Information Documents

SG/Inf(2008)16          

29 September 2008

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Implementation of Committee of Ministers
Resolution (2003)8 on participatory status

for international non-governmental organisations

with the Council of Europe

Communication of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe

to the Committee of Ministers, the Parliamentary Assembly and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe

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1.       In accordance with the rules for participatory status as set out in Committee of Ministers’ Resolution (2003) 8 on participatory status for international non-governmental organisations with the Council of Europe (paragraph 12 of the appendix), the Secretary General has the honour to communicate to the Committee of Ministers, the Parliamentary Assembly and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, the names of the 13 international non-governmental organisations (INGOs) to which he has decided to grant participatory status.

They are as follows:

-        Anti-Slavery International

-        Erasmus Student Network

-        European Association for Language Testing and Assessment

-        European Buddhist Union

-        European Children's Network

-        European Local Inclusion and Social Action Network

-        European Network of Ombudspersons for Children

-        European Paralympic Committee

-        European Volunteer Centre

-        International Juvenile Justice Observatory

-        Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants

-        SOS Kinderdorf

-        Youth Human Rights Movement International

2.       In conformity with paragraphs 13 and 14 of the appendix to Resolution (2003)8, the Secretary General communicated the list to the INGO Standing Committee (former Liaison Committee), which expressed a favourable opinion.

3.       The information on which the Secretary General based his decision to add these organisations to the list of INGOs enjoying participatory status with the Council of Europe is appended. In the absence of any objection founded on the conditions set out in paragraph 15 of the appendix to Resolution (2003)8, the above organisations will be added to the list of those enjoying participatory status at the end of a period of three months following the date of this document.

4.       Since the Secretary General’s communication of 28 September 2007 to the Committee of Ministers, the Parliamentary Assembly and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, on relations between the Council of Europe and INGOs (SG/Inf(2007)11), thorough consideration has been given to the files of some 30 INGOs seeking participatory status with the Council of Europe.

5.       In deciding to grant participatory status to the INGOs listed in paragraph 2 above, the following has been taken into account:

-        the provisions of the rules for participatory status as set out in paragraphs 2, 9, 11, 12, 13 and 14 of the appendix to Resolution (2003) 8;

-        the existence of working relations with different Council of Europe departments on an ad hoc basis;

-        the development of INGOs in Central and Eastern Europe.

6.       As for the INGOs to which the Secretary General decided not to grant participatory status:

i.           The Secretary General rejected ex officio the applications for participatory status from the following NGOs and INGOs which did not meet the conditions set out in paragraph 2 of the appendix to Committee of Ministers’ Resolution (2003) 8.  Some of these INGOs are not representative enough at European level;  in other cases their activities do not currently appear in the Programme of Activities of the Council of Europe, the INGO is a member of an INGO already enjoying participatory status or the NGO is not an international but a national or local NGO.  They are as follows:

-        Bread for Each Child

-        Confederation of Ramblers of the Rhine Area

-        European Congress of Ukrainians

-        Front Line, International Foundation for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders

-        Humanis

-        International Academy of Economics, Finance and Law

-        International Committee for the Defence of Human Rights

-        International Criminal Defence Attorneys Association

-        International Hospital Assistance

-        International Institute of Political Science

-        Strasbourg Multicultural Centre

-        Tunisian Mothers’ Association

-        World Initiative of Orphans

Those INGOs, which are not yet representative enough as far as their geographic dimension is concerned, have been encouraged to expand their European membership in order to fulfil this condition in the near future.

ii.       Furthermore, the Secretary General has considered it appropriate to postpone examining the files of the following INGOs for a period of two years:

-           ANDANTE, European Alliance of Catholic Women’s Organisations

-           European Federation of Salaried Doctors

-           European Patients Forum

-           Forum of Azerbaijani Students in Europe

-           International Agency for Crime Prevention, Criminal Law and Jurisprudence

-           International Inner Wheel

These INGOs do not fully meet the requirements for participatory status at the present time. Nevertheless they appear to be in a position to contribute to certain Council of Europe activities. Consequently, the INGOs have been invited to establish initial contacts with the operational directorates concerned on an ad hoc, pragmatic basis.  Arrangements for possible future co‑operation with these INGOs might be determined, in years to come, on the basis of the results of those contacts.

iii.      Some INGOs have been invited to complete their files in conformity with the provisions of Committee of Ministers’ Resolution (2003) 8.

