PRIO Statutes

Adopted by the Institute Council 17 June 2024 and by the Board 21 June 2024, and approved by the Norwegian Foundation Authority 13 December 2024.

§ 1. Aim and Purpose

The Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO), herein also referred to as “the Institute”, is an independent international research institute. Its purpose is to engage in research concerning the conditions for peaceful relations between nations, groups and individuals.

In addition to this main purpose, the Institute shall:

stimulate research cooperation nationally and internationally
undertake training and teaching
hold conferences and seminars
disseminate information based on its own research as well as that of other institutions.

The Institute is free to choose its research projects.

The results of its research shall be available to the public.

The name of the Institute is, in Norwegian, “Institutt for fredsforskning” and, in English, “Peace Research Institute Oslo”, with "PRIO" as the official abbreviation in both languages.

§ 2. The Foundation

The Peace Research Institute Oslo, is an autonomous non-profit foundation, independent of ideological, political or national interests.

The “basis capital” (grunnkapital) of the Institute (as of 31 December 1996) stands at NOK 6.197 million.

§ 3. Governing Bodies

The Institute has the following governing bodies:

the Board
the Institute Director
the Institute Council.

§ 4. The Board

The Board shall consist of seven members with personal deputies. Board members are appointed for a three-year period, in such a way that 4 and 3 members, respectively, are to be appointed at a time.

Members are appointed by the following bodies:

One member by the Institute for Social Research
One member by Abelia
One member by the Association of Norwegian Research Institutes
One member by the University of Oslo
One member from the other Nordic countries, appointed by the Nordic International Studies Association
Two members by the Institute Council (IC). These two members shall be chosen from among the PRIO staff. The Institute Director, the Deputy Director and the Administrative Director are not eligible.

The Institute Director, Deputy Director and the Administrative Director take part in the meetings of the Board, without voting rights.

Consideration shall be given to achieving reasonable representation of both sexes.

The Board elects its own Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson.

If any Board member finds it necessary to leave the Board during his/her period of appointment, a new appointment should be made for the duration of the period.

A quorum of the Board shall be constituted by the presence of at least five members; or by the presence of four, including the Chairperson. The Chair has a double vote in the case of a tie.

The Board shall be convened when demanded by the Chair or by two of its members.

The Board shall keep minutes of its meetings. Minutes are to be available to the members of the Institute staff.

§ 5. Board: Functions

The Board shall discuss and approve the work plan of the Institute, approve the budget and accounts, and evaluate the activities of the Institute in relation to the Institute’s aim and purpose and its work plan. The Board shall appoint the Institute Director (cf § 6), the Administrative Director, researchers employed in permanent positions and other researchers when these are engaged for a period of over one year. Notice of termination for these same personnel categories is likewise to be approved by the Board.

§ 6. Appointment of Institute Director and Deputy Director

The Institute Council and the Board jointly prepare the appointment of a new Institute Director. The Institute Council is to deliver an annotated recommendation to the Board. Before delivering its recommendation, the Council is to obtain statements from outside experts.

The Institute Director shall be appointed by the Board to serve for a period of four years. The appointment can be extended two times, up to four years each time. If the Institute Council, within two weeks of the Board’s first decision on the hiring of a new Director, by at least a 3/4 majority, notifies the Board in writing of its reasoned disagreement with the decision, the Board must consider the hiring anew.

The Board shall appoint the Deputy Director for two years at a time, following nomination by the Director and the recommendation of the IC. The Deputy Director may be re-appointed.

§ 7. Institute Director: Functions

The Institute Director is in charge of leading the activity of the Institute.

The Institute Director has overarching responsibility for the planning, running, co-ordinating and financing of the scholarly activities of the Institute, within the framework set by the work plan and the budget adopted by the Board. The Institute Director is to see to it that the staff are provided with possibilities to develop their competence.

The Institute Director has main responsibility for information about the Institute externally. He/She shall also determine what is to be published in the name of the Institute.

The Deputy Director shall execute the daily functions of the Institute Director when the latter is prevented from performing them.

§ 8. The Institute Council

The Institute Council (IC) is composed of all employees in permanent positions, as well as all employees in non-permanent positions employed for 50 % or more of standard working hours for more than 6 months. All these have voting rights in the IC.

The conscientious objectors and the students elect one representative each with voting rights – with personal deputies. These are to be chosen at separate, annual elections. Further rules concerning these elections shall be determined by the IC.

A quorum of the Institute Council shall be constituted by the presence of at least 3/5 of its members with voting rights. Unless otherwise determined, matters are to be decided by simple majority vote. The Chair has a casting vote in the case of a tie.

The Institute Council shall be convened when requested by the Institute Director or three of its members.

The Institute Director takes part in the meetings of the IC, without the right to vote. At the beginning of each meeting the IC is to decide who shall chair that session.

The Administrative Director normally acts as secretary to the IC. The IC shall keep minutes of its meetings.

§ 9. Institute Council: Functions

The Institute Council is a consultative body for the Board and the Director. All matters which, according to § 5 above, are to be dealt with by the Board (including work plan, budget and accounts, appointment of the Administrative Director, researchers in permanent positions and other researchers when they are engaged for a period of over one year) are to be presented first to the IC for its recommendation. Unless special circumstances are an impediment, the Institute Director and the staff representatives to the Board shall also present to the IC all other matters which they intend to put before the Board.

Personnel matters are not to be dealt with by the Institute Council. The Institute Council itself determines whether a matter falls within its mandate.

The Institute Council elects two members of the PRIO staff to the Board. The IC can require these to take up specific matters before the Board.

§ 10. Freedom of speech

All staff members have full freedom of expression, internally and externally.

§ 11. Statutes

These Statutes are available in both Norwegian and English. In the case of any discrepancies, the Norwegian text shall apply.

Amendment of the Statutes requires both a 2/3 majority of the Institute Council, and a 5/7 majority of the Board.

§ 12. Dissolution

Dissolution of the Institute requires a 2/3 majority of the Institute Council, and a 5/7 majority of the Board.

Should this take place, any funds shall go to the Institute for Social Research or be used for a research purpose designated by the latter Institute.