Adopted on: 17 May 2019
Declaration by the Committee of Ministers on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Council of Europe
Adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 17 May 2019 at the 129th Session of the Ministers' Deputies Youth specific: No Link to source
Adopted on: 30 June 2018
Compendium of Council of Europe practice relating to the right to freedom of association and the position of non-governmental organisations
This document, prepared by Jeremy McBride on behalf of the Expert Council on NGO Law of the Conference of INGOs of the Council of Europe, examines the practice of Council of Europe bodies whose activities deal in some way with the enjoyment of the right to freedom of association and/or the...
Adopted on: 27 June 2018
New restrictions on NGO activities in Council of Europe member States
In this resolution, the Parliamentary Assembly stresses the importance of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) for the development and realisation of democracy, the rule of law and human rights. It also notices that the space for civil society has been shrinking over the last few years,...
Adopted on: 18 May 2018
Report on the State of Democracy, Human Rights and the Rule of Law: Role of Institutions, Threats to Institutions
In his annual report to the Committee of Ministers, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe focuses on the role of institutions, both domestic and international, including NGOs. The report consists of five chapters that look at the key building blocks of democratic security: efficient,...
Adopted on: 21 March 2018
Recommendation on the participation of citizens in local public life
This recommendation aims to serve as a helpful guide for local and national authorities committed to improving the opportunities for citizen participation in the life of the local community. It contains general advice and identifies basic principles and practical measures that could form the...
Adopted on: December 2017
Non-governmental organisations: review of developments in standards, mechanisms and case law 2015-2017
This review, prepared by Jeremy McBride on behalf of the Expert Council of the Conference of INGOs of the Council of Europe, deals with a wide range of issues relating to standards, the work of various mechanisms and case law related to NGOs. The review explains different decisions and opinions...
Adopted on: 27 September 2017
Guidelines for civil participation in political decision making
These guidelines aim to strengthen and facilitate participation by individuals, NGOs and civil society at large in political decision making. The document enumerates the conditions and principles that enable active participation as well as the fundamentals of civil participation in political...
Adopted on: 31 May 2017
Recommendation on youth work
This recommendation encourages member states to develop and strengthen youth work policies and practice. The recommendation also includes proposals for the youth sector of the Council of Europe to support member states in this task, maximising the positive contribution that youth work can make to...
Adopted on: 28 September 2016
Recommendation on young people’s access to rights
This recommendation calls on member states to adopt a human rights-based approach to ensuring young people’s access to rights in order to empower people to know and claim their rights and increases the ability of individuals and institutions to take responsibility for respecting, protecting and...
Adopted on: May 2016
Civil participation in decision-making processes – An overview of standards and practices in Council of Europe member states
This overview was prepared by the European Centre for Not-for-profit Law for the European Committee on Democracy and Governance (CDDG) with a view to preparing guidelines on civil participation in political decision-making processes. The scope of the civil participation covered in the overview...
Adopted on: 2 March 2016
Guidelines on the protection and promotion of human rights in culturally diverse societies
These guidelines provide practical advice on how to address the challenges to human rights in culturally diverse societies and ensure better protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms based on respect for the inherent and equal dignity of every human being. The Committee of Ministers...
Adopted on: 28 January 2016
Strengthening the protection and role of human rights defenders in Council of Europe member States
The Parliamentary Assembly recognises that the protection of human rights defenders lies with states and that in some circumstances states may be held responsible for the action of non-state actors aimed at intimidating human rights defenders and for failing to carry out effective investigations...
Adopted on: 12 – 13 December 2014
Joint Guidelines on Freedom of Association
These guidelines have been developed to further the goal of implementing the right to freedom of association. Although they are primarily intended for use by legislators tasked with drafting laws that regulate or affect associations, they can be of use to anyone who is interested in the practical...
Adopted on: July 2014 (revised version)
Compilation of Venice Commission opinions concerning freedom of assembly
This document is a compilation of extracts taken from opinions and reports/studies adopted by the Venice Commission on issues concerning the freedom of assembly. The aim of this compilation is to give an overview of the doctrine of the Venice Commission in this field. Each opinion presented...
Adopted on: July 2014 (revised version)
Compilation of Venice Commission opinions concerning freedom of association
This document is a compilation of extracts taken from opinions and reports/studies adopted by the Venice Commission on issues concerning the freedom of association. The aim of this compilation is to give an overview of the doctrine of the Venice Commission in this field. Each opinion presented...