7.       Moreover, a number of INGOs have sought details of the procedure for the granting of participatory status and have already given the Secretariat General an initial overview of their activities.  They have not yet submitted a formal application for participatory status in conformity with Resolution (2003) 8, paragraph 11, of the appendix.

8.       The following INGO has informed the Secretariat that it no longer wishes to enjoy participatory status and it will be subsequently removed from the list:

-        International Institute of Humanitarian Law (IIHL)

9.       The Secretariat has been informed that the following INGOs on the list of those enjoying participatory status have ceased their activities:

-   Solidarity East-West

-   European Organisation of the World Confederation of Teachers

Appendix 1

Anti-Slavery International

Application for participatory status:

April 2008

Founded:

1839

Headquarters:

Thomas Clarkston House

The Stableyard

Broomgrove Road

UK – London SW9 9EB         

Tél + 44 207 501 8920           

Fax: + 44 207 738 4110         

E-mail: [email protected]

Web site: www.antislavery.org

Personalities:

Chair:  Mr Andrew Clark

Director:  Mr Aidan McQuade

Aims:

Anti-Slavery International aims to eliminate all forms of slavery throughout the world. 

Activities:

-           Research and reporting on slavery around the world;

-           Programmes focusing on eradication of slavery such as the Child Labour Programme, Trafficking in Human Beings;

-           Awareness raising;

-           Support to local organisations campaigning to release people;

-           Campaigning for more effective implementation of international laws against slavery.

Geographical Representation in Council of Europe member States:

Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Moldova, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Russian Federation, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”, Ukraine, United Kingdom.

Belarus

Structure:

Council, Board of Directors, Executive Committee.

Funding:

Membership fees, public funding, private donations.

Erasmus Student Network

(ESN)

Application for participatory status:

December 2007

Founded:

1990

Headquarters:

Rue Hydraulique, 15

Saint-Josse-Ten-Noode

B – 1210 Brussels

Tel: +32  2 2567 427

E-mail: [email protected]

Internet site: www.esn.org

Personalities:

President : Giorgio Marinoni

Aims:

Erasmus Student Network aims to foster student mobility in higher education under the principle of students helping students.

Activities:

-           creation of local sections to support social and cultural integration of exchange students;

-           development of trans-national partnerships between sections;

-           representative voice of international students regarding education policy making and expectations of exchange students;

-           on-line student surveys regarding academic and non-academic mobility such as “Experience of studying abroad” or “Exchange students’ rights”.

Geographical Representation in Council of Europe member States:

Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”, Turkey, United Kingdom.

Structure:

Board of five members is the executive body.

Funding:

Membership fees, public funding, private donations.

European Association for Language Testing and Assessment

(EALTA)

Application for participatory status:

January 2008

Founded:

2004

Headquarters:

PO Box  300

Göteborg SE 40530

Sweden

Tel:  +  46 31 786 2453

Fax: +  46 31 786 2380

E-mail: [email protected]

Internet site: www.ealta.eu.org

Personalities:

President : Sauli Takala

Secretary General : Gudrun Erickson

Aims:

The European Association for Language Testing and Assessment aims to promote the improvement and sharing of testing and assessment practices throughout Europe.

Activities:

-           training in language testing such as workshops, development of web-based distance courses, residential courses;

-           register of experts in language testing and assessment;

-           consultancies and advice to different bodies in matters of assessment policy and practice;

-           annual conference.

Geographical Representation in Council of Europe member States:

Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Slovak Republic, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom.

Structure:

Executive Committee, Membership Committee.

Funding:

Membership fees.

 European Buddhist Union

(EBU)

Application for participatory status:

April 2008

Founded:

1975

Headquarters:

c/o Mrs Claudine Shinoda,

President

41 boulevard Meusnier de Querlon

F – 44000 Nantes

Tel + 33 (0)2 40 59 18 17      

Fax: + 33 (0)2 40 59 07 57

           

E-mail: [email protected]

Web site: www.e-b-u.org

Personalities:

President: Claudine Shinoda

Aims:

The European Buddhist Union, with a vision of “Unity in Diversity”, aims to promote the fellowship of Buddhists in Europe and encourage co-operation between them on matters of common concern and interest.

