World Organization of the Scout Movement

The World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM), branded publicly as World Scouting since 2024, is an international non-governmental organization that coordinates the worldwide Scout Movement. It is a membership organization whose members are recognized national Scout organizations rather than individual Scouts. Through these member organizations, WOSM supports tens of millions of young people and adult volunteers across almost every region of the world. The organization describes its purpose as contributing to the education of young people through a value system based on the Scout Promise and Scout Law, helping them become fulfilled individuals and constructive participants in society. WOSM originated in the international cooperation structures created after the first World Scout Jamboree in London in 1920. That event led to the establishment of an international bureau to exchange information, coordinate national associations and prepare a further international conference. In 1922, representatives meeting in Paris formally created the International Conference of the Boy Scout Movement and its committee, taking over the London bureau. The organization adopted its current name, World Organization of the Scout Movement, in 1961, when its principal governing bodies were renamed the World Scout Conference, World Scout Committee and World Scout Bureau. The organization is governed through a triennial World Scout Conference, which brings together representatives of its member organizations. Between conferences, the World Scout Committee provides governance and oversight, while the World Scout Bureau acts as the permanent secretariat. The structure is supported by regional committees and offices. The bureau moved from London to Ottawa in 1959, to Geneva in 1968, and to Kuala Lumpur after 2013. This distinction between legal base and operational headquarters is important: WOSM is legally associated with Geneva but conducts much of its international administration from Malaysia. WOSM's work includes youth-programme development, adult volunteer support, organizational capacity building, safeguarding and governance guidance, international representation, and the coordination of global events. Its best-known activities include the World Scout Jamboree, generally held approximately every four years, and the World Scout Moot for participants aged 17 to 26. It is also associated with World Scout Centres and with international programme initiatives such as Messengers of Peace, the Scouts of the World Award and the World Scout Environment Programme. The World Scout Foundation is a separately governed fundraising organization that supports development connected with WOSM. WOSM's membership model generally recognizes one national Scout organization in each country, although that organization may be a federation representing religious, linguistic, ethnic or other constituent groups. It also recognizes certain organizations in non-sovereign territories. Membership requires alignment with the movement's aims and principles and independence from political control. This model gives WOSM a unified international structure, while also creating boundaries around which organizations can participate in its official governance and programmes. The organization is the principal international counterpart to the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts. WOSM has General Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council. Its identity is represented by a purple-and-white fleur-de-lis surrounded by a rope tied with a knot. The emblem symbolizes direction, service, unity and the international bond among Scouts. In 2024, WOSM introduced a minor emblem redesign alongside its broader World Scouting public brand. The organization remains active as a global youth-movement coordinating body rather than a commercial consumer brand.

International cooperation in Scouting began to take institutional form during the first World Scout Jamboree, held at Olympia in London in 1920. Participants and national leaders agreed that the expanding movement needed a permanent international mechanism for communication and coordination. An office was established at Buckingham Palace Road in London, and Hubert S. Martin, then international commissioner of the Boy Scouts Association of the United Kingdom, became its honorary director. The bureau helped circulate information among national associations and prepared the next international conference. At a conference in Paris in 1922, representatives formally constituted the International Conference of the Boy Scout Movement and its committee. The new body assumed responsibility for the London bureau and became the central international structure for the male Scout movement. It was founded during a period in which national Scout associations were spreading rapidly across Europe, the Americas, parts of Asia and other regions, making common principles and international events increasingly important. The organization initially operated through an international conference, an elected committee and a bureau. The conference provided a forum for member associations, the committee handled governance between conferences, and the bureau delivered continuing administrative and technical work. Over time, these bodies developed into the World Scout Conference, World Scout Committee and World Scout Bureau. The 1961 reconstitution formally established the name World Organization of the Scout Movement and aligned the names of its principal institutions with the broader, increasingly international character of Scouting. The bureau's location changed as the organization expanded. It was based in London until 1959, when it moved to Ottawa, Canada. After 1 May 1968, the secretariat operated from Geneva, Switzerland. Following a later organizational relocation, the operational headquarters moved to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, after August 2013, while the organization remained legally based in Geneva. WOSM subsequently developed a regional structure intended to support national organizations according to local conditions while maintaining common international principles. WOSM's membership is composed of national Scout organizations recognized by the organization. Its rules generally provide for one member organization per country. Some members are federations or include affiliated associations organized along religious, linguistic or ethnic lines. WOSM also has members in selected non-sovereign territories, including Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, the Caribbean Netherlands, Hong Kong and Macau; French Polynesia is identified as an associate-member case in the reference material. Earlier forms of recognition included organizations operating in exile, international groups in territories such as the former Canal Zone, and temporary support for Scouts in displaced-person camps after the Second World War. Most of these historical arrangements ended as national structures were established or the groups ceased operating. The governing system centers on a World Scout Conference held every three years. Each member organization may send representatives, and the conference elects members of the World Scout Committee. The committee governs between conferences and works with the secretary general, the bureau and regional Scout committees. The organization has used committees and workstreams covering areas such as audit, budgets, constitutions, ethics, awards, sustainability, youth participation, monitoring and volunteer management. Youth engagement has also been incorporated into the governance model, including elected youth advisers in earlier cycles. WOSM's programme role expanded beyond event coordination. Its Better World Framework brings together initiatives intended to connect Scouting with peacebuilding, environmental responsibility and global citizenship. Messengers of Peace, the Scouts of the World Award and the World Scout Environment Programme are among the best-known elements. WOSM also supports global jamborees, the World Scout Moot for older youth and international Scout centres. The Kandersteg International Scout Centre in Switzerland is identified as a WOSM activity centre operated by a separate association. The organization's international standing includes General Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council. It works alongside, rather than as a parent of, the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, the principal international counterpart for Guiding and Girl Scouting. Its emblem has evolved from early international Scout badges into the modern purple circular mark containing a white fleur-de-lis, stars and a tied rope. The emblem was redesigned in 1955 and received a minor update in 2024. In the same period, WOSM increasingly presented itself to the public as World Scouting, while continuing to use its formal legal and institutional name.

