The IVY2026 Committee aims to raise awareness of the role of volunteers and volunteer organisations for human rights, community resilience, democracy, defending the Rule of Law and achieving the SDGs, and through this recognize the immense contribution of volunteers to peace, resilience and combating the democratic backsliding that we are experiencing in Europe.
The IVY2026 Committee intends to liaise with relevant CoE bodies, including the Permanent Representations of Member States to combat this democratic backsliding and rise of extremist values across Europe and towards the implementation of possible status for people undertaking a full time, long term voluntary service placement in the CoE member states.

This committee will: 
●    Raise awareness of the contribution of volunteering and volunteers for social cohesion, democracy and resilience.
●    Raise awareness of the value of volunteering for human rights, education and civic participation combating hate speech, extremism and reducing polarisation.
●    Raise awareness of and amplify the role of volunteers for the achievement of the sustainable development goals.
●    Promote dialogue with CoE Member States to introduce policies that remove inequalities and risk in volunteering.
●    Promote and adopt intergenerational volunteering programmes for sustainable development.
●    Raise awareness of the role volunteering plays in reducing inequalities and promote initiatives that engage volunteers from diverse contexts and backgrounds, ensuring gender equality, intergenerational opportunities, and equal opportunities for people with disabilities.