Report on the January session of the INGO Conference

At the session of 26-29 January, the INGOs Conference of the Council of Europe, elected its new board and an expert on gender equality. The Conference held a debate and adopted a resolution following the terrorist attacks in Paris. The Conference organized a visit of a group of Ukrainian NGOs to discuss the implementation of the strategic priorities for the promotion of civil participation in decision making in Ukraine and adopted a resolution on "civil society, peace and democracy in Ukraine. The Conference welcomed a delegation of the Ministry of Relations with Parliament and Civil Society of the Kingdom of Morocco for an exchange of views on possible future cooperation.

Resolution adopted on 29 January 2015

CONF/PLE(2015)RES1

The Conference of International Non-Governmental Organisations (INGO) responds to the terrorist attacks in Paris on 7, 8 and 9 January 2015

The Conference of INGOs of the Council of Europe

- Vehemently condemns the crimes against the journalists and their collaborators in the satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo, the police and the Jewish victims who were in the kosher grocery store in Paris;
- Feels deeply concerned by the threats posed to our societies and democracies by such terrorism, extremism, radicalisation and anti-semitism;

The Conference of INGOs

- Contributes via its members throughout Europe to create more cohesive and inclusive societies which are enriched by their diversity;
- Calls for the full respect of each person’s life and the dignity of every human being as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and guaranteed by the European Convention of Human Rights;
- Defends freedom of thought and expression and works for participatory democracy;
- Urges Governments to immediately ensure that the fight against terrorism preserves human rights and the rule of law;

The Conference of INGOs

- Stands ready to join forces with the Committee of Ministers, the Parliamentary Assembly and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities to address these challenges;
- Mobilises its competencies and networks to contribute to Council of Europe action against extremism and radicalisation leading to terrorism and in defence of Human Rights and the rule of law.

* The program of the Education committee was:

1. Synopsis of the meeting held on 24 June 2014

2. Council of Europe programme for Roma: Presentation of the report “Promoting diversity through intercultural education and communication strategies”
Nawel Rafik Elmrini, Representative of the Chamber of Local Authorities of the Council of Europe – Deputy Mayor of Strasbourg

3. Working group meetings:

- Teachers interacting with their environment – A shared responsibility for education in European values 

Person in charge: François Debrowolska, MIAMSI (International Movement of Apostolate in Middle and Upper Classes)

- Proper use of digital media in educational practice – A challenge for education for democratic citizenship 

Person in charge: Didier Schretter (European Association for Education in the Audiovisual Media)

- History teaching – Moving towards a European narrative for genuine education for democratic citizenship 

- Education in intercultural dialogue – Living together in Europe
Person in charge: Roseline Moreau, GERFEC (European Group for research and training of teachers holding Christian and other beliefs and other convictions)

4. Working group reports

* In the program of the Democracy, Social Cohesion committee the principal debate was on:

Urgent Debate: "I'm Charlie, I am…" The march of 11 January 2015: a great hope and responsibility How to react and act now?

* In the program of the HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE  there was a report of working groups:

a. Human rights, co-development, migrations
b. Inter-field co-operation for the protection of children against sexual exploitation and sexual abuse
c. For the abolition of torture
d. Human rights defenders
e. Fighting against hate speech
Projects under preparation:
a. Association : ‘Regards d’enfants’ (views of children) Brigitte Kahn, Aurélie Destribats, Anne-Katrin Violy

b. European Social Charter
c. The question of disability
d. Presentation of the symposium on hate speech - questions and answers 

Oren Gostiaux 
Vice President