Current President of the Conference of INGOs

Reasserting the role of organised civil society as an active player in the field of democracy
Our body within the Council of Europe brings together 350 INGOs with participatory status. Our strength is based on the expertise of each INGO and of the national NGOs which contribute to our work.
We work to strengthen citizens' access to rights where the economy of exclusion and injustice are a form of violence against civil society and in particular the most vulnerable groups.
The main aim of our activities is to honour our commitment to ensuring that human rights, and consequently also social and cultural rights, are applied in member states’ legislation and in their daily practices. With a view to achieving this objective, we work together with the other bodies of the Council of Europe and governmental and intergovernmental institutions.
Your activities contribute to:
- emancipating civil society and reinforcing its participation in decision-making processes.
- building a society that knows how to use its freedoms and turn them into social bonds and respect for the state and its institutions.
I extend a warm welcome to all of you!
Anna Rurka
President of the Conference of INGOs


2021
- Videoconference, 20 January 2021, CONF/PRES/SPEECH(2021)01
Exchange of views with the Ministers Deputies at their 1393rd meeting
2020
- Strasbourg, 18 November 2020, CONF/PRES/SPEECH(2020)06
Intervention (written) on the occasion of the transfer of the Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers from Greece to Germany [fr] - Videoconference, Athens, 4 November 2020, CONF/PRES/SPEECH(2020)05
Speech on the occasion of the 130th session of the Committee of Ministers - Online conference, 3 June 2020, CONF/PRES/SPEECH(2020)04
High-level videoconference of the Greek Chairmanship of the Council of Europe on “Human Rights during the pandemic” - Strasbourg, 15 May 2020, CONF/PRES/SPEECH(2020)03 [fr]
Speech on the occasion of the transfer of the Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers from Georgia to Greece - Online conference, 6 May 2020, CONF/PRES/SPEECH(2020)02
Message on the occasion of the International Conference on Civil Participation in Decision-Making - Strasbourg, 27 February 2020, CONF/PRES/SPEECH(2020)01 [en/fr]
Speech at the high-level Conference on Environmental Protection and Human Rights
2019
- Strasbourg, 11 December, CONF/PRES/SPEECH(2019)07
Speech at the exchange of views with the Ministers' Deputies - Lisbon, 25 November, CONF/PRES/SPEECH(2019)06
Speech at the Lisbon Forum 2019 - Strasbourg, 4 November, CONF/PRES/SPEECH(2019)05
Speech at the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) - Strasbourg, 30 October, CONF/PRES/SPEECH(2019)04
Speech at the Congress session - Helsinki, 17 May, CONF/PRES/SPEECH(2019)03
Speech at the Session of the Committee of Ministers in Helsinki - Strasbourg, 30 April, CONF/PRES/SPEECH(2019)02
Presentation of the outcome of the April session and further activities of the Conference of INGOs to the Rapporteurs' Group on Democracy (GR-DEM) - Strasbourg, 22 April, CONF/PRES/SPEECH(2019)01
Speech at the Warsaw Conference on the role and position of NGOs in the Council of Europe
2018
- Strasbourg, 12 December, CONF/PRES/SPEECH(2018)09
Speech at the Exchange of views with the Ministers' Deputies - Strasbourg, 29 November, CONF/PRES/SPEECH(2018)08
Speech at the workshop on protection and promotion of the civil society space in Europe - Strasbourg, 23 November, CONF/PRES/SPEECH(2018)07
Speech at the Exchange of views with the Parliamentary Assembly Standing Committee - Strasbourg, 7 November, CONF/PRES/SPEECH(2018)06
Speech at the consultative meeting on “Shrinking space for civil society: its impact on young people and their organisations” - Strasbourg, 2 October, CONF/PRES/SPEECH(2018)05
Presentation of the outcome of the June session and further activities of the Conference of INGOs to the Rapporteurs' Group on Democracy (GR-DEM) - Copenhagen, 19 May, CONF/PRES/SPEECH(2018)04
- Speech at the 128th session of the Committee of Ministers