Activities:

-           on-line discussion forums;

-           educational projects such as “sharing experiences” providing expertise on subjects such as fund raising and relationships with government;

-           establishment of twinning centres and groups to encourage interfaith and intra Buddhist dialogue, social activities and youth exchange.

.

Geographical Representation in Council of Europe member States:

Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom.

Structure:

Administrative Council.

Funding:

Membership fees.

European Children’s Network

(EURONET)

Application for participatory status:

April 2008

Founded:

1995

Headquarters:

Avenue des Arts, 1-2

B – 1210 Brussels      

Tel:  + 32 2 217 0186 

Fax: + 32 2 513 4903 

E-mail: [email protected]

Internet site:  www.europeanchildrensnetwork.eu

Personalities:

President:  Kathleen Spencer Chapman

Secretary General: Meike Schuurman

Aims:

The European Children’s Network is a coalition of networks and organisations campaigning for children’s rights. Its primary activity is advocating for children’s rights to be taken into account in policy making in Europe.

Activities:

-           development of policies and positions as a basis for its advocacy work;

-           policy research which covers key issues affecting children including violence, discrimination, poverty, as well as broader child rights issues;

-           capacity-building and training;

-           exchange of information between members.

Geographical Representation in Council of Europe member States:

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”, United Kingdom.

Structure:

General Assembly, Management Council, Board.

Funding:

Membership fees.

European Local Inclusion and Social Action Network

(ELISAN)

Application for participatory status:

April 2008

Founded:

2008

Headquarters:

Villa Souchet

105 rue Gambetta

BP 3

F- 75960 Paris Cedex 20

Tel: -+ 33 3 20 28 07 50

Fax : + 33 3 20 28 07 51

Email: [email protected]

Web site: www.elisan.eu

Personalities:

President: Patrick Kanner

Secretary General: Daniel Zielinski

Aims:

The European Local Inclusion and Social Action Network aims to raise awareness about local social action in Europe and to speak up for local and territorial elected representatives working in this field.

Activities:

-           elaboration of policy papers;

-           training for elected representatives;

-           dissemination of information regarding European social policies and legislation via

publications, newsletter, internet site, conference and workshops;

-           promotion of the role played by local authorities in Europe in social activities at local level.

Geographical Representation in Council of Europe member States:

Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic (underway), France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg (underway), Poland, Romania, Slovenia (underway), Spain.

Structure:

Executive Board, Steering Committee.

Funding:

Membership fees.

European Network of Ombudspersons for Children

(ENOC)

Application for participatory status:

2008

Founded:

1997

Headquarters:

(until September 2008 c/o Chairman)

Josep Anselm Clavé, 31        

Barcelona 08002

Spain  

Tel: + 34 9330 18075

Fax: + 34 9330 13187

Email: [email protected]

Web site: www.ombudsnet.org

Personalities:

President: Xavier Bonal Sarró

Aims:

The objectives of the European Network of Ombudspersons for Children are to promote and safeguard children's rights and to work on strategies for the fullest possible implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Activities:

-           information exchange;

-           working groups;

-           capacity building and support among members;

-           promotion the development of effective independent offices for children;

-           issuing of statements about children’s rights;

-           annual meeting to exchange good practice, specific topics etc.
Geographical Representation in Council of Europe member States:

Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, France, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russian Federation, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”, United Kingdom.

Structure:

General Assembly, Bureau and Secretariat.

Funding:

Membership fees.

European Paralympic Committee

(EPC)

Application for participatory status:

March 2008

Founded:

1991

Headquarters:

Adenaueralle 212-214

D - Bonn 53113

Tel: + 49 228 2097 200

Fax: + 49 228 2097 209

Email: [email protected]

Web site: www.europaralympic.org

Personalities:

President: Enrique Sanchez-Guijo Acevedo

Secretary General: Luca Pancalli

Aims:

The European Paralympic Committee aims to utilise sport as a tool to overcome discrimination on grounds of disability through the provision of sporting opportunities for European athletes with a disability.

Activities:

-           co-ordination of European championships and cup events;

-           promotion and defence of the interests of European athletes with disabilities;

-           Educational programmes such as “rehabilitation through sports” and the “Paralympic School Day” project;

-           conferences.

           
Geographical Representation in Council of Europe member States:

Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium,  Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom.

Belarus

Structure:

General Assembly, Executive Committee of nine members.

