Gerhard Ermischer, Current President of the Conference of INGOs

Mission statement: to strengthen the role of Civil Society in the Council of Europe

The Conference of INGOs brings together all the NGOs that enjoy participatory status at the Council of Europe. This voice of Civil Society in the CoE, represents a wide variety of organizations in many sectors, active in many countries and is committed to the agenda of the CoE: democracy, human rights and rule of law.

Traditionally the Conference focuses on (gender) equality and non-discrimination, freedom of expression and freedom of assembly. We keep in close contact and in dialogue with civil society in neighbouring areas of Europe.

Recently, the erosion of the space for civil society organisations and the breakdown of participative society have become matters of deep concern.

In the past year the Conference has undergone a substantial reform process, resulting in more focus on the needs of our INGOs and on the agenda of the other bodies of the CoE.

We invite you to come in contact with us, learn more about the Council of Europe and the Conference of INGOs and also about how you can contribute to our mission.

Biography

Contact Gerhard Ermischer

Vice-Presidents

Geneviève LALOY

Comenius Association

Curriculum vitae

Piotr SADOWSKI

Lifelong Learning Platform (LLLP)

Curriculum vitae

news

Back Exchange of views with the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe

The President of the Conference of INGOs participated in the annual exchange of views with the Committee of Ministers on 9 February 2022. He reported on recent developments and achievements of the Conference and also expressed the willingness of the Conference to further develop its close alliance with the Council of Europe, the Secretary General and the Committee of Ministers. He asked for more transparency, particularly in light of the increased dialogue with civil society called for in the Helsinki Declaration and the subsequent Hamburg ministerial meeting.

He also took this occasion to remind the Committee of Ministers to defend the rights of civil society and the values of democracy, human rights and the rule of law in these times of an ever-shrinking civil space. He received a lot of support by the many member States delegations which took the floor in the exchange of views.

The speech delivered by the President of the Conference in the Committee of Ministers

Strasbourg 14 Febraury 2022

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speeches

Statement by Gerhard Ermischer, President of the Conference of INGOs - Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe, Reykjavik 16-17 May 2023
Opening speech of Gerhard Ermischer, President of the Conference of INGOs - webinar on Advancing the implementation of socio-economic rights by making better use of the monitoring procedures of the European Social Charter (14 June 2022) - (organised by the Conference of INGOs' “Action for Social Rights” Committee, in partnership with the Department of Social Rights of the Council of Europe)
Speech of Gerhard Ermischer, President of the Conference of INGOs - 132nd Session of the Committee of Ministers (20 May 2022)
Statement by Gerhard Ermischer, President of the Conference of INGOs - Launch of the Campaign “Democracy Here – Democracy Now” - Reaching out to young people (21 March 2022)
Statement by Gerhard Ermischer, President of the Conference of INGOs - Committee of Minister’s Working Group on the Social Charta (18 March 2022)
Speech of Gerhard Ermischer, President of the Conference of INGOs
Annual exchange of views with the Committee of Ministers (9 February 2022)
Speech of Gerhard Ermischer, President of the Conference of INGOs
131st Session of the Committee of Ministers (21 May 2021)
Address by Gerhard Ermischer, President of the Conference of INGOs
GR-DEM (June 2021)
Address by Gerhard Ermischer, President of the Conference of INGOs
11th Council of Europe Conference on the European Landscape Convention (26-27 May 2021)