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How to register as an INGO entitled to lodge a collective complaint alleging violation of the European Social Charter

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Renewal of entitlement
INGOs wishing to renew their entitlement should forward their request  duly signed by the person entitled to represent the INGO, stating his title and function, by post, to the following address:

Department of the European Social Charter
Directorate General of Human Rights and Legal Affairs
Agora
1 quai Jacoutot
Council of Europe
F – 67075 Strasbourg Cedex

It is also possible to forward this request by email in the form of an official document (a scanned copy) - bearing the letterhead of the INGO, the signature of the person entitled to represent the INGO and her/his title and functions, to the following address:  social.charter@coe.int.
First Request for entitlement

INGOs enjoying participatory status with the Council of Europe1 should provide the following information when applying for inclusion on the list of INGOs entitled to lodge collective complaints:

An application letter from the INGO duly signed by the person entitled to represent the INGO, mentioning her/his title and functions may be sent 

either by post to the following address:

Department of the European Social Charter
Directorate General of Human Rights and Legal Affairs
Agora
1 quai Jacoutot
Council of Europe
F – 67075 Strasbourg Cedex

or by e-mail to:

social.charter@coe.int

including the following information:

headquarters of the INGO;
tel;
fax;
e-mail;
Web site;
the date the INGO was granted participatory status with the Council of Europe;

and indicating that the INGO fulfils the conditions stated in paragraph 20 of the Explanatory Report to the Additional Protocol providing for a system of collective complaints, i.e. that “each application must be supported by detailed and accurate documentation aiming to show in particular that the INGO has access to authoritative sources of information and is able to carry out the necessary verifications, to obtain appropriate legal opinions, etc., in order to draw up complaint files that meet basic requirements of reliability”.

To this end, the INGO may refer to the following documents:

Constitution / Statute of the OING;
rules of procedure ;
composition of its Administrative Council;
composition of its Executive Board, if any;
latest activity report;
its participation in meetings of INGO groupings of the Council of Europe (meetings and dates);
any other relevant document.

Upon receipt, all applications of INGOs are submitted for approval to the Governmental Committee of the European Social Charter, which then draws up the the list of INGOs entitled to lodge collective complaints for a 4-year period; the INGO is duly informed of its decision.
1. To obtain an application form for obtaining participatory status click here.