Funding:

Membership fees, Other funding (percentage of entry fees paid by athletes)

European Volunteer Centre

Application for participatory status:

2008

Founded:

1992

Headquarters:

Rue de la Science, 10

B – 1200 Brussels

Tel:  + 32 2 511 7501 

Fax: + 32 2 514 5989

E-mail: [email protected]

Internet site: www.cev.be

Personalities:

President: Christopher Spence

Secretary General: Markus Held

Aims:

The European Volunteer Centre supports and promotes volunteering.  It sees volunteering  as being central in building a cohesive and inclusive society based on solidarity and active citizenship.

Activities:

-           advocacy work;

-           conferences, seminars to strengthen networking between volunteer centres and other voluntary bodies throughout Europe;

-           capacity-building and support to organisations;

-           projects to strengthen networking and exchange of good practice among members and other stakeholders concerned with promotion and further development of volunteering.

Geographical Representation in Council of Europe member States:

Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom.

Structure:

General Assembly, Board of Directors, Executive Board.

Funding:

Membership fees, private donations (for specific projects), public funding.

International Juvenile Justice Observatory

(OIJJ)

Application for participatory status:

April 2008

Founded:

2006

Headquarters:

Rue Mercelis, 50

B – 1050 Brussels

Tel : + 32 2 629 88 90

E-mail : [email protected]

Internet site : www.oijj.org

Personalities:

President : Francisco Legaz Cervantes

Vice-President : Elisa Moraga Sarrión

Aims:

The International Juvenile Justice Observatory work on issues relating to minors and young people in conflict with the law. Its main objective is the development of these young people to acquire the skills they need to become free citizens outside the circle of exclusion and reclusion.

Activities:

-           the creation of a space which serves as a meeting point between professionals, institutions, experts and administrations of different countries; 

-           the creation of networks to share good practices;

-           research work, on-line library, documentary resources, reference databases;

-           congresses, courses, seminars;

-           specialised training for professionals working with minors and young people subject to judicial measures; 

-           the diffusion of "minimum standards" in the different areas of juvenile justice and rights of the child. 

Geographical Representation in Council of Europe member States:

Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom.

Structure:

Board, President, Vice-President, Secretary-Treasurer.

Funding:

Private donations, public funding, other funding for specific projects.

Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants

(PICUM)

Application for participatory status:

February 2008

Founded:

2001

Headquarters:

Gaucheretstraat, 164

B – 1030 Brussels

Tel: + 32 2 274 1439

Fax: + 32 2 274 1448

E-mail: [email protected]

Internet site: www.picum.org

Personalities:

Chair : Don Flynn

Aims:

The Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants (PICUM) aims at promoting respect for basic social rights of undocumented migrants, promoting regularisation of undocumented migrants and promoting respect for human rights and humane treatment during the process of involuntary return.

Activities:

-           gathering information on law and practice regarding social rights, detention and deportation of irregular migrants and the possibilities of regularising their residence;

-           development of a centre of expertise with a view to providing the members of PICUM and other interested parties with advice, expertise and support;

-           strengthening networking between organisations dealing with undocumented migrants in Europe;

-           formulating recommendations for improving the legal and social position of undocumented immigrants.

Geographical Representation in Council of Europe member States:

Albania, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom.

Structure:

General Assembly, Executive Committee, Management Committee.

Funding:

Membership fees, private donations.

SOS Kinderdorf International

Application for participatory status:

April 2008

Founded:

1960

Headquarters:

Hermann Gmeiner Str. 51

PO Box 209

Innsbruck 6010

Austria

Tel: + 43 512 3310 5121

Fax: + 43 512 3310 5085

e-mail: [email protected]

Internet site: www.sos-childrensvillages.org

Personalities:

President: Helmut Kutin

Secretary General: Richard Pichler

Aims:

SOS Kinderdorf International works for children who are orphaned, abandoned or whose families are unable to care for them.  It focuses on family-based, long-term care of children.  The aim of its work is to respect, promote and stand up for children's rights. 

Activities:

-           provision of family-based care for children who have lost their parents or can no longer live with them;

-           support to vulnerable children and their families through programmes aimed at strengthening their skills, ensuring their access to essential services, and providing health, educational and psycho-social support;

-           development of tools and standards;

-           contribution to the development of policies and recommendations to improve the situation of children without parents.

Geographical Representation in Council of Europe member States:

Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom.

Belarus

Structure:

General Assembly, International Senate, Executive Committee, President, Secretary General

Funding:

Membership fees, private donations, public funding.

