The World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM ), branded as World Scouting since 2024, is the largest and, after the Order of World Scouts (formed in 1911), is the second-oldest international organisation in the Scout Movement, having been established in 1922 as The International Conference of the Boy Scout Movement. It has 176 members. These members are national scout organisations that founded WOSM or have subsequently been recognised by WOSM, which in 2025 collectively have around 51.4 million participants (up from 43 million in 2022), and a reach of 60 million young people. Its operational headquarters is in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, although it is legally based in Geneva, Switzerland.
WOSM's stated mission is "to contribute to the education of young people, through a value system based on the Scout Promise and Scout Law, to help build a better world where people are self-fulfilled as individuals and play a constructive role in society".
WOSM operates through conferences of its member organisation representatives, its committee and its full-time bureau, structured into regions. It is associated with three World Scout Centres. A World Scout Jamboree is held approximately every four years under its auspices and it organizes World Scout Moots for 17- to 26-year-olds and previously organised World Scout Indabas, a gathering for Scout leaders. The World Scout Foundation is a separately governed fund, supported by donations, for the development of WOSM associated programmes.
WOSM is the counterpart of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS). It is a non-governmental organization with General Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
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