Adopted on: 30 April 2014
Recommendation on the protection of whistleblowers
In this recommendation, the Council of Europe recognises the value of whistleblowing in deterring and preventing wrongdoing, and in strengthening democratic accountability and transparency stating at the same time that whistlebowing is a fundamental aspect of freedom of expression and freedom of...
Adopted on: 16 April 2014
Recommendation on a guide to human rights for Internet users
This recommendation introduces the Guide to human rights for Internet users that is appended to the document, it calls on the member states to promote and disseminate it among authorities and citizens to ensure that human rights and fundamental freedoms apply equally offline and online. The guide...
Adopted on: 28 March 2012
Recommendation on the participation of children and young people under the age of 18
The recommendation covers the rights of children and young people to be heard in all settings, including in schools, in communities and in the family as well as at national and European levels. It also contains guidelines that member states are encouraged to follow when implementing the...
Adopted on: 4 June 2010
OSCE/ODIHR – Venice Commission Guidelines on Freedom of Peaceful Assembly (2nd Edition)
These guidelines are primarily addressed to practitioners – legislative draftspersons, politicians, legal professionals, police officers and other law enforcement personnel, local officials, trade unionists, assembly organisers and participants, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), civil...
Adopted on: 11 May 2010
Recommendation on the Council of Europe Charter on Education for Democratic Citizenship and Human Rights Education
With this recommendation, the Council of Europe introduces the Charter on Education for Democratic Citizenship and Human Rights Education (EDC/HRE), which is appended to the document. The Charter defines EDC and HRE and describes the relationship between both concepts. It is divided into four...
Adopted on: 31 March 2010
Recommendation on measures to combat discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity
This recommendation sets out the principles deriving from existing European and international instruments, with particular emphasis on the European Convention on Human Rights and the European Court of Human Rights case law in relation to discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation. The...
Adopted on: 1 October 2009
Code of good practice for civil participation in decision-making processes
The Code of Good Practice aims to provide a framework and guidelines for improving the participation of NGOs in decision making, to learn from each other through sharing good practices and bringing them to the attention of NGOs and public authorities alike. The Code is addressed to public...
Adopted on: 13 March 2009
Promoting the participation by children in decisions affecting them
In this recommendation, the Parliamentary Assembly recalls that participation of every individual in all matters that affect them is a fundamental right of every person. It urges the member states to launch public education programmes for children and parents, so they are informed of the right of...
Adopted on: 11 March 2009
Recommendation on the evaluation, auditing and monitoring of participation and participation policies at local and regional level
In this document, the Committee of Ministers recommends to the member states of the Council of Europe to co-operate with local and regional authorities and other stakeholders, including associations of local authorities; to undertake or step up work to evaluate democratic participation and its...
Adopted on: 18 February 2009
Recommendation on electronic democracy (e-democracy)
This recommendation sets out recommendations, principles and guidelines relating to e‑democracy; it lists 80 principles and 102 guidelines that should be considered when implementing the principles of e-democracy. The recommendation is accompanied by a series of indicative guides: a set of...
Adopted on: 17 November 2004
Recommendation on the participation of young people in local and regional life
In this recommendation, the Committee of Ministers calls on the member states to support and promote the implementation of the Revised European Charter on the Participation of Young People in Local and Regional Life, adopted within Recommendation 128(2003) of the Congress of Local and Regional...
Adopted on: 25 October 2006
Recommendation on citizenship and participation of young people in public life
In this recommendation, the Committee of Ministers calls on the member states to enhance and support youth participation. This can be done through different measures, such as: providing young people with learning opportunities that will increase their participation in public life; encouraging the...
Adopted on: 11 January 2006
Recommendation on the role of national youth councils in youth policy development
This recommendation recognises the role of the national youth councils as active contributors to the development of public youth policy. The member states, therefore, should respect their specific nature, consider them as partners of public authorities in youth policy development, and legitimise...
Adopted on: 24 April 1986
European Convention on the Recognition of the Legal Personality of International Non-Governmental Organisations
This Convention, in its preamble, recognises the role and work of international non-governmental organisations. It applies to associations, foundations and other private institutions (referred as NGOs) that fulfil the following criteria: have a non-profit-making aim of international utility; have...
Adopted on: 4 November 1950 (3 September 1953 – entry into force)
European Convention on Human Rights (Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms)
The European Convention on Human Rights sets forth a number of fundamental rights and freedoms that apply to all people who are on the territory of the states having signed and ratified it (including foreigners from other states that have not ratified the Convention). It also establishes an...
Adopted on: 4 April 2017
The Shrinking Space for Human Rights Organisations
In this comment, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights describes different cases of actions undertaken by national governments in several member States of the Council of Europe that aim to limit freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and association of human rights...
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