Youth Human Rights Movement International

(YHRM)

Application for participatory status:

April 2008

Founded:

1998

Headquarters:

Tsuryupy 34/306

Voronezh 394000 p/B 152

Russian Federation

Tel: + 7 4732 55 39 47

Fax: + 7 4732 54 55 30

E-mail: [email protected]

Internet site: www.yhrm.org

Personalities:

Honorary President: Andrey Yurov

President: Elena Ob’ezdchikova

Secretary General: Andrey Cheremnykh

Aims:

The Youth Human Rights Movement International aims to raise awareness amongst young people to involve them in the defence of human rights and thus build a new generation of human rights activists and advocates.

Activities:

-           Support for youth civil initiatives;

-           Research and monitoring;

-           Training;

-           Public campaigns and awareness-raising;

-           Publications.
Geographical Representation in Council of Europe member States:

Armenia, Georgia, Germany, Italy, Moldova, Russian Federation, Sweden, Ukraine.

Belarus

Structure:

Governing board, Chair, Chief Executive.

Funding:

Public funding, private donations.

Appendix 2

Resolution Res(2003)8

Participatory status for international non-governmental organisations with the Council of Europe

(Adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 19 November 2003
at the 861st meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies)

The Committee of Ministers,

Recalling the Council of Europe statutory aim to achieve a closer unity between its members for the purpose of safeguarding and realising the ideals and principles which are their common heritage, and facilitating their economic and social progress;

Bearing in mind the missions entrusted to the Council of Europe by the Vienna and Strasbourg Summits and by the Budapest Declaration for a Greater Europe without Dividing Lines;

Considering that the achievement of this goal and the fulfilment of these missions cannot be realised without constant sensitivity to public opinion and to the driving forces in European society, which are constantly evolving;

Considering that the existence of an active civil society and its non-governmental organisations (hereafter NGOs), which are a vital component of European society, is an important and indispensable element of democracy;

Considering the essential role of counterbalance played by NGOs in a pluralist democracy, to intensify the active participation of all citizens in conducting public affairs, and promoting responsible democratic citizenship based on Human Rights and equality between women and men;

Convinced that initiatives, ideas and suggestions emanating from civil society can be considered as a true expression of European citizens;

Recalling that, in this spirit, the Council of Europe has, over the years, developed fruitful working relations with NGOs since it first created a consultative status for international non-governmental organisations in 1952;

Considering that the system of co-operation introduced by consultative status largely permitted the development and strengthening of co-operation between the Council of Europe and the voluntary sector, giving positive and particularly encouraging results for both parties;

Considering that it is indispensable that the rules governing the relations between the Council of Europe and NGOs evolve to reflect the active participation of international non-governmental organisations (INGOs) in the Organisation’s policy and work programme, and to facilitate INGO participation and access to such bodies as the steering committees and governmental expert committees, and other subsidiary bodies of the Committee of Ministers. This participation will allow the INGOs to continue to draw the Council of Europe’s attention to the effects of changes in European societies and the problems facing them;

Noting that the development and reinforcement of this co-operation between INGOs and the Committee of Ministers and its subsidiary bodies, as well as with the Parliamentary Assembly and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe has led to the “Quadrilogue” which is, within the Council of Europe, an expression of democratic pluralism and an essential element for the further development of a citizens’ Europe;

Wishing, through the present rules, to reflect the active and constructive role of NGOs, and to clarify, facilitate and intensify the co-operation between the Council of Europe and the INGOs, in particular underlining its participatory character;

Recognising the important role to be played by the Liaison Committee as the democratically elected representative body of all of the INGOs enjoying participatory status with the Council of Europe, and by the INGO thematic groupings as their collective voice and, thus, of millions of European citizens, working in each of the fields represented by them;

Recognising the importance of the co-operation between the Council of Europe and national NGOs, provided for in Resolution Res(2003)9 on the status of partnership between the Council of Europe and national NGOs;

Hereby decides to adopt the rules for participatory status appended to this resolution which replace the rules for consultative status established by Resolution (93) 38.