- Copenhagen, 12 April, CONF/PRES/SPEECH(2018)03
Speech at the High Level Conference on reform of Human Rights Convention system - Strasbourg, 8 February, CONF/PRES/SPEECH(2018)02
Presentation of the outcome of the January session and further activities of the Conference of INGOs to the Rapporteurs' Group on Democracy (GR-DEM) - Strasbourg, 24 January, CONF/PRES/SPEECH(2018)01
Concluding speech as President
2017
- Strasbourg, 7 November, CONF/PRES/SPEECH(2017)07
Speech at the exchange of views with the Ministers' Deputies - Venice, 4 October, CONF/PRES/SPEECH(2017)06
Speech at the round-table on 'foreign funding of non-governmental organisations' - Strasbourg, 11 July, CONF/PRES/SPEECH(2017)05
Speech at the meeting of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers’ Rapporteur Group on Democracy (GR-DEM) - Strasbourg, 9 June, CONF/PRES/SPEECH(2017)04
Speech at the Council of Europe High-Level seminar on Human Rights and Business: “Promoting the effective implementation of global and regional instruments” - Cyprus, 19 May, CONF/PRES/SPEECH(2017)03
Address at the 127th session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe - Strasbourg, 28 April, CONF/PRES/SPEECH(2017)02
Speech at the opening of the high-level seminar on Freedom of religion in Europe: achievements and perspectives - Strasbourg, 21 February, CONF/PRES/SPEECH(2017)01
Presentation of the outcome of the January Session and further activities of the Conference of INGOs to the Rapporteurs' Group on Democracy (GR-DEM)
2016
- Strasbourg, 30 November, CONF/PRES/SPEECH(2016)08
Speech at the exchange of views with the Ministers' Deputies - Warsaw, 21 September, CONF/PRES/SPEECH(2016)07
Speech at the 2016 Human Dimension Implementation Meeting - Strasbourg, 28 June, CONF/PRES/SPEECH(2016)06
Presentation of the outcome of the June Session by the President of the Conference to the Rapporteur Group on Democracy (GR-DEM) - Strasbourg, 13 June, CONF/PRES/SPEECH(2016)05 [FR]
Speech at the High-Level Seminar on the 'protection and promotion of human rights in culturally diverse societies' - Strasbourg, 6-7 June, CONF/PRES/SPEECH(2016)04 [FR]
Opening speech of the debate 'only for politicians ? Civil Society, money and political activities' - Sofia, 18 May, CONF/PRES/SPEECH(2016)03
Speech at the 126th Session of the Committee of Ministers - Strasbourg, 25 February, CONF/PRES/SPEECH(2016)02
Presentation of the outcome of the January session by the President of the Conference to the Rapporteur Group on Democracy (GR-DEM) - Strasbourg, 29 January, CONF/PRES/SPEECH(2016)01
Speech at the plenary meeting of the Conference of INGOs
2015
- Strasbourg, 2 December, CONF/PRES/SPEECH(2015)07
Speech at the exchange of views with the Ministers' Deputies - Dublin, 5 November, CONF/PRES/SPEECH(2015)06
- Speech at the Conference on 'Promoting Human Rights of Persons with disabilities: Ambitions, Impact and Challenges ahead'
- Strasbourg, 20 October, CONF/PRES/SPEECH(2015)05
Speech at the debate on 'fostering active citizenship by building partnerships with civil society' at the 29th Session of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe - Brussels, 19 May, CONF/PRES/SPEECH(2015)04
Speech at the 125th Session of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers - Brussels, 26 March, CONF/PRES/SPEECH(2015)03
Speech at the High level Conference on 'implementation of the European Convention on Human Rights: our shared responsability' - Strasbourg, 17 February, CONF/PRES/SPEECH(2015)02
Speech on the role and functioning of NGOs at the Council of Europe, meeting of the Rapporteur Group on Democracy (GR-DEM) - Strasbourg, 29 January, CONF/PRES/SPEECH(2015)01
Speech by Anna Rurka to present her candidacy for the post of President of the Conference of INGOs


Romania: Law for the prevention and control of money laundering and financing of terrorism
Poland - Following the legal opinion of OSCE/ODIHR, the Conference of INGOs reiterates its concern
Refugees, migrants and the NGOs that help them under the State of Emergency in Turkey