• 2024

  World Scouting brand introduced

  [1]World Organization of the Scout Movementen.wikipedia.org

  WOSM began using World Scouting as a public brand and made a minor update to its emblem.

• 2013

  Operational headquarters moves to Kuala Lumpur

  [1]World Organization of the Scout Movementen.wikipedia.org

  The bureau's operational base moved to Kuala Lumpur after August 2013, while WOSM remained legally based in Geneva.

• 1968

  Bureau moves to Geneva

  [1]World Organization of the Scout Movementen.wikipedia.org

  The World Scout Bureau moved from Ottawa to Geneva after 1 May 1968.

• 1961

  Organization renamed WOSM

  [1]World Organization of the Scout Movementen.wikipedia.org

  The international organization was reconstituted under the name World Organization of the Scout Movement.

• 1955

  Emblem redesigned

  [1]World Organization of the Scout Movementen.wikipedia.org

  A new emblem used the fleur-de-lis, stars and encircling rope without the earlier continent names and concentric circles.

• 1935

  Bronze Wolf Award created

  [1]World Organization of the Scout Movementen.wikipedia.org

  WOSM's highest international service distinction was instituted and first awarded to Robert Baden-Powell.

• 1922

  International Scout conference established

  [1]World Organization of the Scout Movementen.wikipedia.org

  A Paris conference constituted the International Conference of the Boy Scout Movement and its committee, taking over the London bureau.

• 1920

  International bureau proposed

  [1]World Organization of the Scout Movementen.wikipedia.org

  The first World Scout Jamboree in London led to agreement on creating an international bureau for the Scout Movement.

Global youth movement and international coordinating body for values-based non-formal education

• International event

  World Scout Jamboree

  A large international gathering for Scouts held under WOSM auspices at roughly four-year intervals. The jamboree supports intercultural exchange, outdoor education, international friendship and the practical expression of the Scout method. Hosting is undertaken with a member organization and involves participants, leaders and volunteers from many countries.

• International event

  World Scout Moot

  An international Scouting event designed for participants aged approximately 17 to 26. It provides a setting for older Scouts and young adults to meet across national boundaries, explore community and leadership themes, and take part in programme activities associated with the Scout Movement.

• Youth programme

  Messengers of Peace

  A WOSM-associated programme initiative focused on peacebuilding, community service and constructive action. It gives Scouts a framework for developing and documenting projects that address local needs while connecting those projects to the movement's international emphasis on service and social responsibility.

• Youth award

  Scouts of the World Award

  An international award programme intended to encourage older Scouts to investigate major global challenges and undertake practical action. Its orientation links personal development with service, global citizenship and engagement with issues affecting communities and the wider world.

• Environmental programme

  World Scout Environment Programme

  A programme framework supporting environmental learning and action in Scouting. It encourages young people to understand ecological systems, develop responsible habits and participate in projects connected with conservation, sustainability and protection of the natural environment.

• International award · 1935

  Bronze Wolf Award

  WOSM's distinction for exceptional service to the international Scout Movement. The award was instituted in 1935 and first presented to Robert Baden-Powell by unanimous decision of the then international committee.

• 2024

  Adopt the World Scouting public identityStrategy

  Background

  WOSM sought a simpler public-facing identity while retaining its formal organizational name.

  Action taken

  The organization introduced World Scouting as its public brand and made a minor update to its emblem.

  Aftermath

  The formal name World Organization of the Scout Movement continued to identify the legal and institutional entity.

  Source

• 1961

  Reconstitute the international organization as WOSMStrategy

  Background

  The movement had developed beyond the terminology of its original 1922 structure and required an institutional identity reflecting its worldwide scope.

  Action taken

  The International Conference of the Boy Scout Movement was reconstituted as the World Organization of the Scout Movement, with corresponding changes to the names of its conference, committee and bureau.

  Aftermath

  The new structure became the enduring institutional framework for WOSM's global coordination.

  Source

1. 1World Organization of the Scout Movementen.wikipedia.org
2. 2World Scouting official websitescout.org