On 30 October 2024, the Congress held the first in a series of online workshops for Belarusian democratic forces, focused on the development of a local self-government system in a future democratic Belarus and its alignment with the European Charter of Local Self-Government and other European standards of local democracy.

“Defining a decentralisation strategy with efficient local self-government policies is a long and complex process which needs to be built upon common understanding. In this endeavour, the Congress will continue supporting the Belarusian democratic forces and civil society with their capacity development on local democracy and governance,” stated Congress Secretary General Mathieu Mori at the opening of the workshop.

Through an interactive programme which combines learning experiences and peer exchanges, the participants reflected on the concepts of local self-government, its scope and the need to develop democratic governance. Next workshops will delve into various aspects of decentralisation and transition stages.

The event is organised by the Congress as part of the project “Leading the change for democracy and human rights at local level with Belarusian democratic forces” (2024–2025) within the Council of Europe Contact Group on Co-operation with Belarusian Democratic Forces and Civil Society.