1 THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE BPW EUROPE LEADERSHIP SUMMIT MAY BRUSSELS Eufemia Ippolito COE - BPW Representative

2 THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE The Council of Europe is an international organization whose purpose is to promote democracy, human rights, European cultural identity and the search for solutions to social issues in Europe. Founded May 5, 1949 with the Treaty of London, now the Council has 47 member States.

3 THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE The institutional headquarter is in Strasbourg, France, in the Europe Palace. The main instrument of action is to prepare and facilitate the conclusion of international agreements or conventions between the member States and, often, even among others States. The initiatives of the Council of Europe are not binding and must be ratified by the Member States. Website :

4 THE CONFERENCE OF INGOs The Conference of International Non- Governmental Organizations (INGOs) represents civil society in the " quadrilogue structure " of the Council of Europe, alongside the Committee of Ministers the Parliamentary Assembly the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities.

5 THE CONFERENCE OF INGOs It brings together more than 400 INGOs that have the status "participatory". Thanks to that status INGOs currently contribute to decision-making and implementation of programs conducted in Strasbourg.

6 THE CONFERENCE OF INGOs The Council of Europe, in fact, through various modes of consultation, associates the INGOs in the work of intergovernmental and encourages members of parliaments and local and regional authorities to dialogue with associations about the challenges it will face in the future.

7 THE CONFERENCE OF INGOs The INGOs can support decision-making with their expertise and advice independent. This led to all levels of government, from local to regional and national and international institutions, to make use of the experience and capacity of NGOs for the development and implementation of policies.

8 THE CONFERENCE OF INGOs These INGOs have great trust of their members and of society, through which they are able to express their concerns, to illustrate their interests and to stimulate their active involvement in various causes; thus provide a fundamental contribution to policy.

9 THE CONFERENCE OF INGOs The INGOs collect and transmit the views of their members, user groups and concerned citizens. This contribution gives an essential value to the political decision-making, improving the quality, understanding and the applicability and effectiveness of the policy initiative.

10 THE CONFERENCE OF INGOs One of the preconditions for the application of this principle is that the processes for participation are open, accessible and based on parameters participation in jointly agreed.

11 THE CONFERENCE OF INGOs To ensure that the essential contribution of INGOs is integrated, without discrimination, in political decision-making, it is necessary a supportive environment, in the rule of law, adherence to fundamental democratic principles, political will, legislation appropriate procedures clear and precise, long-term support and availability of resources for a civil society likely to remain over time and common spaces for dialogue and cooperation.

12 THE CONFERENCE OF INGOs These conditions make it possible to establish a constructive relationship between the INGOs and public authorities, based on mutual trust and mutual understanding, in order to develop a participatory democracy. Website:

13 WHAT IS BPW INTERNATIONAL DOING? All activities carried out by the BPW Federations and Clubs are in harmony with the principles whose the Council of Europe is the guardian :

14 WHAT IS BPW INTERNATIONAL DOING? Say stop to the violence against women, in the family, in the work, in the society the elimination of the wage difference between men and women the elimination of all forms of gender discrimination the protection of vulnerable categories of the society

15 WHAT IS BPW INTERNATIONAL DOING? the respect for the law in all its forms the fight against all forms of racial discrimination and the xenophobia, the fight against the exploitation and sexual violence against children the support to young women, in a word the great attention to the protection of human rights

16 WHAT IS BPW INTERNATIONAL DOING? All these are the topics widely dealt by all of the BPW Federations and Clubs. There is below a chart with the main activities from BPW countries in Europe.

17 WHAT IS BPW INTERNATIONAL DOING?

18 Partnerships of BPW These topics and the great movement of opinion on the fundamental values of a civil society have been able to achieve excellent results thanks to the strong collaborations and partnerships with major institutional agencies, like UNESCO, EWL,UN WOMEN, UN GLOBAL COMPACT.

19 Partnerships of BPW But also, with: - ITC ITC's mission is to foster sustainable economic development and contribute to achieving the Millennium Development Goals in developing countries and countries with economies in transition through trade and international business development.

20 Partnerships of BPW In social and labour policy debate taking place in the International Labour Organization, across the UN and multilateral system, and in the G20 and other emerging processes, the IOE is the recognized voice of business.

