The first part of the autumn session of the Conference of International Non-governmental Organisations (INGO) of the Council of Europe took place online, with the European University Sports Association in attendance.

Two plenary online meetings led by the members of the Standing Committee took place on 15 and 16 October 2020. The participants of the meeting were addressed by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Ms Marija Pejcinovic Buric, followed by a discussion and exchange of views.

Later on, several topics including the 2019 Annual Activity Report of the Conference, Draft Declaration of the Conference of INGOs on the role of civil society in safeguarding human rights, democracy and the rule of law as well as reports from the Chairs of the three thematic committees were presented and discussed. In the afternoon, Ms Sara Rozman, Education and Development Manager, who represented EUSA at the Conference, joined the discussion of the Education and Culture Committee.

The second day of the plenary meeting was mostly dedicated to the political situation in Belarus and the changing role of civil society, with several participants presenting different aspects of civil society in Belarus. In the afternoon Deputy Secretary General, as well as the President of the European Committee of Social Rights, participated in the webinar titled "Access to social and medico-social services for all" organised on the occasion of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

During the two-day meeting, the Conference of INGOs adopted several recommendations and the 2019 activity report of the Conference.

The initial two-and-a-half day meeting was remodelled to now take place over four days, with the second part scheduled for 15-16 December.

For more information about INGO, please visit www.coe.int/en/web/ingo.