NGO Congress of the Council of Europe Confirms the Right of NGOs to Work on the Political Level

The first regional congress of non-governmental organisations assembled by the Council of Europe in Warsaw concluded on 26 March 2006. Delegates approved a resolution to emphasise the role of NGOs in terms of international co-operation and political activities.Another resolution denounced the dictatorship in Belarus.Delegates agreed that NGO activities are threatened by undemocratic forces throughout Eastern Europe, but particularly in Russia and Belarus.The reputation of NGOs has been harmed by accusations about acceptance of foreign assistance and the idea that NGO activities are too politicised.Congress delegates agreed that NGOs have the right to be active in the political arena – as provided for in the concluding documents of the third summit of Council of Europe member states, which speaks to the role of the civil society.

In particular, the congress supported a position taken by heads of state at a meeting last May which states that NGOs make a significant “investment in promoting the transparency and responsibilities of democratic governance.” In their final resolution, delegates noted that “this declaration by heads of state emphasises and confirms the right of NGOs to work at the political level.”

“In a democratic country, all political activities must be focused on improving the welfare of the citizens.NGO operations are focused on the same goal.Any issue on NGO agendas can and must become political.If an NGO works to oppose trafficking in women or stands up for social protections, then it is only natural that the work has a political aspect to it,” explains Cyril Ritchie, chairman of the Council of Europe’s group of international NGOs, The Civil Society and Democracy in Europe”. Ritchie adds that “the activities of NGOs in Eastern Europe cannot survive without foreign financial aid, and international NGO networks are an important instrument in ensuring effective NGO operations in nation states.”

Jeremy McBride, who is a Council of Europe expert on human rights, spoke about increasingly restrictive laws in Eastern Europe in the area of demonstrations and the freedom of assembly.He stressed that “the human rights instruments of the Council of Europe guarantee the basic freedom of citizens to assemble in a registered or unregistered way.”He added that the issue of being registered or unregistered cannot be a reason to limit the freedom of assembly of individuals.When it comes to the freedom of individuals to engage in demonstrations, McBride explained that modern interpretations of human rights goes even further, obliging people to accept the difficulties that relate to the freedom to demonstrate, even if demonstrations are held at private locations such as shopping centres.

In a separate declaration, the congress denounced the undemocratic government of Belarus, as well as its brutal attack against peaceful protesters and the political opposition.Delegates called on governments and the international community to work with democratic forces in Belarus.Delegates also took part in a demonstration that was organised in Warsaw in support of those democratic forces.

More than 200 representatives of Central and Eastern European NGOs gathered for the weekend congress.They discussed trends in democracy in the region, and particularly in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.

The Council of Europe has, for several years, indicated that the development of the civil society is one of its priorities.The Council of Europe is the first international organisation which has institutionalised the representation and participation of NGOs in the organisation’s decision-making process.NGOs hold the status of an official member of the Council.Some 400 international NGOs are working with the Council of Europe at this time.

Latvian delegates to the congress were Roberts Putnis, chairman of Transparency International Latvia, Zinta Miezaine, who is an expert in Council of Europe affairs and represents the Latvian Civic Alliance, and Ruta Šenkevica, director of the Ventspils Regional NGO Support Centre.