  
Civil Society Debate organised by the Conference
of INGOs of the Council of Europe
Strasbourg, 7 October 2012
held in the context of the World Forum for
Democracy
“Bridging the gap - Democracy: between old
models and new realities”
Strasbourg, 5-11 October 2012
Background note
1. The
Conference of INGOs
The Conference of INGOs is the collective body of some 370 international NGOs
holding participatory status with the Council of Europe. It will organise a
civil society debate in the context of the Strasbourg World Forum for
Democracy.
2. The World Forum for Democracy
The
World Forum for Democracy is being organised in October 2012 for the first
time.
In bringing together high-ranking political officials, leading public figures,
Nobel Peace Prize winners and civil society activists, the World Forum will
allow for an exchange of experiences and perceptions and help identify risks as
well as possible answers to today’s societal challenges.
The main topics that will be addressed
at the Forum are:
“Universal values, global challenges,
regional realities”
“Do markets need democracy and
vice-versa?”
“Values v. values? Democracy and
religion”
“Virtual values? Democracy and
Internet”
“One size fits all? Democracy and
globalisation”
3. Civil Society Debate organised by the
Conference of INGOs
The Civil Society Debate is one of the separate activities organised in the
context of the World Forum. The theme of the debate is “Inclusive Democracy” and
it will focus on issues such as “Building inclusive democracy through media” and
“Building Inclusive Democracy with women”. Its aim is to allow civil society
representatives to exchange experience and identify topical issues where civil
society action can contribute to “bridging the gap between the old models of
democracy and the new realities.”
The Civil Society Debate will be held in Strasbourg on Sunday 7 October.
Selected participants will also participate in the first day of the Strasbourg
World Forum for Democracy on Monday 8 October.
4. Selection of NGO representatives
The Conference of INGOs is doing an open call for applications from interested
national and international NGOs.
- selected NGOs should be competent - and need to have concrete experience - in
the areas covered by the civil society debate and the World Forum for
Democracy;
- the selection process will aim to achieve a balanced representation of women
and men as well as a balanced geographical representation;
- English and French are the working languages and proficiency in at least one
of these languages is required.
The Council of Europe will cover the travel expenses and hotel accommodation for
a selected number of NGO participants.
Interested NGOs are requested to return their
application form by e-mail no later than Monday 16 July 2012 to
catherine.emezie@coe.int. NGOs will be informed during the month of August
whether or not they have been selected.
For more information see: www.coe.int / www.coe.ge |
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A
political organisation set up in 1949, the Council of Europe works to promote
democracy and human rights continent-wide. It also develops common responses to
social, cultural and legal challenges in its 47 member states.