The winter session of the Conference of International Non-governmental Organisations (INGO) of the Council of Europe took place from January 22 to 26 in Strasbourg, France. The voice of civil society is heard at the Council of Europe thanks to the Conference of INGOs. More than 400 INGOs enjoy participatory status and make up, since 2005, the Conference of INGOs which constitutes civil society’s pillar in the Council of Europe “quadrilogue” with the Committee of Ministers, the Parliamentary Assembly and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities.

First two days of the Conference were dedicated to the work of the three thematic committees; Human Rights Committee, Democracy, Social Cohesion and Global Challenges Committee and Education and Culture Committee. The Chairs and Vice-chairs of the thematic committees presented the roadmaps 2018 – 2020.



On Wednesday, the INGO members elected the President and the members of the Bureau of the Conference of INGOs for a three-year term. The Conference elected for another term Ms Anna Rurka and three Vice-Presidents, Ms Anna Kraus, Mr Christoph Spreng and Mr Robert Bourgougnan. Ms Anne Negre was elected the Vice-President in charge of Equality. Ms Katarzyna Sokolowska, Mr Rares-Augustin Craiut and Mr Richard Pirolt were elected on the post of rapporteurs.



On Thursday, initiatives and projects were presented during the interactive exchange “Market Place” focused on Digital Society. In the afternoon a specific debate was held on the rights of LGBTI persons, with the participation of ILGA Europe, the European Forum of LGBT Christian Groups, representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly and the Secretariat of the Council of Europe.



Friday morning began with a special visit from Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner-Elect, Ms Dunja Mijatovic, first woman elected on this position, who addressed the audience.



Second part of the meeting of the Conference of INGOs continued with the political debate on the situation of NGOs in the Member States. A representative of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights presented the report on the Challenges facing civil society working on human rights in the EU. The participants discussed the issue of freedom of association and NGO participation in public policies in Estonia and Serbia. This debate took place with the participation of the Ambassadors of the countries concerned and representatives of national NGOs. The Expert Council on NGO Law presented two opinions, first one on the freedom of association in Turkey and the second on the draft amendment to the Law on Associations and Foundations in Romania.



European University Sports Association (EUSA), who was granted the participatory status with the Council of Europe in 2071, became a member of Human Rights and Education and Culture Committee. Ms Sara Rozman, EUSA Education and Development Manager presented EUSA at the Conference. The Conference provided a great opportunity to establish new connections. Ms Rozman at the occasion met with Ms Katarzyna Sokolowska from European Students’ Forum and the representatives of Association for Voluntary Action in Europe, Vice-president, Ms Odile Boisson de Chazournes and Secretary General, Mr Garcia Ascensio among others.

The Conference of INGOs holds two plenary meetings a year, the next one scheduled for June 2018.

More information: https://www.coe.int/en/web/ingo/