skills necessary to take part in decision-making processes. The Youth Forum is open to members aged 18-26, of which many are also delegates at the World Scout Conference. The World Scout Youth Forum is considered as an interim measure to improve youth involvement in decision-making at world level.

Functions of the Conference includes electing members of the World Scout Committee, admitting new member countries, and selecting the venues for forthcoming World Scout Events, namely the World Scout Jamboree, the World Scout Moot, the World Scout Conference and the World Scout Youth Forum.

To learn more about the World Scout Events, click here.

The World Scout Committee is the executive body of WOSM. It is responsible for the implementation of the resolutions of the World Scout Conference and for acting on its behalf between its meetings. To learn more about the World Scout Committee click here.

The World Scout Youth Forum elects six Youth Advisors, whose role is to increase youth participation in the decision making of the organisation. They are elected for a three-year term and take part in the meetings of the World Scout Committee. Youth Advisors, each from a different country, are elected while they are aged 18-26. To learn more about the Youth Advisors click here.

A number of organisations enjoy Consultative Status with the World Scout Committee. The Consultative Status granted to an organisation is reviewed every three years at the first meeting of the World Scout Committee following a World Scout Conference. For more information and a complete list of organisations with Consultative Status,click here.