Appendix to Resolution Res(2003)8

Rules for participatory status for INGOs at the Council of Europe

1.         The Council of Europe may establish working relations with INGOs by granting them participatory status.

Conditions to be met by INGOs

2.         Participatory status may be granted by the Council of Europe to INGOs:

a.         which are particularly representative in the field(s) of their competence, fields of action shared by the Council of Europe;

b.         which are represented at European level, that is to say which have members in a significant number of countries throughout greater Europe;

c.         which are able, through their work, to support the achievement of that closer unity mentioned in Article 1 of the Council of Europe’s Statute;

d.         are capable of contributing to and participating actively in Council of Europe deliberations and activities;

e.         which are able to make known the work of the Council of Europe among European citizens.

Modalities of co-operation

3.         The INGOs with participatory status may be invited to be represented by the Liaison Committee or the thematic groupings at events organised by the Secretariat General.

4.         The steering committees, committees of governmental experts and other bodies of the Committee of Ministers, may involve the INGOs enjoying participatory status in the definition of Council of Europe policies, programmes and actions in particular by granting observer status to the Liaison Committee and to the INGO thematic groupings, in accordance with the terms of Committee of Ministers’ Resolution (76) 3.

5.         The committees of the Parliamentary Assembly and of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe are invited to study ways of intensifying co-operation with and facilitating INGO participation in their work, for example by granting observer status or by inviting the Liaison Committee or INGO thematic groupings to provide their expertise.

6.         The Commissioner for Human Rights is also encouraged to maintain close co-operation with the INGOs enjoying participatory status.

7.         Additionally, considering their role as advisers in questions concerning civil society, the Secretary General may consult the INGOs, the Liaison Committee or the INGO thematic groupings, in writing or by means of a hearing, on questions of mutual interest.

8.         The INGOs enjoying participatory status:

a.         may address memoranda to the Secretary General for submission to the committees mentioned above, as well as to the Commissioner for Human Rights;

b.         may be invited to provide, through their specific activity or experience, expert advice on Council of Europe policies, programmes and actions;

c.         shall receive the agenda and public documents of the Parliamentary Assembly in order to facilitate their attendance at public sittings of the Parliamentary Assembly;

d.         shall be invited to public sittings of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe;

e.         shall be invited to activities organised for them by the Secretariat;

f.          shall be invited to attend seminars, conferences, colloquies of interest to their work according to the applicable Council of Europe rules.

9.         The INGOs enjoying participatory status shall undertake to:

a.         keep themselves regularly informed of Council of Europe activities and developments in standards by means of the numerous sources of information available, including the Internet;

b.         furnish, either spontaneously or at the request of the Council of Europe’s different bodies, information, documents or opinions relating to their own field(s) of competence on matters which are under consideration or which could be addressed by the Council of Europe;

c.         work to promote the respect of the Council of Europe’s standards, conventions and legal instruments in the member states, and assist in the implementation of these standards, and this in close contact with local, regional and national NGOs;

d.         give maximum publicity to the initiatives and achievements of the Council of Europe in their own field(s) of competence;

e.         disseminate information on Council of Europe standards, instruments and activities, as well as information from the INGO thematic groupings, to their members, on a regular basis, and ensure that they too work actively to fulfil the requirements of the participatory status;

f.          submit every four years a report to the Secretary General which should specify:

– their participation in the work of the various Council of Europe bodies (see paragraphs 4 and 6 of this appendix), the capacity in which they attended and their contribution;

– their attendance at events organised by the Secretariat General, the capacity in which they attended, the contribution they made and any follow-up action;

– their attendance at and contributions to the meetings of the INGO thematic groupings;

– any meetings which they themselves have organised, in particular those which have dealt with the promotion of the Council of Europe’s aims, standards and legal instruments;

– any action they have undertaken with a view to ensuring respect of Council of Europe standards and to publicising its work.

Procedure for the granting of participatory status

10.       The Secretary General shall keep the list of INGOs enjoying participatory status with the Council of Europe.

11.       Any INGO wishing to be entered on this list shall submit to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe three copies of an application, in French or English, and, preferably, in both of these official languages of the Council of Europe, which must contain the following documents:

a.         the INGO’s statute;

b.         a list of its member organisations with a French or English translation of the title of these organisations as well as an approximate number of members of each of these organisations;

c.         a report on its activities covering the previous two years;

d.         a declaration to the effect that it accepts the principles set out in the statute and other basic texts of the Council of Europe;

e.         the official application form on which it states clearly:

– why it is applying for participatory status with the Council of Europe;

– how it considers it will be able to contribute to and participate in the activities of the Council of Europe (as set out in its current programme of activities);

– in what way it feels able to make such a contribution (studies, reports, previous work in the field concerned, expertise of its members in the area concerned, etc.);

– what practical co-operation has already been established with the Council of Europe departments concerned;

– by what means and to which audience it would publicise the work of the Council of Europe.

