18.01.2010.

THE PARTICIPATION OF CIVIS ASSOCIATION AT THE WINTER SESSION OF THE CONFERENCE OF INGOS

The Conference of INGOs, met in Strasbourg on 27 January 2010. The Conference was addressed by Thorbjørn Jagland, Secretary General of the Council of Europe and exchanged views with him on the draft reform of the organization. The Conference also unanimously adopted the 2009 activity report of the Conference of INGOs. The report can be consulted here. The Conference also discussed the document containing priorities and orientations that should guide the work of the committees and transversal groups. This document was submitted by the President. After an exchange of views on its content, the deadline of 15th February was set so that members of the Conference could submit their proposals for amendment of the document. The Conference also adopted the draft Recommendation on the internal governance of NGOs.  

The Civil Society and Democracy Committee heard a report on the Conference on Civil Participation in Europe which took place in Ljubljana on the 25-27 November 2009 and which represented a regional meeting on the implementation of the Code of Good Practice for Civil Participation in the Decision-making Process, attended by numerous NGOs from the Balkans. The Committee also heard a report on the violation of the rights of people with a visual impairment in Albania. The President of the Albanian National Association for the Blind, Sinan Tafaj, was also present.  The Chair was asked to put a request to the Commissioner for Human Rights to organise a visit to Albania in order to assess the situation.

The Human Rights Committee discussed discrimination as a violation of human rights. Reports on the situation in several European states showed that the main victims were immigrants, Roma, people with disabilities and minority groups. The conclusion was that NGOs and civil society should fight against these trends. Four measures were underlined: 1. change attitudes by highlighting the various forms of discrimination which still existed; highlight positive measures, 2.eliminate any indirect discrimination which exists in old legislation, administrative practices and educational curricula, 3. make use of mediation and judicial bodies and help the persons concerned to do so, 4. keep on applying these measures constantly. The Committee also held a hearing with Nigel Warner (International Lesbian and Gay Association, ILGA) about the discrimination suffered by lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transsexuals (LGBT) in several Council of Europe member states because of their sexual orientation.

The Social Cohesion and Eradication of Poverty Committee held a public hearing at the initiative of the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly Committee on Social, Health and Family Affairs on 26 January 2010. Several speakers called into question the World Health Organisation's assertion of a swine flu (H1N1) pandemic. A detailed report is available on the Council of Europe's internet site.

The Sustainable Territorial Development Committee unanimously adopted the draft Joint Declaration “Acting together for biodiversity, preservation of natural biotopes and combating climate change”, presented by Edith Wenger, with a few minor changes.

Entry into force of Lisbon Treaty occupied an important part of the session of the Transversal Group onEurope and global challenges. The Group also heard news about the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership.

The Gender Equality Transversal Group was informed about the reports to be presented and debated in the PACE, and being related to women’s rights in Europe: “Action against trafficking in human beings: promoting the Council of Europe Convention”, “Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity” (Doc. 12087), “Increasing women's representation in politics through the electoral system”. 

The Group agreed that the Chair would draft a formal “letter of intent” that will be used by INGOs urging the governments to ratify without delay the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings.

The Group was informed about the opening of the new European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) in Vilnius in December 2009. It will contribute to the promotion of gender equality with analysis, data collection and distribution of information. It will also set up and co-ordinate a European electronic network on gender equality. It is led by Director Virginia Langbakk.

For further information, please consult the official website of the Conference of INGOs.

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