21 Partnerships of BPW -International Organisation of Employers : The International Organisation of Employers (IOE) is the largest network of the private sector in the world, with a membership of 150 business and employer federations in 143 countries.

22 Partnerships of BPW -Commonwealth Business Women (CBW) CBW brings together the collective experience, relationships, reputation and reach of the Commonwealth Business Council (CBC), BPW International and the British Association of Women Entrepreneurs (BAWE)

23 THE TOPICS DEALT IN THE WINTER SESSION The Human Rights – “ Fight against torture and Inhuman, Degrading and Cruel Treatments – everyone’s responsibility.

24 THE TOPICS DEALT IN THE WINTER SESSION The longer-term future of the European Convention on Human Rights and in particular of the European Court of Human Rights.

25 THE TOPICS DEALT IN THE WINTER SESSION The European Social Charter and its monitoring system: The European Social Charter is a treaty of the Council of Europe which sets out human rights for everyday life and requires their respect by the States which have accepted it

26 THE TOPICS DEALT IN THE WINTER SESSION 2014 Rights guaranteed by the Charter: housing, health, education, employment, legal and social protection, movement of persons, non- discrimination.

27 THE TOPICS DEALT IN THE WINTER SESSION Follow-up to the Recommendation” Gender Equality: a universal value, principle and human right to be respected and promoted in all fields” - The role of men in achieving gender equality

28 THE TOPICS DEALT IN THE WINTER SESSION Human rights and religions- Respecting and promoting human rights – Proposed avenues of approach and action for members and leaders of religions – Appeal to citizens and INGOs.

29 THE TOPICS DEALT IN THE WINTER SESSION A side event during the June 2014 session on “ Gender based violence as a political weapon” Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (Resolution Council of Europe – monitoring).

30 THE TOPICS DEALT IN THE WINTER SESSION The Conference of INGOs and the countries in the Southern Neighbourhood -Democracy, Social Cohesion and Global Challenges Committee -Strategic priorities for promoting civil participation in decision-making in Ukraine -Human rights Committee -Education and Culture Committee

31 THE COMMITTEE ON DEMOCRACY, SOCIAL COHESION AND GLOBAL CHALLENGES In 2014, the Committee has focused on democracy, dialogue and the protection of human rights in the development of the lands and societies of Europe and in the Mediterranean.

32 THE COMMITTEE ON DEMOCRACY, SOCIAL COHESION AND GLOBAL CHALLENGES It has taken into account human rights in the migration of people and the consequences of climate challenges. These rights are now being considered by several Member States of the Council of Europe and by the United Nations.

33 The promotion of democracy Its advocacy on participation has been expressed through eight commitments:

34 The promotion of democracy 1.the search for a “démocratie d’élaboration” 2.contribution to the work of CEMAT (the European Conference of Ministers in charge of spatial planning) 3.collaboration on the actions of the European Landscape Convention 4. Chairmanship of the Good Governance Strategy Platform

35 The promotion of democracy 5. participation in the work of the CDGG (Thierry MATHIEU) and the continuation of the production of a Code of good practice for the participation of civil society in the decision- making processes for elected officials, established by the Congress of local authorities in connection with the Conference of INGOS

36 The promotion of democracy 6. contribution to the World Forum For Democracy, for the 2014 session, the proposal of speakers and moderation of a workshop as well as the participation in the Steering Committee for future events (Israel MENSAH)

37 The promotion of democracy 7. participation in the European week of local democracy 8. The commission has supported and strongly encouraged the development of pioneering laws at global level.

38 The use of violence based on gender in period of conflict Proposal of Anje WIERSINGA, head of the ad hoc working group, the commission has supported the approach of Zeynab Hibaaq OSMAN, founder and Director of KARAMA, an NGO present in North Africa and the Middle East, formed of men and women, of various denominations and lay people -

39 The use of violence based on gender in period of conflict came to ask the support of the NGOs of the Council of Europe on the one hand against gender-based violence used as a political weapon in conflicts or periods of democratic transition, and on the other hand against the sidelining of women in the process of reconciliation policy.

40 THANKS Eufemia Ippolito COE - BPW Representative National Past President BPW Italy