12.       The decision to grant participatory status to an INGO shall be taken by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe based on the criteria mentioned above. The Secretary General may also take into consideration the main priorities of the Council of Europe’s programme of activities and the possible proliferation of INGOs in a given sector of activity.

13.       The Secretary General will communicate the list of INGOs to which he or she intends to grant participatory status to the INGO Liaison Committee for its opinion.  The INGO Liaison Committee’s opinion must be expressed within two months of the Secretary General’s Communication.

14.       At the end of this time-limit, the decision of the Secretary General will be submitted for tacit approval to the Committee of Ministers, to the Parliamentary Assembly and to the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities. This decision will be accompanied by the names of the INGOs concerned, those items from the relevant files which are necessary for the assessment of each case, the Secretary General’s reasons for suggesting they be added to the list, as well as any comments received from the Liaison Committee. In the absence of any objection founded on the conditions set out in paragraph 15 below, the said INGOs will be added three months later to the list of those enjoying participatory status.

15.       During the three-month period, a member of the Committee of Ministers or ten members of the Parliamentary Assembly from five different national delegations or ten members of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe from five different national delegations may request that an examination be made of the file of any applicant INGO. In the former case, the examination shall be made and the decision to add the name to the list shall be taken by the Committee of Ministers. In the latter case, the Committee of Ministers shall defer its decision until it has received a recommendation from the Parliamentary Assembly or the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe acting on a report from their competent committees.

Withdrawal of participatory status

16.       Any INGO already on the list may be removed from it by the Secretary General if, in his or her opinion:

a.         it has failed to comply with its obligations under the rules set out in paragraphs 2 and 9 above;

b.         it is represented twice as a result of affiliation to a larger organisation working in the same field of activity which is itself on the list;

c.         no longer has any activity included in the Council of Europe's work programme;

d.         it has taken any action which is not in keeping with its status as an INGO.

To this end, the Secretary General shall review periodically the list of INGOs with participatory status. The review shall be based on the report submitted by the INGOs every four years.

However, the Secretary General shall first inform the INGO in question of his or her intention to withdraw its participatory status in order to give it an opportunity to present its observations within two months.

17.       The reasoned decision to remove an organisation from the list shall be taken by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe in accordance with the above rules.

18.       The Secretary General will communicate the list of INGOs from which he or she intends to withdraw participatory status to the INGO Liaison Committee for its opinion. The Liaison Committee’s opinion must be expressed within two months of the Secretary General’s communication.

19.       At the end of this time limit, the decision of the Secretary General will be submitted for tacit approval to the Committee of Ministers, to the Parliamentary Assembly and to the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities. This decision will be accompanied by the names of the INGOs concerned and his or her reasons for suggesting they be removed from the list of those enjoying participatory status, as well as any comments received from the Liaison Committee. In the absence of any objection founded on the conditions described in paragraph 15 above, the names of the INGOs that have thus been communicated shall be removed from the list three months later.

20.       During the three-month period, a member of the Committee of Ministers or ten members of the Parliamentary Assembly from five different national delegations or ten members of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe from five different national delegations may request that an examination be made of the file of each INGO whose name has been communicated to them. In the former case, the examination shall be made and the decision to remove the name from the list shall be taken by the Committee of Ministers. In the latter, the Committee of Ministers shall defer its decision until it has received a recommendation from the Parliamentary Assembly or the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe acting on a report from their competent committees.

Sundry provisions

21.       The procedures described above shall not restrict the right of the Council of Europe bodies to initiate any action concerning other NGOs in pursuance of their respective rules of procedure.

It should also not prevent the Secretariat of the Council of Europe from considering practical co-operation on an ad hoc basis with other NGOs in any field of mutual interest.

22.       An INGO whose application has been refused or which has been removed from the list of those enjoying participatory status may submit a fresh application only after a period of two years following the date of the decision.

23.       The present rules will enter into force following their adoption by the Committee of Ministers.  From that date, the INGOs enjoying consultative status will have participatory status.

24.       The INGOs enjoying participatory status will be required to submit their first report four years after the entry into force of these rules.